This slim volume has two parts: a memoir on King’s early years and a how-to section for aspiring authors. The former is pure enjoyment—King at his conversational best—while the latter is an entertaining read but thin on advice. There are better how-to books out there, but in fairness King is going for more of a memoir effect than nuts-and-bolts prescriptions. And anyway, none of the how-to books have this author’s voice and talent for anecdotes. This is well worth reading even if you are one of those poor, misguided souls who have never felt the urge to write fiction. Reviewed on Jan. 14, 2021