I love getting insight into the lives of people who accomplish interesting things. The format of this--roughly chronological, but not tied fully to that--allowed the author to take me on a fun journey with little interesting side trips. I learned a lot about him, and enjoyed the ride!

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

An interesting biography by James Patterson of his life over the years.
It was quite interesting and I enjoyed that he was the narrator in this audiobook even more as I've been a longtime fan of his!

Some of this dragged on for me and was dull in parts, and I don't like giving memoirs or biographies ratings, but I did enjoy it and I'm glad I listened to his story!

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I love James Pattersons books so I was so happy to receive this one. I wanted to learn more about him and enjoyed this book. Now I feel like I have a better perspective of this best selling author.

I highly recommend this one if you love James Patterson.

This book is terrific, even better than I expected. James Patterson leads a fascinating life. He's always seemed larger than life, with a raft of accomplishments that have catapulted him to stardom. It was fascinating to read about his background (an ad exec at a top Manhattan ad agency), a writer who refuses to take no for an answer when thirty plus publishing houses turn him down, a keen businessman/artist who has a better eye for what the public wants than the stodgy publishing "professionals." Loved hearing about his work habits. Does he work all the time? (Yes.) Does he ever run out of ideas? (No.). Please don't wait a minute to read this book, you will be hooked. Highly recommend.

I am a big fan of James Patterson and his books!!! Reading this I guess you would call it autobiography was so interesting and had good humor and insight into who James Patterson is as a person, son, husband and writer. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to read this!

With his signature short chapters, James Patterson's memoir is a quick read. He tells stories from his life in such a way that pulls you in from the beginning, just as his fiction does.

An interesting book that gave a lot of insight to James Patterson. I have been a fan and read so many of his books, that it was interesting to learn more about him as a person. Quick and easy read.

James Patterson’s memoir is written like his fictional stories: short chapters that pull you in and keep your attention. Each chapter provides a snapshot of his interesting life. He explains how he grew up poor in New York and rose to success first as an advertising executive and then as a bestselling author. He read works by acclaimed authors but schooled himself to write stories that people would want to read over and over. Like many writers, he is a people-watcher and gets inspiration from his observations.

This book is an excellent memoir and can be enjoyed by any reader. His short chapters and engaging writing style will capture anyone’s attention. The chapters aren’t in chronological order, but the book feels like having a conversation with him. He doesn’t answer questions that 60 Minutes would ask but he does promote literacy and encourage readers to work hard and follow their dreams.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

James Patterson by James Patterson: The Stories of My Life is an exciting memoir about the incredible life of the world's most successful storyteller. Despite a difficult start, he overcame challenges and became a renowned writer. The book shares his unique experiences, from encounters with famous people to moments of love and hardship. Through it all, Patterson's passion for writing shines, and he dreams of crafting novels that readers will treasure forever. This memoir is an inspiring and delightful read, offering a glimpse into the life of a literary legend.

I’m still a bit confused as to why I’m reading something here that was published over a year ago. But I’m a loyal fan of Patterson’s earlier work, so I gave this one a shot even though I don’t typically read autobiographies.

Patterson’s autobiography reads like stream of consciousness - flitting from one anecdote to the next without much organization. Some of the stories were entertaining, but others were just confusing. Reading about his background in advertising and the early days of his writing career was interesting. But not enough to keep me intrigued for long.

I felt like I kept waiting for some message of significance - authentic insights into who Patterson is and why. But everything just felt very surface level, almost like Patterson didn’t really even want to be writing the stories.

Absolutely loved this one! So many good stories and told so funny and amusing! Definitely entertaining!

I love James Patterson and I loved getting to know him and read all about his life. Some surprises in there for sure!

James Patterson by James Patterson is a great way to get to know the man behind all the books. I have been reading his work since I was 15 years old and my grandma would pass down her copies. I love getting to see where people came from and how they got to where they are - and his upbringing was not what I expected. I would love to sit down and chat with him someday - he has always been one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

When I think of authors who have helped sustain my weekly reading goal across the last decade, the first to come to mind is James Patterson. I was first introduced to his books when my Mom gave me her secondhand copy of Mary, Mary. From the very first page, I was hooked. As a typical high school student, I wasn't necessarily excited to read, but Patterson's book changed everything. This book was fun. I tore through his signature quick chapters, breathlessly needing to see what happened next. With the turn of the final page, I felt a sense of accomplishment at having read a book for pleasure and a yearning to read even more.

Nearly 20 years later, I still get excited by Patterson's writing. I think it's safe to say that I'm also still excited about reading. One of the perks of reviewing as many books as I do has been the connections I've made with other readers and publishers. My bookstagram buddy Katie (@niftyreads) alerted me to Patterson's self-titled memoir and recommended I listen to the audio. The folks at Little Brown, Patterson's long-time publisher, provided me with a copy of the book, so I eagerly consumed the work by reading and listening. Given my history of reading Patterson's stories, it seems rather fitting that his memoir be book number 52 for the 10th year of A Book A Week.

In James Patterson: The Stories of My Life, the bestselling author reflects on his life thus far through intimate stories that span the breadth of his storied career. While each chapter mostly follows the chronology of his life, Patterson maintains his signature quick pace by having each chapter serve as a short, conversational recollection. The topics are as varied as they are interesting. He writes about his days in advertising, his initial struggles to get published, and even sets the record straight about his controversial use of co-authors. I found his candor to be refreshing. Patterson narrates the audiobook, so listening to it really does feel like you're having a conversation with an old friend. James Patterson continues to hook readers with each new work, and this memoir is no exception.

This is a book of stories, in no particular order. He jumps around his life, telling stories of what he has done, people he has met and how he became the world best selling writer. I enjoyed reading about his time as an advertising executive, his school days, his experience at Woodstock and his lack of confidence at becoming a fiction writer. He talks about his friendship with former President, Bill Clinton and their writing collaboration. It was written in his usual conversational style, with short chapters which makes it a very fast read - just like his fiction novels.

I have read almost all of his Alex Cross books, and all of his Women's Murder Club books and love his writing. His method of short chapters make most of his book quick reads, but does not diminish the story. I am almost afraid to start any of his other adult series because I am sure I would get hooked on them, too. I am going to look up a couple of his non-fiction books, though, especially Walk in My Combat Boots, and, of course his two collaborations with Bill Clinton and his one with Dolly Parton. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request to read the book even though it was after the book had come out. I always try to read and review my NetGalley books before they are published so potential readers can see if they want to read the book. I am sorry I took so long to read this one as I read it in three days!

Two things I really love about James Patterson's books are:
1) Short chapters!
2) His down-to-earth writing style.

This book is no different, it had both these things. Though I do think "Anecdotes from My Life" might have been a better title, as it's kind of stories from throughout his life as opposed to a real autobiography.

I was under the impression that most writers are introverts, but that doesn't seem to be the case. He knows a LOT of people (as proven by all the name dropping), and he's very chill about all the famous people he's met, and even collaborated with.

Overall an entertaining read, and gives you a bit of an insight into James Patterson's personality as well.

James Patterson is a born story teller.

His books entertain and get us reading.

The Stories of My Life is like sitting down and having a conversation with James Patterson.

The chapters are short ( he has spoiled me with short chapters ) and I found myself laughing out loud at times.

I sat down thinking I will just read a few chapters and before I knew it I was finished.

James Patterson has an important message and he and his wife do a lot to get our children reading.

I think of my son who read the Alex Cross series and the Women's Murder Club series during his courageous fight with brain tumors for 12 years. He said well I have to start back at book one but I don't mind I love these books. I will always be grateful for those books. ( He lost his battle at age 37)

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for an informative and entertaining read.

I preordered this book even before I saw it was available on NetGalley. Full disclosure, I think James Patterson is one of the greatest authors out there and his writing style is my favorite.

This book was a beautiful stream of consciousness that just made me happy throughout. Each of these short recollections brought you into Patterson’s world and each one was enjoyable. I liked this book as much as I liked the recent Jerry Seinfeld book because it felt a lot like you were talking to an old friend. Every story felt like it came from the heart and while I may be bias because I do really enjoy his work, but this is a book I’ll be thinking about for a while. Also for any Castle fans, there is a good story in here with a nod to the show.

This was really good. I almost didn't finish it but it got interesting after a while. I love the books that James Patterson writes. I'm grateful that netgalley let me read this in exchange for an honest review

James Patterson is the world’s most commercially successful writer. His career started off normally enough—laboring in obscurity while doing a job he disliked—and resulted in a couple of novels that were critically successful and commercial failures. Throughout the next couple of decades, Patterson would refine his writing and use his advertising expertise and ability to draw in an audience to create a publishing juggernaut. Around the year 2000, Patterson’s books began to take off. He’d had some success with his Alex Cross novels, but when he began to coauthor books—usually outlining novels and leaving the bulk of writing to approved coauthors—did his career really begin to take off. Now, Patterson is involved in dozens of projects a year and has written novels with everyone from Bill Clinton to Dolly Parton. Fiction. Non-fiction. Romance. Suspense. YA. Children’s novels. James Patterson writes books for people who normally don’t read books. And this is the story behind that.

James Patterson by James Patterson (audiobook read by James Patterson) meanders between a celebrity-style memoir—meaning a lot of fluff with no real substance—and occasionally passages that offer a little more meat. James Patterson is at its best when it describes Patterson’s evolving writing career and how he moved into the style that’s made him so successful. It’s a movement from being critically-lauded to loathed, but commercially failing to an estimated $700 million net worth. It’s at its worst when Patterson takes whole chapters that could basically be titled “Famous Friends I Have” and “Celebrities I Have Met.” It’s a sometimes-insightful, more-than-occasionally self-pleasuring recollection of interesting facts and tidbits about Patterson’s life.

Unfortunately, like a lot of his books, James Patterson is short on substance. It has its moments, particularly when Patterson shows his passion for children’s literature and spends time talking about his collaborations with Chris Grabenstein and others, but it mostly treats readers to TMZ-level superficiality and leaves unanswered some of the most pressing questions I had about his writing career.

Patterson is also guarded about his personal life (though I don’t blame him here). There are some poignant moments drawn from his childhood and he obviously loves his wife and son deeply. Seeing that his movement into children’s literature came about because his son didn’t feel excited about reading is a beautiful example of a father’s love and using his position to make a change.

Overall, I would have liked to have seen Patterson go deeper, to reflect on his success and methodologies, to address common criticisms that pop up about him only writing for the money or just slapping his name on work he didn’t really write. Patterson changed his whole writing style from his early novels to the present and understanding how he made that change would have been enlightening. I also would have liked to have gotten more insight into the publishing process and how that works for him, how coauthors are selected, and so on. It’s a superficial, easily-readable, entertaining, but not all that substantive memoir. In other words, James Patterson by James Patterson is written in a textbook James Patterson style.