Trying to explain how good (or bad) this book is would serve little purpose because the book is all about execution, all about how writing hits the reader. King, the famous writer, might have written a book as the master sharing the “magic bullet” that will help aspiring writers learn the trade secrets. But such is not the case. In fact, King points out that no such bullet, recipe, or good luck charm exists. In the first half of the book he recounts some experiences that helped shape him into the writer he has become. The second half of the book focuses on specifics about what he does as a writer and how he thinks about writing as a craft. No magic bullet, just sane discussion of how he does it and continues to do it. The book celebrates his routine, but what might set it apart from other books about “how to write” is that King is an excellent, accomplished, proven writer so the book itself is an example of what he is talking about, and because of his reputation the advice in it should be taken more seriously than your average creative writing textbook. I confess that King’s smart-Alec approach to his craft appeals to me. I like the way he uses examples from well-known writers and points out either how they suck or how they excel. He pulls few punches. He is not rude, just matter of fact. I appreciate his honesty and think others will as well, and in the bargain one can pick up many useful suggestions from a guy who knows what he is talking about.