Quick Biography: Dave Eggers

This acclaimed author wrote a couple books that I really like (and maybe a couple more that I haven't read yet but would like - see bottom). So I thought I'd write about him to give credit where its due and think out loud about why I like his writing(but its typing, so its not really out loud).

Dave Eggers lives in San Francisco, a fact I learned just after visiting the city a couple weeks ago (see this post). I was actually reading A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius at the time. The title seems a little self-satisfying, or some other righteous sentiment.

A autobiography basically about his early twenties, taking care of his also-orphaned younger brother, A Heartbreaking Work takes us through his emotions and thoughts during and after his parents untimely deaths (cancer).

Rick Wyatt recommended this book and gifted it to me along with about eight other life-changing novels (inspiring tales mostly about people who've lost someone close to them). Rick knew I liked Dave Eggers cause I had just finished reading What is the What when he visited LA (which all of my friends are invited to do).

What is the What is about the small community of 'Lost Boys' who survived an especially brutal period in Sudan's civil war and refugee crisis. Eggers has a way of taking these very personal and sometimes brutal tales and turning them into heavy pleasure and humor.

This article talks briefly about Eggers social activism and other enterprises. This interview asks some important questions about his art and stuff. I think that next up on my Eggers reading list is 'You Shall Know our Velocity.'

I'd love to hear what you all think of Eggers, a book of his, or other readings you're doin. Thanks, Rick, for the inspiration and generosity.