Embracing All; Excluding None

 

I don't want my books to exclude anyone, but if they have to, then I would rather they excluded the people who feel they are too smart for them!” – Nick Hornby

 

Hornby, born in England on April 17, 1957 writes about “ordinary people” in ways that translate into bestsellers like Fever Pitch, About a Boy, and High Fidelity.  Fever Pitch, while written about a fan’s obsession (based on his own) with English soccer, was made an even bigger hit as an American movie adaptation, where it focused on Jimmy Fallon’s character’s obsession with the Boston Red Sox.

 

His most recent novel is 2020s Just Like You, and in 2022 he released the nonfiction book Dickens and Prince.

 

Also dedicated to helping kids with special needs, Hornby has donated many of his royalties – from nearly 6 million copies of his books sold – to helping kids with autism.  And, he co-founded the nonprofit Ministry of Stories to help children and young adults develop their writing skills, and to support teachers who inspire students to write.

 

“All the books we own” Hornby said, “both read and unread, are the fullest expression of self we have at our disposal.”