Hi there! I'm delighted that you're joining us today.  In this inaugural episode of the podcast, I explain how This Book Made Me sets out to discover the books that have changed people's lives--how they work, and why they matter. I'm joined by Drew Urbanek, a librarian/potter/game master from Auburn, New York, to talk about the impact that the 1982 fantasy classic The Elfstones of Shannara has had on him.  Along the way, we discuss:  <ul> <li>the habits and tendencies of the fantasy genre</li> <li>race, ethics, and magic libraries</li> <li>how to wrestle with books that don't age well</li> <li>the evolution of nerd culture</li> </ul> I hope you'll follow the show so that the next episode drops right into your feed.  You can contact me with feedback and suggestions at <a href= "mailto:thisbookmademe@gmail.com">thisbookmademe@gmail.com</a>, and follow our <a title="This Book Made Me" href= "https://www.instagram.com/thisbookmademe/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Instagram page</a> for updates, shelfies, and additional content.  Many thanks for the music by Twisterium from Pixabay

This Book Made Me...Courageous

What book changed your life? More than just a good read, a book can alter the trajectory of your experience, shape your decisions, and reveal a new universe. Each episode features a different personality explaining the book that made them...a better partner, a messy thinker, a nerd extraordinaire. It's a reminder of the ways that books matter.