36 ratings | 10 reviews | avg rating:4.83

more photos (1)

Will Schwalbe’s Followers (1,364)

Will’s Bookshelves

read (47)
currently-reading (1)
to-read (66)

Will’s Friends (536)

Kathleen

1,849 books | 173 friends

Jeffrey Luscombe

173 books | 878 friends

Khulud Khamis

1,831 books | 655 friends

Dianne

3,059 books | 888 friends

Otis Chandler

1,416 books | 2,024 friends

Nicole LeBlanc

975 books | 97 friends

Robin Robertson

4,692 books | 183 friends

Nan

1,732 books | 70 friends

More friends…

Will Schwalbe

Goodreads Author

Born

in New York, The United States

Website

http://www.willschwalbe.com

Twitter

WillSch

Genre

Biographies & Memoirs, Literature & Fiction, Cooking, Food & Wine

Member Since

February 2009

edit data

Greetings! Since we are both here, I’m guessing you are probably a fellow book-lover. Always great to meet other members of the tribe!

I’ve put a lot about myself in my books, but here are some of the basics. I was born in New York in 1962; grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts; went to boarding school in New Hampshire, and to college in New Haven, Connecticut. So I consider myself a New Englander, even though I’m not one by birth.

I’ve worked as a journalist, in the television business, and even (briefly, in college) as a substitute teacher. But I’ve spent most of my life in publishing: at William Morrow, and then at Hyperion, where I was Editor in Chief. In January 2008, I left Hyperion to found a startup called Cookstr.com and ran that for Greetings! Since we are both here, I’m guessing you are probably a fellow book-lover. Always great to meet other members of the tribe!

I’ve put a lot about myself in my books, but here are some of the basics. I was born in New York in 1962; grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts; went to boarding school in New Hampshire, and to college in New Haven, Connecticut. So I consider myself a New Englander, even though I’m not one by birth.

I’ve worked as a journalist, in the television business, and even (briefly, in college) as a substitute teacher. But I’ve spent most of my life in publishing: at William Morrow, and then at Hyperion, where I was Editor in Chief. In January 2008, I left Hyperion to found a startup called Cookstr.com and ran that for six years. It’s now part of Macmillan Publishers, where I’ve worked since 2014.

Books have been the constant in my life. From those my mother read me when I was too young to read, to those my father read us when we could read but still liked to be read to. From books I read under the covers, long after I was supposed to be asleep—including every single thriller by the magnificent Alistair Maclean—to books that I found in my teens that helped me imagine all different kinds of lives, and see the world through others’ eyes.

I’ve written four books. The first -- SEND: Why People Email So Badly and How to Do it Better – was written with my friend David Shipley. The second, THE END OF YOUR LIFE BOOK CLUB, is about the books I read with my mother when she was dying. The third is BOOKS FOR LIVING, about the role books can play in our lives and how they can show us how to live each day more fully and with more meaning. And the fourth is WE SHOULD NOT BE FRIENDS: The Story of an Unlikely Friendship that started in college and has enriched my life for forty years and counting.

I live in New York City with my husband. We’ve been together since way back when I first moved to Hong Kong in 1984. We have one African violet, that’s a bit lopsided; books everywhere; and are obsessed with our neighbor’s adorable chow, Lucky. We also have five godchildren, one niece, and four nephews.

I love meeting fellow readers and hearing from readers about all different kinds of book. I answer everyone, though sometimes it can take me a bit of time. My favorite question to ask or be asked is a simple one: “What are you reading?”

...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Will Schwalbe questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Will Schwalbe’s books

Average rating: 3.81 · 63,007 ratings · 9,539 reviews · 8 distinct works • Similar authors

	The End of Your Life Book Club 3.81 avg rating — 54,900 ratings — published 2012 — 63 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Books for Living 3.86 avg rating — 5,060 ratings — published 2016 — 17 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	We Should Not Be Friends: The Story of a Friendship 3.89 avg rating — 2,581 ratings — published 2023 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Send by David Shipley, Will Schwalbe (Goodreads Author) 3.43 avg rating — 465 ratings — published 2007 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The End of Your Life Book Club: a Mother, a Son and a World of Books 3.25 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Send: The Essential Guide to Email for Home and Office by Will Shipley David; Schwalbe (2007) Paperback really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	THE END OF YOUR LIFE BOOK CLUB 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bonkers About Business Issue 02 by J. Carol Pereyra, Don Ranly, George Kennedy` 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Will Schwalbe…

0 posts
Will Schwalbe's Blog

Will Schwalbe hasn't written any blog posts yet.

Related News

Debut Author Snapshot: Will Schwalbe

His memoir, The End of Your Life Book Club, tells of the two-person club he formed with his indomitable mother as she underwent chemotherapy for...

Will is Currently Reading

Will Schwalbe is currently reading

Books for Living

by Will Schwalbe (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Nov 18, 2020 04:37PM

rss
Will’s Recent Updates

Will Schwalbe answered Janet's question: Hello! I am reading The End of Your Life Book Club. I am an avid reader. My beloved father passed away 14 years ago. He never complained about his health problems - reminds me of your mom. I want to explore the books you and your mom talked about that I have not read. Do you know if there is a list somewhere online? I'm so sorry to hear about your father -- he does sound very much like my mom. As for the booklist -- it's at the end of the printed book (or should be in most editions). But also someone put together a Goodreads page with the books! Here's the link: See Full Answer
Aug 10, 2024 11:50AM · 2 likes · like
Will Schwalbe answered Mary Ann's question: I met you when you visited Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston before the pandemic. I told you about how your book "The End of Your Life Bookclub" moved me as I had just lost my mother, an English professor, to ALS. You autographed my book, "in memory of Nora." I just placed an order for your newest book and can't wait to read it? Thank you for enriching my life and for giving me solace in my grief. Mary Ann Balock Apologies for such a slow reply -- I somehow forgot to check my GR questions. Thank you for writing to me. I remember our conversation at Blue Willow (one of my favorite bookstores in the world). I was hugely touched that you shared that with me. I'm See Full Answer
Jun 09, 2023 11:43AM · 1 like · like
Will Schwalbe and 98 other people liked Melinda French Gates's review of Radical Inclusion: Seven Steps to Help You Create a More Just Workplace, Home, and World: "Radical Inclusion is a book by the brilliant David Moinina Sengeh who, as Sierra Leone’s minister of education, led a controversial and courageous effort to end a policy that banned pregnant girls from going to school. David’s story takes us all over " Read more of this review »
Jan 25, 2023 11:15AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Radical Inclusion by David Moinina Sengeh. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Radical Inclusion by David Moinina Sengeh <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Will Schwalbe rated a book it was ok A Season of Angels (Angels Everywhere, #1) by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 21, 2022 03:37PM · 3 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Season of Angels by Debbie Macomber. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Season of Angels by Debbie Macomber <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Will's books…

Quotes by Will Schwalbe (?)

“We're all in the end-of-your-life book-club, whether we acknowledge it or not; each book we read may well be the last, each conversation the final one.”
― Will Schwalbe, The End of Your Life Book Club

162 likes

“One of the many things I love about bound books is their sheer physicality. Electronic books live out of sight and out of mind. But printed books have body, presence. ... I often seek electronic books, but they never come after me. They may make me feel, but I can't feel them. They are all soul with no flesh, no texture, and no weight.”
― Will Schwalbe, The End of Your Life Book Club

155 likes

“The greatest gift you can give anyone is your undivided attention...”
― Will Schwalbe, The End of Your Life Book Club

tags: attention

99 likes

See all Will Schwalbe's quotes »

Polls

March BoTM Nominations ~ Book About a Librarian or Book Lover ~ 1st Poll

Top 5 books move onto final poll

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

by Abbi Waxman

9 votes, 24.3%

Matilda

by Roald Dahl

5 votes, 13.5%

The End of Your Life Book Club

by Will Schwalbe

5 votes, 13.5%

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

by Robin Sloan

5 votes, 13.5%

The Book Charmer

by Karen Hawkins

4 votes, 10.8%

The Library of the Unwritten

by A.J. Hackwith

4 votes, 10.8%

The Library of Lost and Found

by Phaedra Patrick

2 votes, 5.4%

Summer Hours at the Robbers Library

by Sue Halpern

1 vote, 2.7%

The Bookstore

by Deborah Meyler

1 vote, 2.7%

The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted

by Robert Hillman

1 vote, 2.7%

37 total votes

comments and details

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Fans of Amish Fic...: Brittany's 2012 Reading Challenge	5	47	Nov 18, 2012 02:14PM
The Seasonal Read...: Fall Challenge 2012: Reading Plans	58	340	Nov 23, 2012 08:20PM
The Seasonal Read...: Fall Challenge 2012: Completed Tasks - DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS IN THIS TOPIC	2310	747	Dec 28, 2012 03:29PM