Douglas Gentile

What’s your genre?
Nonfiction

Are you published?
Traditional publisher

What inspired you to become a writer?
As an academic it’s part of my job. Early on, however, I found that it could change the world—one of my papers got hearings held in Congress. Being able to change lives for the better with one’s writing is highly motivating.

What author do you admire and how have they inspired your writing?
Malcolm Gladwell, as he has a great way of explaining complicated science such that people can see how it relates to their lives.

Name three of your favorite books and their authors
Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
Any book by Neil Gaiman. It’s so hard to choose a favorite

What’s one thing readers should know about you?
It’s not about me.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to a budding writer?
Great writing is not about writing—it’s about rewriting. And more rewriting. And yet more…

Author Bio
Dr. Douglas Gentile is an award-winning research scientist, educator, author, and is Distinguished Professor of psychology at Iowa State University. He has authored over 140 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, including studies on the positive and negative effects of mass media on children in several countries, video game addiction, and mindfulness practices for reducing anxiety and increasing happiness. He has written several books on similar topics.

In addition, he is a Zen Buddhist monk and meditation teacher who wrote and narrated the best-selling audiobook “Buddhism 101: How to Walk Easily over Rough Ground” and the book “Finding the Freedom to Get Unstuck and Be Happier.” Visit Douglas here.