On Writing
by Stephen King
★ Top 5 book of 1999 · #4 on Best Books of 1999
Stephen King combines a writing guide with a memoir of his own life. It explains what pushed him toward becoming a writer and how he reached his success, so it can appeal even to readers with no ambitions of writing.
Best for: Aspiring writers and curious readers wondering how Stephen King became a success
On Writing is #4 on BookWard's Best Books of 1999, out of 52 1999 books that cleared our data bar.
What On Writing is about
Part handbook, part memoir, Stephen King's book looks at the craft of writing through the story of his own life. He sets out how he came to be a writer and how he became the success he is today, mixing practical lessons with personal history. The tone is candid and conversational. It is meant first for people who want to write, but it is said to appeal to readers with no such ambitions, simply because King's life and working habits make good company.
On Writing on the Best Books of 1999
On Writing came out in 1999. Of the 52 books first published in 1999 that met BookWard's data bar, it ranks #4 on our Best Books of 1999 list.
Why it made the list: 1,029 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.1 out of 5 (85 ratings); 51 are reading it right now. The list ranks each year’s books on how many readers have picked them up, how highly readers rate them, and how many are reading them right now.
Nearby on the 1999 list
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky, #2
- Wings of Fire A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, #3
- The Bad Beginning Lemony Snicket, #5
- The Coldest Winter Ever Sister Souljah, #6
See all Best Books of 1999 Best books by year
More years: Best Books of 1998 Best Books of 2000.
The numbers behind it
- Readers: 834 want to read it, 51 are reading it now and 144 have read it, according to Open Library.
- Ratings: 4.1 out of 5 from 85 Open Library ratings.
| Signal | This book (0 to 100) | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | 90 | 55% |
| Reader love | 83 | 25% |
| Being read right now | 88 | 20% |
Questions about On Writing
When was On Writing published?
On Writing by Stephen King was first published in 1999.
Was On Writing one of the best books of 1999?
On Writing is #4 on BookWard's Best Books of 1999, out of 52 1999 books that cleared our data bar. 1,029 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.1 out of 5 (85 ratings); 51 are reading it right now.
Why is On Writing on the Best Books of 1999 list?
1,029 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.1 out of 5 (85 ratings); 51 are reading it right now.
More of the best books of 1999
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban J. K. Rowling, #1
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky, #2
- Wings of Fire A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, #3
- The Bad Beginning Lemony Snicket, #5
- The Coldest Winter Ever Sister Souljah, #6
- The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari Robin S. Sharma, #7
See the full Best Books of 1999, the Top 100, or new books on Rising.
How we know
This page uses public data: Open Library reader counts and ratings, and Wikipedia page views for recent years. The description is paraphrased from real source text. Rankings reflect reading interest, not quality or sales, and can be affected by data gaps. Lists update monthly.
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