Neil Gaiman is a wizard. A wizard with a gray beard and a pointy hat, walking around in search of hobbits to send on adventures.

His book, The View from the Cheap Seats, makes me want to write more. It makes me want to read more. And I have the sneaking suspicion that this was his intention all along.

Whether he’s writing about art, music, the loss of a friend, or the importance of recognizing comic books as a serious literary medium, he’s always compelling—and he compels you to explore topics that he finds interesting.

This book is a gold mine for any lover of stories who’s ever wondered, “And then what happened?”