Isaac Asimov

"Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is."
~ Isaac Asimov

Prolific writer Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) was born in the Soviet Union and immigrated to New York with his family in 1923. By age five, he taught himself to read by memorizing Brooklyn street signs, then also learned Yiddish on his own.

"Difficulties often vanish when faced boldly," he said.

By age seven, the clever Asimov shared his literacy by teaching his younger sister to read. Skipping several grades, he graduated from high school at 15.

Writing was his true passion.

"I make no effort to write poetically or in a high literary style. I try only to write clearly and I have the very good fortune to think clearly so that the writing comes out as I think, in satisfactory shape," he said.

Asimov sold his first science fiction story, 'Marooned Off Vesta' when he was 18, launching a remarkable 70-year career.

"There isn’t an idea I’ve had that I haven’t put down on paper," said Asimov who wrote 10 or more books a year, about 500 books total, on a wide range of subjects.

His celebrated Nightfall (1941) has been praised as one of the finest science-fiction short stories and introduced the visionary "Three Laws of Robotics," the rules for robots to follow with their human masters.

An inspiration and a celebration, Asimov said, "I write for the same reason I breathe because if I didn't, I would die."

Like breathing, Asimov would wake at six in the morning, sit down at the typewriter by 7:30, and work until 10 p.m. He worked solo, without a literary agent, doing his own typing, research, and even answering his own mail.

Self-educated, yes, and self-driven.

"This way there are no arguments, no instructions, no misunderstandings. I work every day. Sunday is my best day: no mail, no telephones. Writing is my only interest. Even speaking is an interruption," he said.

"Writing is more fun than ever," he said. "The longer I write, the easier it gets."

Learn as you go. Learn as you live.


Copyright © 1999-2017 MsCator, All Rights Reserved

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