--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The last book I read before I wrote my…" description: "\"The last book I read before I wrote my first book - 'Ghosts of Manhattan' - was 'The Gold Coast' by DeMille. I loved it, and it gave me a lot of energy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/douglas-brunt-18401_book_the-last-book-i-read-before-i-wrote-my-f_544169.jpg" --- # The last book I read before I wrote my first book… ![“The last book I read before I wrote my first book - 'Ghosts of Manhattan' - was 'The Gold Coast' by DeMille. I loved it, and it gave me a lot of energy to start into my own.” quote by Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/douglas-brunt-18401_book_the-last-book-i-read-before-i-wrote-my-f_544169.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/douglas-brunt-18401_book_the-last-book-i-read-before-i-wrote-my-f_544169.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/douglas-brunt-18401_book_the-last-book-i-read-before-i-wrote-my-f_544169.jpg) > “The last book I read before I wrote my first book - 'Ghosts of Manhattan' - was 'The Gold Coast' by DeMille. I loved it, and it gave me a lot of energy to start into my own.” [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author credits a specific book for inspiring the energy to write his own, showing how literature can spark creative ambition. **In simple terms:** A favorite book can ignite personal creative drive. Key Takeaway Read to inspire your own work. Themes inspiration literature creativity motivation growth Mood reflective motivational encouraging Type literary creative personal development When to use this quote - writing - creative projects - reading recommendations Key Concepts creative spark literary influence personal development Questions to Reflect On - Which book has most motivated you? - How can you turn inspiration into action? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Ghosts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghosts/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) ## Related quotes > [“I wrote this book for the ghosts, who, because they're outside of time, are the only ones with time. After the last rereading (just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-bola-o/i-wrote-this-book-for-the-ghosts-who-because-they-re-outside-of-time/) [Roberto Bolaño](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-bola-o/) > [“huge bathtubs. One night in 1943, DeMille”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schochet/huge-bathtubs-one-night-in-1943-demille/) Stephen Schochet > [This industry has been really good to me. It's been a great life. I'm not through yet. I'm ready when you are, Mr. DeMille.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/this-industry-has-been-really-good-to-me-it-s-been-a-great-life-i-m/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [Of course, DeMille never did anything on a small scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-walker/of-course-demille-never-did-anything-on-a-small-scale/) [Clint Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-walker/) > [Mr. DeMille's theory of sexual difference was that marriage is an artificial state for women. The want to be taken, ruled, raped. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedy-lamarr/mr-demille-s-theory-of-sexual-difference-was-that-marriage-is-an/) [Hedy Lamarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedy-lamarr/) > [I want to be the Cecil B. DeMille of science fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-want-to-be-the-cecil-b-demille-of-science-fiction/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I worked with Cecil B DeMille quite a few times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-farnsworth/i-worked-with-cecil-b-demille-quite-a-few-times/) [Richard Farnsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-farnsworth/) > [Cecil B. DeMille worshipped the almighty buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/cecil-b-demille-worshipped-the-almighty-buck/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [How many more are there like you? (Maggie) Enough to make the cast of a Cecil B. DeMille film look like a two-man opera.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/how-many-more-are-there-like-you-maggie-enough-to-make-the-cast-of-a/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I always buy another book when I still have ten to read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bipolarkath/i-always-buy-another-book-when-i-still-have-ten-to-read/) Bipolarkath > [“My ideal relationship with a book is that I will read it for the first time entirely unspoiled. I won’t know anything whatsoever about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-walton/my-ideal-relationship-with-a-book-is-that-i-will-read-it-for-the/) [Jo Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-walton/) > ['A People's History of the United States' was actually a very big book for me. I read it in high school, and I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/a-people-s-history-of-the-united-states-was-actually-a-very-big-book/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [“The ultimate function of a book, however, is to be read, not to be looked or picked at.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danis-rose-and-john-o-hanlon-afterword-to-the-restored-finnegans-wake/the-ultimate-function-of-a-book-however-is-to-be-read-not-to-be/) Danis Rose and John O'Hanlon. Afterword to The Restored Finnegans Wake > [My Best Friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/my-best-friend-is-a-person-who-will-give-me-a-book-i-have-not-read/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [You ever buy a book and not read it? You feel almost guilty having it up on a bookshelf. People are like, "Hey, how's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/you-ever-buy-a-book-and-not-read-it-you-feel-almost-guilty-having-it/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) ## More by Douglas Brunt > [It's common knowledge that professional athletes earn extraordinary incomes. What is less known or understood is how the advent of these riches has seeped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/it-s-common-knowledge-that-professional-athletes-earn-extraordinary/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [D.C. is a small town with some big-town features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/d-c-is-a-small-town-with-some-big-town-features/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [I like to write in the mornings, so I try to protect 9 A.M. - 12 P.M. for me. I can drop our older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/i-like-to-write-in-the-mornings-so-i-try-to-protect-9-a-m-12-p-m-for/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [I do like Pat Conroy, and 'The Great Santini' is an iconic book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/i-do-like-pat-conroy-and-the-great-santini-is-an-iconic-book/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [I'm really troubled by the prevalence of single-sport specializations. I want my kids to do as many things for as long as they can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/i-m-really-troubled-by-the-prevalence-of-single-sport-specializations/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [When the kids are down, I have a drink and watch 'The Kelly File.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/when-the-kids-are-down-i-have-a-drink-and-watch-the-kelly-file/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [I've seen terrorism close up, but I don't live in a state of terror at all. I'm comfortable going to the Manhattan Thanksgiving Day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/i-ve-seen-terrorism-close-up-but-i-don-t-live-in-a-state-of-terror-at/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [I've been pretty damn happy since 2001. More apparent danger than real danger for me, and even the apparent danger hasn't kept me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/i-ve-been-pretty-damn-happy-since-2001-more-apparent-danger-than-real/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [Dad met Mom in 1983 during the lead-up to the 1984 games. She was an Olympic downhill skier. In those days, the winter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/dad-met-mom-in-1983-during-the-lead-up-to-the-1984-games-she-was-an/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [The important thing is to write when your brain is at its best. Work edits or do outside reading with the rest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/the-important-thing-is-to-write-when-your-brain-is-at-its-best-work/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [A tennis racket lurks in my earliest memories like a sick relative who had come to live with us. When I look at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/a-tennis-racket-lurks-in-my-earliest-memories-like-a-sick-relative/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [If you look at top players - Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi - so many had a parent who was domineering to the point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/if-you-look-at-top-players-steffi-graf-andre-agassi-so-many-had-a/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [The job for cable is to give the news and then also give the 'so what.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/the-job-for-cable-is-to-give-the-news-and-then-also-give-the-so-what/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [Wall Street has played a role in everyone's life, and it has been vilified by everyone, but I think that the average trader didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/wall-street-has-played-a-role-in-everyone-s-life-and-it-has-been/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [The main influence on voters should be a series of robust debates among the candidates. It's a free country, so this is a tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/the-main-influence-on-voters-should-be-a-series-of-robust-debates/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) [Explore all 35 Douglas Brunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The last book I read before I wrote my first book - 'Ghosts of Manhattan' - was 'The Gold Coast' by DeMille. 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