--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Growing up,” he said, “my favorite author…" description: "\"“Growing up,” he said, “my favorite author was Isaac Asimov, the science fiction writer. Have any of you ever read the short story The Last Answer?” Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/douglas-e-richards-8399_books_growing-up-he-said-my-favorite-author-wa_1840384.jpg" --- # Growing up,” he said, “my favorite author was Isaac… ![“Growing up,” he said, “my favorite author was Isaac Asimov, the science fiction writer. Have any of you ever read the short story The Last Answer?” There” quote by Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/douglas-e-richards-8399_books_growing-up-he-said-my-favorite-author-wa_1840384.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/douglas-e-richards-8399_books_growing-up-he-said-my-favorite-author-wa_1840384.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/douglas-e-richards-8399_books_growing-up-he-said-my-favorite-author-wa_1840384.jpg) > ““Growing up,” he said, “my favorite author was Isaac Asimov, the science fiction writer. Have any of you ever read the short story The Last Answer?” There”” [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker recalls a favorite author and asks about a specific story, inviting curiosity about speculative fiction. **In simple terms:** He mentions Asimov and a story. Key Takeaway Explore the referenced story. Themes literature science fiction nostalgia Mood curious nostalgic Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - reading clubs - education - personal interest Key Concepts storytelling curiosity Questions to Reflect On - What draws you to classic sci‑fi? - How does The Last Answer resonate today? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asimov/) [Asimov Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asimov-science-2344528/) [Author Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author-isaac-2344529/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Favorite Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favorite-author-1568595/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isaac-asimov/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [For bedtime reading, I usually curl up with a good monograph on quantum physics or string theory, my specialty. But since I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/for-bedtime-reading-i-usually-curl-up-with-a-good-monograph-on/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [“People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Isaac Asimov”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohi-shetty/people-who-think-they-know-everything-are-a-great-annoyance-to-those/) [Rohi Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohi-shetty/) > [I did a film called 'Nightfall,' based on Isaac Asimov life, which was directed by an American director. However it was a short film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashish-vidyarthi/i-did-a-film-called-nightfall-based-on-isaac-asimov-life-which-was/) [Ashish Vidyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashish-vidyarthi/) > [“The science fiction novelist Isaac Asimov reportedly once said, “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/the-science-fiction-novelist-isaac-asimov-reportedly-once-said-the/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” ― Isaac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/your-assumptions-are-your-windows-on-the-world-scrub-them-off-every-3/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [Whenever someone wonders how I could have written 57 books, I remind them that Isaac Asimov wrote 500 books. I like Asimov's view that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/whenever-someone-wonders-how-i-could-have-written-57-books-i-remind/) [Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/) > [In accordance with the terms of the Clarke-Asimov treaty, the second-best science writer dedicates this book to the second-best science-fiction writer. \[dedication to Isaac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/in-accordance-with-the-terms-of-the-clarke-asimov-treaty-the-second/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [There were four major 20th-century science fiction writers: Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein and Ray Bradbury. Of those four, the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/there-were-four-major-20th-century-science-fiction-writers-arthur-c/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [We never had books at home, but my dad, seeing how keen I was to read, took me to Islington Library when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/we-never-had-books-at-home-but-my-dad-seeing-how-keen-i-was-to-read/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [“Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy centers around the “Seldon Plan” to shorten a reversion period from 30,000 years to 1,000 years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/isaac-asimov-s-foundation-trilogy-centers-around-the-seldon-plan-to/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [“Isaac Asimov’s remark about the infantilism of pseudoscience is just as applicable to religion: ‘Inspect every piece of pseudoscience and you will find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/isaac-asimov-s-remark-about-the-infantilism-of-pseudoscience-is-just/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [My name is Bruce Feiler, and I'm an explainaholic. I first heard this word used to describe Isaac Asimov, and I knew instantly that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/my-name-is-bruce-feiler-and-i-m-an-explainaholic-i-first-heard-this/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [Isaac Asimov is, in reality, based on something I had invented a few years previously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/isaac-asimov-is-in-reality-based-on-something-i-had-invented-a-few/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [I've read everything that Isaac Asimov ever wrote, for a start. I'm massively into my fantasy genre, anything by R.A. Salvatore or David Gemmell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-ve-read-everything-that-isaac-asimov-ever-wrote-for-a-start-i-m/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [I've written five books, a book every three years. I'm fairly lazy and it doesn't take that much...people who are not lazy are Isaac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/i-ve-written-five-books-a-book-every-three-years-i-m-fairly-lazy-and/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) ## More by Douglas E. Richards > [“We can learn from our past mistakes. But we’re not allowed to ruin the now by beating ourselves up over the then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/we-can-learn-from-our-past-mistakes-but-we-re-not-allowed-to-ruin-the/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“It never ceased to amaze him the power of the sex drive. No matter how intelligent and rational a person was otherwise, the sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/it-never-ceased-to-amaze-him-the-power-of-the-sex-drive-no-matter-how/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies (2014) by Nick Bostrom, a Professor at Oxford.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/superintelligence-paths-dangers-strategies-2014-by-nick-bostrom-a/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“The more I immerse myself in science and technology, the greater my need to retreat back to nature. I find it easier to contemplate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/the-more-i-immerse-myself-in-science-and-technology-the-greater-my/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“Either your couch just gave birth to a litter of throw pillows, or you have a woman living here.”  “You”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/either-your-couch-just-gave-birth-to-a-litter-of-throw-pillows-or-you/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“satisfaction. “I’m going to be very busy.” \* \* \* Blake and Wexler traveled to the fifth floor, one of those that was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/satisfaction-i-m-going-to-be-very-busy-blake-and-wexler-traveled-to/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“He half expected to receive a rocket-propelled suppository at any moment, but none came.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/he-half-expected-to-receive-a-rocket-propelled-suppository-at-any/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“You don’t need creativity when you’re telling the truth,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/you-don-t-need-creativity-when-you-re-telling-the-truth/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“sure they’ll leave us alone.’” “I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/sure-they-ll-leave-us-alone-i/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“Smith in frustration. “If all she wanted was muscle, she could”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/smith-in-frustration-if-all-she-wanted-was-muscle-she-could/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“Nightmarish Future “B”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/nightmarish-future-b/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“But even democracies like ours are rife with corruption. The founding fathers had the right idea. They never envisioned professional politicians. They wanted citizen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/but-even-democracies-like-ours-are-rife-with-corruption-the-founding/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, moves on: nor all thy piety nor wit shall lure it back to cancel half a line,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/the-moving-finger-writes-and-having-writ-moves-on-nor-all-thy-piety/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“Economic theory would tell you that a rational person would take the thirty dollars every time. Forget the other party, the decision was simple.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/economic-theory-would-tell-you-that-a-rational-person-would-take-the/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“Would a coward or a thief remain a coward or a thief, even if his memory slate was wiped clean? Or could he somehow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/would-a-coward-or-a-thief-remain-a-coward-or-a-thief-even-if-his/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) [Explore all 77 Douglas E. Richards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) ## More Asimov quotes > [“People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Isaac Asimov”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohi-shetty/people-who-think-they-know-everything-are-a-great-annoyance-to-those/) [Rohi Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohi-shetty/) > [I've read everything that Isaac Asimov ever wrote, for a start. I'm massively into my fantasy genre, anything by R.A. Salvatore or David Gemmell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-ve-read-everything-that-isaac-asimov-ever-wrote-for-a-start-i-m/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [Isaac Asimov is, in reality, based on something I had invented a few years previously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/isaac-asimov-is-in-reality-based-on-something-i-had-invented-a-few/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Asimov was the reason why we changed some rules in the SFWA, and I'm not convinced we changed it for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pournelle/asimov-was-the-reason-why-we-changed-some-rules-in-the-sfwa-and-i-m/) [Jerry Pournelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pournelle/) > [My name is Bruce Feiler, and I'm an explainaholic. I first heard this word used to describe Isaac Asimov, and I knew instantly that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/my-name-is-bruce-feiler-and-i-m-an-explainaholic-i-first-heard-this/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [“Isaac Asimov’s remark about the infantilism of pseudoscience is just as applicable to religion: ‘Inspect every piece of pseudoscience and you will find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/isaac-asimov-s-remark-about-the-infantilism-of-pseudoscience-is-just/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. -Issac Asimov-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keisha-v/people-who-think-they-know-everything-are-a-great-annoyance-to-those-2/) [Keisha V](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keisha-v/) > [For bedtime reading, I usually curl up with a good monograph on quantum physics or string theory, my specialty. But since I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/for-bedtime-reading-i-usually-curl-up-with-a-good-monograph-on/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [“Far from disproving the existence of God, astronomers may be finding more circumstantial evidence that God exists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jastrow/far-from-disproving-the-existence-of-god-astronomers-may-be-finding/) [Robert Jastrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jastrow/) > [“Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy centers around the “Seldon Plan” to shorten a reversion period from 30,000 years to 1,000 years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/isaac-asimov-s-foundation-trilogy-centers-around-the-seldon-plan-to/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [A story in Asimov's is read by hundreds of thousands of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-egan/a-story-in-asimov-s-is-read-by-hundreds-of-thousands-of-people/) [Greg Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-egan/) > [We never had books at home, but my dad, seeing how keen I was to read, took me to Islington Library when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/we-never-had-books-at-home-but-my-dad-seeing-how-keen-i-was-to-read/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [It's hard not to like Asimov; he's a really likable guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/it-s-hard-not-to-like-asimov-he-s-a-really-likable-guy/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [“They spoke as if this were settled science. We’ll discuss the three laws in chapter 1, but it’s enough to say for now that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-barrat/they-spoke-as-if-this-were-settled-science-we-ll-discuss-the-three/) [James Barrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-barrat/) > [There were four major 20th-century science fiction writers: Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein and Ray Bradbury. Of those four, the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/there-were-four-major-20th-century-science-fiction-writers-arthur-c/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) [Browse all 37 Asimov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asimov/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Growing up,” he said, “my favorite author was Isaac Asimov, the science fiction writer. Have any of you ever read the short story The Last Answer?” There”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas E. 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