Robert Lipsyte

Robert Lipsyte was born in New York City in 1938. He seemed perfectly poised to be an author from the moment he was bornboth of his parents were teachers. He spent much of his spare time reading and writing, having decided at an early age that he wanted to be a writer. Lipsyte's favorite authors influenced his books, and he has integrated some of their techniques into his own texts. Author Richard Halliburton's books taught Lipsyte that first the author has to live and sweat blood before he can write about it. Another one of Lipsyte's favorites, John Steinbeck, helped instill in Lipsyte a compassion for characters and a sense of place, especially appreciation for nature. Lipsyte was also highly influenced by Holden Caulfield, the principal character of The Catcher in the Rye.