I am a reader and a writer, although I was also a research physicist for about 30 years—believe it or not writing and imagination are almost as important in physics as is an understanding of how the world works, and mathematics. I've read so many many books I can't possibly remember them all, and I don't really try. I've put a few on my list here, but I had a habit of going on reading binges where I read a book a day. In 2009, for example, I read 220 Young Adult books, most were written by female authors and had a strong female protagonist. I was preparing to write a YA book with a teenage young woman as its main character (The Balance), and I wanted to saturate my brain with how a woman might write the part. I was also conducting flight testing of a new sensor we'd developed at the time and my team was all working long days, 7 days/week. Reading was the only way to escape the stress. I wrote the first draft of that book in 2011 (between Thanksgiving and New Year's day 6-weeks). Anyway, I'm sure I've read thousands of books—I just don't want to sit here and try to think of them all, so I've listed the first hundred or so that come to mind. Every now and then I'll add to the list. These days I'm pretty picky about what I'll read. I look for realistic characters (ones for whom I can have sympathy) and a good story. Action and violence are okay, as long as the action isn't the whole story and it supports the flavor of the novel, the way just the right seasoning does for food. I'm genre agnostic as a reader in much the way I am about writing. Don't pigeonhole me! As a writer, I'd have to say that John Steinbeck had a strong influence on me, although I learn from every book I read . . and every author. There are some good ones out there.