Dustin Grinnell is a writer based in Boston. His creative nonfiction and fiction combine medicine and the humanities and have appeared in many popular and literary publications, including Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine, New Scientist, Tendon Magazine, VICE, and Salon. He’s the author of The Genius Dilemma, Without Limits, and The Empathy Academy. He’s written about the therapeutic power of books for The Boston Globe, Writer’s Digest, and Hektoen International. He holds an MFA in fiction from the Solstice MFA Program, an MS in physiology from Penn State, and a BA in psychobiology from Wheaton College (MA).

The Empathy Academy 
Atmosphere Press, 2022

A World Without Books was created to help writers connect with readers during the pandemic. This Micro-Podcast provides authors a platform to share stories about writing, discuss current projects, and consider life without books. Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you podcast.

Past Forward is a nonprofit organization dedicated to community building. As a public podcast service and distributor, our creative media is designed to amplify the voices of community leaders by providing a platform to share stories about civic engagement and cultural enrichment. For further learning, our book initiative provides access to millions of books at a discount price.

Brett Shapiro is an American writer and the best-selling author of L’Intruso – a memoir published in Italy (Feltrinelli) that was later produced into an award-winning film and theatrical production. He is also the author of two children’s books, one of which was the recipient of Austria’s prestigious National Book Award. Several of his short stories have been performed in theatres throughout Italy, where he lived for 25 years, and his essays and articles have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers in Italy and the United States. While in Italy, he made many guest appearances on Italian television, including as commentator for 60 Minutes, and was a regular guest lecturer at the University of Siena. Brett is a veteran writer for the United Nations and currently lives by the beach in Florida.

Those Around Him
Independently Published, 2019

A World Without Books was created to help writers connect with readers during the pandemic. This Micro-Podcast provides authors a platform to share stories about writing, discuss current projects, and consider life without books. Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you podcast.

Past Forward is a nonprofit organization dedicated to community building. As a public podcast service and distributor, our creative media is designed to amplify the voices of community leaders by providing a platform to share stories about civic engagement and cultural enrichment. For further learning, our book initiative provides access to millions of books at a discount price.

Angie Sage is an English author of children's literature, including the best selling Septimus Heap series, the TodHunter Moon trilogy, and the Araminta Spookie series. She attended the Art School in Leicester, studying Illustration and Graphic Design. After college she developed her passion and began writing and illustrating toddler books. Her debut novel was the first book in the Septimus Heap series: Magyk, published in March 2005, immediately becoming an international bestseller after it appeared at number one on the New York Times Best Sellers List.

Without These Books is a thank-you-inspired Video/Podcast. Each episode celebrates authors, books, and characters that changed us as writers, readers, and as people. Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you podcast. Watch on our YouTubechannel or at pastforward.org.

Angie Sage selected King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green for her episode of Without These Books.