I'm not a big novel reader, so it always surprises me when people mention the name of a novelist and I'm supposed to know all their work! This has always baffled me. That is not to say that I don't read novels, but that I prefer facts and information over fantasy. It might sound boring to some, but you might be surprised how knowledge can inspire and create wonder. I also love auto-biographies.My influences are many, but the major influences behind my book include Thomas Nagel and Peter Singer. Both are philosophers. Thomas Nagel still lectures at NYU and some of his work is not just profound in its insight, but is inspirational as literature. I have yet to read other non-fiction writers with such flair. Peter Singer started the Animal Liberation Movement in Australia and has lectured in philosophy for decades. He has many books, but his discussions on morality and ethics pack a punch. My book is a work of philosophy and its called 'Meaning, Self and the Human Potential'. It incorporates social theory and psychoanalytic theory and explores not only how we create meaning in life, but how we can reach our potential as individuals and as a human race.Feedback so far suggests to me that it might also branch over to the self-help genre, although that was never my intention. So, like the millions of other authors out there, I'm just trying to get it in front of the right audience.