What Is the What writes: "Over the course of many years, Dave and I have collaborated to tell my story... I told [him] what I knew and what I could remember, and from that material he created this work of art." The book is typical of Eggers' style: blending non-fictional and fictional elements into a non-fiction novel or memoir. By classifying the book a novel, Eggers says, he freed himself to re-create conversations, streamline complex relationships, add relevant detail and manipulate time and space in helpful ways—all while maintaining the essential truthfulness of the storytelling. However, not all critics were impressed. Lee Siegel sees
The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was the tale in the first season, second episode as "Fearnot". Shelley Duvall's TV show "Faerie Tale Theatre" adapted it as "The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers" The episodic games of "American McGee's Grimm" on Gametap debuted with "A Boy Learns What Fear Is" on July 31, 2008. The MC Frontalot song "Shudders", from his album "Question Bedtime", is based on this story. The title is often varied for example by the band Wir sind Helden in their song "Zieh dir was an: Du hast dich ausgezogen, uns das Fürchten zu lehren..."(translated "Dress yourself, you have