The author, who lacks programming skills, was looking for a simple way to import data into Neo4j. They created a spreadsheet with two parts: the first containing data for nodes and relationships, and the second providing instructions on how to create Cypher statements from these columns using string concatenation and Neo4j syntax. The Cypher statements allow users to create nodes with specific properties and relationships between them, referencing node IDs in other columns. A separate instruction sheet provides step-by-step guidance on how to use the data import sheet, including downloading Neo4j, wrapping Cypher statements in transactions, enabling auto-indexing, and starting the server. The spreadsheet is available for download, along with a free copy of O'Reilly's Graph Databases ebook.