Good books put a finger on emotions that are deeply our own - but that we could never have described on our own.

Don't despair: despair suggests you are in total control and know what is coming. You don't - surrender to events with hope.

I passionately believe that's it's not just what you say that counts, it's also how you say it - that the success of your argument critically depends on your manner of presenting it.

We are certainly influenced by role models, and if we are surrounded by images of beautiful rich people, we will start to think that to be beautiful and rich is very important - just as in the Middle Ages, people were surrounded by images of religious piety.

We may seek a fortune for no greater reason than to secure the respect and attention of people who would otherwise look straight through us.

As we write, so we build: to keep a record of what matters to us.

Envy: a confused, tangled guide to one's own ambitions.