Barack Obama presents as kind of a cool character, and I think that that's his natural personality.

When I write a novel, I have what I think of as an icon that helps get me into the world of the book.

We don't do ambivalence well in America. We do courage of our convictions. We do might makes right. Ambivalence is French. Certainty is American.

Jane Austen may not be the best writer, but she certainly writes about the best people. And by that I mean people just like me.

an the president bring out the voters who were so enthusiastic about him in 2008 and seem a little disenchanted now? Can he bring out young people? Can he bring out Latinos? Can he bring out those white suburban moms?

I am an affirmative action hire.

That's really what I want in a leader; I want somebody who's really, really smart.