Even though sugar was very expensive, people consumed it till their teeth turned black, and if their teeth didn't turn black naturally, they blackened them artificially to show how wealthy and marvelously self-indulgent they were.

I'm not a natural story-teller. Put a keyboard in front of me and I'm fine, but stand me up in front of an audience and I'm actually quite shy and reserved.

Boston's freeway system is insane. It was clearly designed by a person who had spent his childhood crashing toy trains.

The first book I did - the first successful book - was a kind of a travel book, and publishers in Britain encouraged me to do more.

Four times I was honked at for having the temerity to proceed through town without the benefit of metal.

You can be a scientist and believe in god: the two can go hand in hand.

You may find that your parents are the most delightful people, but you don't want to live with them.