Years ago when I got stuck, I'd start twirling my hair. That's not possible anymore. I can't prove the relationship between writing and hair loss, but I think I pulled out a fair amount trying to work on certain sentences.

Point of view is present in anything I write, but I really try to let the subject and facts speak for themselves.

I've written about illegal immigrants in the United States; I spent a year following migrant farm workers as they were harvesting. I've written about our criminal justice system, and how it treats the victims of crime. I've been working for years now on a book about prisons in America, and I've been going into prisons and traveling around the country and seeing what's going on.

I really like visiting schools, but what I tell students isn't anywhere near as interesting to me as what they tell me.

During my school visits, I really enjoy the feedback I get from them much more than anything I might tell say to them.

We can have Americans eating affordably and eating in a way that's sustainable.

As a matter of fact, most cases of food poisoning are never linked back to their source.