You should write first drafts as if they will never be shown to anyone.

Every time women make tremendous strides, the right wing gets terrified and creates laws making it hard to get an abortion or birth control.

Life has no plot. It is by far more interesting than anything you can say about it.

Is there a phrase in the English language more fraught with menace than a tax audit?

Every country gets the circus it deserves. Spain gets bullfights. Italy the Church. America Hollywood.

At certain historic moments, grandparents took on childrearing responsibilities. In many cultures, they still do. Chinese grandparents who are able to retire at 55 are seen all over Beijing bouncing grandbabies. In the United States, we can't afford to retire at 55.

Is a currency worth anything if no one wants it? We used to buy shoes in Italy. Remember?