Whenever you talk about writing I think you have to remember that it all has a big question mark over it - every word has a big question mark over it.

With nonfiction, I go in trying to be really honest about what my preconceptions are.

If you understand writing as primarily engaging an imaginary reader, well, you've kind of been doing that your whole life. You walk into a room and you're engaging with imaginary strangers because you don't actually know who they are. For me, it was really empowering to say: this is a branch of entertainment and communication and engagement, as opposed to jumping over some perceived literary high bar. That was the buzzkill.

Life is short, very short, and what are we doing here if not trying to become more generous and loving?

When I write I know that I'm going to have to produce 40 percent more than I need.

Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.

I think this is the other big issue that is not going away: Do we really believe that bit in the Constitution or not? I think we do.