People in Russia adapt to misery by a deep, deep humor.

Russian humor is to adapt or make some sense or nonsense out of the insanity of their lives.

Every once in a while, people need to be in the presence of things that are really far away.

A book tour is not a good opportunity to let your mind wander. You have to pay attention, remember salespeople's and interviewers' names, succinctly summarize your book in a 'selling' way, and so on.

I don't have a disregard for my reader in humor pieces.

I only saw one English-speaking person all the way across Siberia.

Words are charms. It's like a song you didn't even know you knew.