Like all failed experiments, that one taught me something I didn’t expect: one key ingredient of so-called experience is the delusional faith that it is unique and special, that those included in it are privileged and those excluded from it are missing out.

I'm always happy," Sasha said. "Sometimes I just forget.

It's turning out to be a bad day, a day when the sun feels like teeth.

If you don't have people that the reader cares about and stories that are gripping, you've got nothing.

Kathy was a Republican, one of those people who used the unforgivable phrase "meant to be"--usually when describing her own good fortune or the disasters that had befallen other people.

I listened to classic rock and roll, and punk rock. 'Goon Squad' provides a pretty accurate playlist of my teenage years, though it leaves out 'The Who,' which was my absolute favorite band.

Everybody sounds stoned, because they're e-mailing people the whole time they're talking to you.