The great weakness of the West is that it has nothing with which to inspire loyalty except wealth. But what is wealth? Another washing machine, a bigger car, a nicer house to live in? Not much to feed the spirit in all that.

Expecting to be wrong about most things most of the time brings, finally, the kind of humility that leads to peace. I think.

I am moonlighting for the Buddha.

Don't ask me when I first mastered the obvious.

There are plenty of brilliant people who are too stressed out to read challenging literary novels.

Las Vegas is the expression, in glitter and concrete, of Americas brittle and mutating id.

Shun security, I advise aspiring novelists when they complain to me that they are stuck. Get disoriented. Maybe your agonizing writing block isnt agonizing enough. Your enemy is comfort.