No, people back home don't realize why there is this kind of need for heroes in America at the moment. People in Britain don't really understand what's going on here. They don't understand why Camp X-ray exists.

Capitalism, perhaps at its most remorseless, is a physical manifestation of psychopathy.

Oh, you know what bloggers are like, they write and write and write. I don't know why, because they're not being paid.

When I asked Robert Spitzer about the possibility that he'd inadvertently created a world in which ordinary behaviours were being labelled mental disorders, he fell silent. I waited for him to answer. But the silence lasted three minutes. Finally he said, 'I don't know.

In the midst of a burning-hot shaming, calling for patience and context and understanding and empathy can really land you in trouble.

It is slightly chilling to realize there are rational, functional people up there employed to spot, nurture, and exploit those down here among us who are irrational and can barely cope. If you want to know how stupid you’re perceived to be by the people up there, count the unsolicited junk mail you receive. If you get a lot, you’re perceived to be alluringly stupid.

But on the extremist side I didn't get any rejections at all. Everyone agreed to talk to me.