Don't be afraid to tell the truth. It's better to hurt someone by truth than to make them happy by lies.

Not a word passes between us, not because we have nothing to say, but because we don't have to say anything

I don't listen to music when I write - I find it distracting.

My books are about ordinary people, like you, me, people on the street, people who really have an expectation of reasonable happiness in life, want their life to have a sense of security and predictability, who want to belong to something bigger than them, who want love and affection in their life, who want a good future for the children.

You have think tanks like the widely respected Atlantic Council that have published reports in the past year that have called Afghanistan a failing state.

Perspective [is] a luxury when your head [is] constantly buzzing with a swarm of demons.

A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything.