I have to detach myself completely from aspirations. I hardly ever listen to music anymore because it arouses all of this yearning in me

For 'Seabiscuit,' I interviewed 100 people I never met.

His books were the closest thing he had to furniture and he lived in them the way other men live in easy chairs.

Though all three men faced the same hardship, their differing perceptions of it appeared to be shaping their fates. Louie and Phil's hope displaced their fear and inspired them to work toward their survival, and each success renewed their physical and emotional vigor. Mac's resignation seemed to paralyze him and the less he participated in their efforts to survive, the more he slipped. Though he did the least, as the days passed, it was he who faded the most. Louie and Phil's optimism, and Mac's hopelessness, were becoming self-fulfilling.

Having a lot of people suddenly depending on me to get the job done was a marvelous motivator. The book and movie deals seemed to flip a switch in my head, and off I went

My illness is excruciating and difficult to cope with. It takes over your entire life and causes more suffering than I can describe.

Without dignity, identity is erased.