They wanted me to play more sports because they were acutely sensitive to their children being one hundred percent American, and they believed that all Americans played sports and loved sports.

Whatever the course, whether the course was boring or interesting to me, whether I was talented in mathematics or not talented in languages, my parents expected A's.

Going to school and working for good marks, indeed working for very good marks, was a serious business.

I read everything: fiction, history, science, mathematics, biography, travel.

I was also interested in chemistry, but my parents were not willing to buy me a chemistry set.

My parents regarded school teachers as higher beings, as did many immigrants.

There were two free public libraries within walking distance of my home; I remember taking six books home from every visit, the limit set by the library.