When you construct a mix tape, the first song you come out with has to be a barnburner.

I used to sleep with my books in piles all over my bed and sometimes they were the only thing keeping me warm and always the only thing keeping me alive. Books are the best and worst defense.

All art is exploitation.

I ain't interested in the truth. I'm interested in the way things should be.

My wife was the first romantic partner who understood both American and native parts of me - not so much the positive stuff, but the damage.

My career means, if you're a non-Indian writing about Indians, at least there's one Indian in your rearview mirror.

The cello looks like a woman to me. And, you know, the curves. And so I am in a way, and it's funny to admit this, I am sexually attracted to the cello, the curves really get me. So as I watched him play, you know, Yo Yo Ma is sort of making love to a beautiful woman.