An ordinary life examined closely reveals itself to be exquisite and complicated and exceptional, somehow managing to be both heroic and plain.

Libraries are what is best about us as a society: open, exciting, rich, informative, free, inclusive, engaging.

'Brave' is one of those words that has been bleached of most of its meaning these days, thanks to far too many appearances in the glaring light of ad slogans and corporate public relations. I never thought about anything as brave anymore; it just seemed like a flabby, glib cliche.

I like the idea that people get engaged thinking about design, about creativity. I don't see how it could possibly be bad.

In my perfect world, we would establish perhaps four national zoos of unimpeachable quality and close the rest of them.

One of the very best reasons for having children is to be reminded of the incomparable joys of a snow day.

One of my favorite activities as a teen-ager was to watch television over the phone with my best friend.