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There are very many people who read simply to prevent themselves from thinking.

There are people out there who will not read books, but somehow they'll read my books.

People are always coming up to me with my books and saying, 'You write these things I think but I could never say.'

I used to think... that people would think badly of me for various stuff they read. But now I accept it's just part of the deluge of stuff that comes every day.

Sit down to write what you have thought, and not to think about what you shall write.

I read all the time. Sometimes I get asked if I've thought about writing a novel.

I think some people wished I'd kept myself out of the book. But I kind of insist on it because I want the reader to share my engagement with the material, if you like, not pretend that I'm doing it completely intellectually.

Writing is a intensely personal activity. I can pen down my best thoughts when I'm alone. But when one is elevated into the stature of an author, you have to think about your books in terms of their business angle.

I haven't read a book in a very, very long time because, when I'm writing, I don't like to see other people's work. I don't want to see something great and not be able to use it, and I don't want to have any subconscious influences.