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After a while, you start to realize that you should write a book you would want to read. I try to write a book I would enjoy.

I write what I'd like to read and just hope that, along the way, others might like to read them, too.

My shorthand answer is that I try to write the kind of book that I would like to read. If I can make it clear and interesting and compelling to me, then I hope maybe it will be for the reader.

I just write the sort of book that I would enjoy reading myself, a book that is both scholarly and recreates the experience of people at that time.

I write the books to amuse myself.

I write books to find out about things.

I knew I would read all kinds of books and try to get at what it is that makes good writers good. But I made no promises that I would write books a lot of people would like to read.

I'd like to read a book sometime. I've never read a book before. That'd be an adventure. I understand they have pages and everything. Yeah, I've got to do that sometime.

I wanted to see if I could write a good book.

Usually I decide on what it is I'm writing next by the books I'm reading.