If you put a frog in boiling water, it'll jump straight out. If you put it in cold water and gradually bring it to the boil, it'll sit right there until it dies. Scotland has been sitting in England's gradually boiling water for so long that many people are used to it. John Niven boilbringcold share on social
I remembered being young in the late '70s and early '80s and growing up at the height of the Cold War. I remembered how scared I was of nuclear weapons, how often I though about them and about the possibility of everything and everyone I knew vanishing in a second in temperatures hotter than the centre of the sun. John Niven 70s80scentre share on social
Non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia can only celebrate Valentine's Day behind closed doors. Apparently, this has led to a huge black market for flowers and wrapping paper. John Niven apparentlyarabiablack Change image and share on social
It's one of the hardest things in the world to sustain a monogamous relationship for many years. People out there who have been with their partners for 30 years or more - I salute you. But it's just as hard to admit something isn't working and then try to manage a civilised separation as best as you can. John Niven admitcivilisehard share on social
I wound up becoming an A&R man at London Records in the 1990s, during the boom of Britpop, the last great gold rush of the music industry. I saw incredible greed and terrible behaviour. I was greedy and terribly behaved. John Niven 1990sbehavebehaviour share on social
Being on set is difficult for the writer. Your job is done, and you have to step back and hand it over to the director. John Niven backdifficultdirector Change image and share on social
I've often found myself looking fondly at the Valentine's cultures in other countries. South Korea, for instance - where women must give chocolate to men. John Niven chocolatecountryculture Change image and share on social
I have to confess to not being a great forward planner. I'm the kind of person who regularly arranges to have dinner with five different people on the same night. John Niven arrangeconfessdinner Change image and share on social
When you are a novelist, you are used to making a narrative do what you want. John Niven makenarrativenovelist Change image and share on social
If I hadn't had that decade in the music industry and, perhaps more importantly, time to reach the point of being sick and disgusted with it, I wouldn't have written 'Kill Your Friends.' That book gave me my whole career. John Niven bookcareerdecade share on social