Wikipedia is just an incredible thing. It is fact-encirclingly huge, and it is idiosyncratic, careful, messy, funny, shocking and full of simmering controversies - and it is free, and it is fast. Nicholson Baker carefulcontroversyencirclingly Change image and share on social
The nice thing about a protest song is that it takes the complaint, the fussing, the finger-pointing, and gives it an added component of sociable harmony. Nicholson Baker addcomplaintcomponent Change image and share on social
I really practiced hard and got to a certain level of technical proficiency. I overcame some of my limitations. I was a hard-working, dedicated bassoonist, but I have to say I'm not a natural musician. Nicholson Baker bassoonistdedicatehard share on social
I'm often called obsessive, but I don't think I am any more than anyone else. Nicholson Baker callobsessive Change image and share on social
I think I am done with Wikipedia for the time being. But I have a secret hope. Someone recently proposed a Wikimorgue - a bin of broken dreams where all rejects could still be read, as long as they weren't libelous or otherwise illegal. Nicholson Baker binbreakdream share on social
When I really want to be soothed and reminded of why people bother to fiddle with sentences, I often read poetry. Nicholson Baker botherfiddlepeople Change image and share on social
I've never been a fast reader. I'm fickle; I don't finish books I start; I put a book aside for five, ten years and then take it up again. Nicholson Baker bookfastfickle Change image and share on social
While I was writing I assumed it would be published under a pseudonym, and that liberated me: what I wrote was exactly what I wanted to read. Nicholson Baker assumeliberatepseudonym Change image and share on social
So I really began as a failed poet - although when I first wanted to be a writer, I learned to write prose by reading poetry. Nicholson Baker beginfaillearn Change image and share on social
Haven't you felt a peculiar sort of worry about the chair in your living room that no one sits in? Nicholson Baker chairfeltlive Change image and share on social