My first published novel, 'American Rust,' took three and a half years of full-time work to write. But I wrote two apprentice novels before that. Philipp Meyer americanapprenticefull Change image and share on social
Your mind burns a lot of calories. Writing can feel like a physical workout. Philipp Meyer burncaloriefeel Change image and share on social
When you look at 'Grapes of Wrath,' the weakest moments are those in which Steinbeck is spouting a political idea directly at the reader. The book's real power comes from its slower, broader movement. Philipp Meyer bookbroaddirectly Change image and share on social
We moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1979, when I was five. The funny thing is that, even though Baltimore had one of the top murder rates in the country in those days, I grew up hearing about how dangerous New York was. Philipp Meyer baltimorecountrydangerous share on social
I didn't fit the typical profile of a trader. I was an English major working on a novel at night. Most everyone else was a maths or economics major; most everyone else had relatives or family in banking. Philipp Meyer bankeconomicsenglish share on social
When people grow up in atmospheres of violence or atmospheres of poverty, they don't normally use hi-falutin' language to describe those things. They would describe some brutal event the same way we would describe getting a taxi or missing the bus. Philipp Meyer atmospherebrutalbus share on social
I like mechanical things; my first book was a mechanics guide - that was what my parents couldn't pry away from me; that was the blanket. Philipp Meyer blanketbookguide Change image and share on social
What art and books do at their best is investigate why we are the way we are. Philipp Meyer artbookinvestigate Change image and share on social
After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was calling in sick in order to work on my novel. Philipp Meyer callcollegecouple Change image and share on social
You don't make a decision about being a writer. There was a point, aged 21, when it became clear that this is who I am. The choice is how good you are going to be at it and how hard you are going to work. Philipp Meyer agechoiceclear share on social
