Thomas Piketty

'Das Kapital,' I think, is very difficult to read, and for me, it was not very influential.

The main force pushing toward reduction in inequality has always been the diffusion of knowledge and the diffusion of education.

I believe in the power of ideas, I believe in the power of books, but you have to give them time.

I was a bit challenged when I was younger to stay on the right path.

I studied international relations and economics at the University of Virginia. I paid my way by working as a bartender in the summer and at three part-time jobs during the year.

Well, I actually wrote her a letter a couple of days ago congratulating her. The tone I tried to convey in the letter is, look, you are a part of a great American historical process.