Sherman Alexie

I don't know what any individual should do about crossing her own borders. I only know that I live a happier, more adventurous life, by crossing borders.

You want the good life? You live where white people live, you go to school where white people go to school, and you shop where white people shop.

My father was sleepless most of his life. So by the age of five, I was awake with him all night long, watching bad television or we'd lie in the same bed, and I'd read my comic books while he read his latest spy or mystery novel.

The dream he needed most was the dream that frightened him more.

You'd never know it from reading the rest of the Native writers, but Indians actually grew up with American pop culture.

I don't have to participate in another culture's ceremonies in order to respect that culture.

I grew up in a storytelling culture, a tribal culture, but also in an American storytelling culture.

Writing is a lonely business.

Well, I think the worst part about tribalism is its tendency to fundamentalize, and if I can fight fundamentalism in any of its forms I'm happy.

My wife was the first romantic partner who understood both American and native parts of me - not so much the positive stuff, but the damage.

I wanted to do a weird book and reestablish my independent, small-press roots.

I think that white women are more apt to read laterally. So I think there's some strong identification for women, and their political and social positions, and minorities. I think that the political power of, let's say, the average Indian man and a white woman are pretty equal.