Katie Price is no exception. She, too, is - in a distinctive way - a philosopher. Partially, Katie Price's philosophy is one of extraordinary confidence. She is remarkable not for her looks or antics but because of her tremendous self-assurance and her unwillingness to be intimidated by criticism or failure.

It's clear to me that there is no good reason for many philosophy books to sound as complicated as they do.

I think of myself as quite a shy person. But when I'm curious about something, I'll go quite far to satisfy my curiosity.

Learning to give up on perfection may be just about the most romantic move any of us could make.

Anita Shreve is an author I adore. I rip through her meaty books and get off on the robust romance immensely - especially if I am feeling less than robust in my real life.

We don't tend to write about disease in fiction - not just teen novels but all American novels - because it doesn't fit in with our idea of the heroic romantic epic. There is room only for sacrifice, heroism, war, politics and family struggle.

I spent most of my life from 24 to 31 at the office. I wasn't going to people's weddings; I wasn't cultivating my marriage. I wasn't happy.

Teenagers' relationships with their parents often aren't really explored in much depth, but at that age, it's your primary relationship; they're the people you live with.