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
When I finish a book, I get extremely restless; I have to aggressively find ways to occupy myself; going off into the woods alone, doing things that are physically or mentally demanding to keep myself busy until the next big idea comes. Philipp Meyer aggressivelybigbook 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
Nothing prepares you for making art except making art. You have to do it to get better. Philipp Meyer artmakeprepare Change image and share on social
Whenever I'm interested in something, I make sure I'm really good at it. Philipp Meyer goodinterestmake Change image and share on social
When novels deal in abstractions, they generally go off the rails. Philipp Meyer abstractiondealgenerally Change image and share on social
When you start to look at Native American history, you realize that, very far from being a peaceful, morally superior people, Native Americans were not that different from Europeans. Philipp Meyer americaneuropeanhistory Change image and share on social
Texas was mostly short-grass and tall-grass prairie when modern Europeans arrived here. It really was a land of milk and honey. But when they brought all these cattle onto these relatively small bits of land, and the cattle were allowed to graze freely, they essentially destroyed the prairie. Philipp Meyer allowarrivebit share on social
I thought that I would have a huge literary novel coming out when I was, like, 29. I quit my banking job, and I was halfway through my second novel - and I will never publish it, because it's very mediocre. Philipp Meyer bankcomehalfway share on social