mann and richard roughing rei goes to the -- rodriguez to the library. [applause] [cheers and applause] >> first of all, let me say how pleased i am to be here interviewing charles. i feel a little bit like a child interviewing a giant, so if i seem a little star struck, forgive me. i was reading your book over several days. my partner, jim, and i tend to do a lot of reading on the weekends, but in separate rooms, and if i'm making noise or if i slam a book down on the table, he'll ask, what are you reading? on occasion, the occasion of this book, "1493", i would come into his room, and he said what are you reading? i said i'm reading this book about the tomato. [laughter] this book about a tomato that made its way from south america, to mexico, and ended on a plate of pasta in italy, and then i went back to the room. jim is under the impression as i grow older, i'm going completely mad, but the book was mad, and not i that was mad. a few hours later, he said, what are you reading now? still on that book? i said i'm reading a book about malaria, the rela