i love robert carroll. it is a book i go back to. for politicians, patricia o'toole. i tend to go back to odd things. there are different books in each case. the alex james book was a huge inspiration to me. joe ellis, his jefferson book is again a perfect biography. >> go back to young people. what would you tell them if they wanted to do what you have done? what is the best way to train, to start, the experiences to have? >> the reading, reading, and reading. the re-reading is crucial. i think you see things on the second reading. every time i go back to "the great gatsby" it is a different book. the reading is interesting. you begin to see things. you have come to it as a different person. reading the right books is helpful. reading the wrong books can be an education as well. it is like saying a bad movie. it is good to see what can be done wrong. i think every young writer should remember that publishers are desperate for a good, new book published. there should be helped for what is yet to be done. -- there should be an amount of hope for what has yet to be done