“The idea is that if you practice the Naikan part of Constructive Living, life becomes a series of small miracles, and you may start to notice everything that goes right in a typical life and not the few things that go wrong.”

“The Need to Read"Reading books remains one of the best ways to engage with the world, become a better person and understand life’s questions, big and small.”

“Good books often answer questions you didn't even know you wanted to ask.”

“Trust is all about instinct. If you had all the facts, you wouldn't need trust. Trust is what is required in the absence of proof. But I believe you can strengthen your instincts by testing them; every time you prove yourself right or wrong, they grow stronger.”

“Reading and naps, two of life's greatest pleasures, go especially well together.”

“Good books often answer questions you didn't even know you wanted to ask”

“And there's something you can always tell people who want to learn more about the world and who don't know how to find a cause to support. You can always tell them to read.”

“If our family was an airline, Mom was the hub and we were the spokes. You rarely went anywhere nonstop; you went via Mom, who directed the traffic flow and determined the priorities: which family member was cleared for takeoff or landing. Even my father was not immune to Mom's scheduling, though he was given more leeway than the rest of us.”

“The greatest gift you can give anyone is your undivided attention...”

“The thing about Americans,” she said, “is that you’re very concerned about everything all the time.”

“If I'd waited until I was well rested to read, I never would have read anything.”