When I really want to be soothed and reminded of why people bother to fiddle with sentences, I often read poetry. – Nicholson Baker
So I really began as a failed poet – although when I first wanted to be a writer, I learned to write prose by reading poetry. – Nicholson Baker
In my case, adulthood itself was not an advance, although it was a useful waymark. – Nicholson Baker
Wikipedia is just an incredible thing. It is fact-encirclingly huge, and it is idiosyncratic, careful, messy, funny, shocking and full of simmering controversies – and it is free, and it is fast. – Nicholson Baker