In hospitals I feel palpable comfort. I feel the competence, the expertise, so much education and money, all of the supplies sterile, everything packaged, sealed tight. My fears evaporate when the automatic doors shush open.

It was just an idea I had, that it could be cool to have a book covered in fake fur.

It all sounds good, and it seems to me, if a system would work, this might be the spot. But frankly, I don't think we have any good numbers to tell us if it's a viable option at this point.

I don't think there's a neighborhood where more writers live. There is no neighborhood in the world - and I've looked - with more independent bookstores in such a small area.

People are strange, but more than that, they're good. They're good first, then strange.

I try to get anybody coming to San Francisco to come to the Mission. Not to misuse the word 'authentic' - I think that's such a troubling word - but the Mission really does have all the best parts of San Francisco intersecting here.