A water route to Chinese trade replacing the long, arduous Silk Road was a great dream of the Renaissance. Mark Kurlansky Read Quote
One of the things I am most proud of is refusing to serve in the military when drafted during the Vietnam War. Mark Kurlansky Read Quote
Religion is a big problem in Israel and the Arab world, but again, the problem isn’t religion but political leaders who want to use the religion. Mark Kurlansky Read Quote
How you solve your problems are quite different. In non-fiction, you can always go back to the research, whereas in fiction, you have to go back to yourself – which is a little bit scary. Mark Kurlansky Read Quote
I would like to know what politicians eat on the campaign trail, what Picasso ate in his pink period, what Walt Whitman ate while writing the verse that defined America, what mid-westerners bring to potlucks, what is served at company banquets, what is in a Sunday dinner these days, and what workers bring for lunch. Mark Kurlansky Read Quote
I have this whole section in my oyster book where I talk about how New Yorkers have gotten divorced from the sea and completely forget that they live by the sea, and I suggest that this happened when they lost their oysters. Mark Kurlansky Read Quote
The impact of the Vietnam War on TV made everyone recognize the importance of visual media. Mark Kurlansky Read Quote
Let’s face it: the 19th century really was the great age of the novel – Melville, Hawthorne, Tolstoy. These are the people I really admire. Mark Kurlansky Read Quote
I am first and foremost a storyteller; I want to tell a good story, and I want it to mean something – something that I think is important. Mark Kurlansky Read Quote
The Negro League had some of the best players in history. Satchel Paige was probably one of the best pitchers in the history of baseball, and many believe catcher Josh Gibson was a better hitter than Babe Ruth. Mark Kurlansky Read Quote