Books Quotes by Colson Whitehead

There's always an attack on the sophomore novel from some quarters.

— Colson Whitehead

I try to have each book be an antidote to the one before.

— Colson Whitehead

Most of my books have always worked through juxtaposition, jumping through different point of views and time.

— Colson Whitehead

Google "brooklyn writer" and you'll get, Did you mean: the future of literature as we know it?

— Colson Whitehead

A lot of my books have started with an abstract premise.

— Colson Whitehead

Some books are well-received with critics; other books sell.

— Colson Whitehead

'Sag Harbor' was a very different book for me. It changed the way I thought about books that I wanted to do.

— Colson Whitehead

Usually, when I write a novel, it takes me about 100 pages to figure out the voice of the narrator.

— Colson Whitehead

I grew up reading the 'Village Voice' and wanting to be one of these multidisciplinary music writers, film writers, book writers. And…

— Colson Whitehead

“Master said the only thing more dangerous than a nigger with a gun,” he told them, “was a nigger with a book.…

— Colson Whitehead

Growing up devouring horror comics and novels, and being inspired to become a writer because of horror novels, movies, and comic books,…

— Colson Whitehead

I write the books that I'm compelled to and I definitely learn things about the world when I write them, and I…

— Colson Whitehead

Anytime an African-American writes an unconventional novel, the writer gets compared to Ellison. But that's O.K. I am working in the African-American…

— Colson Whitehead

I write books and either people read them or they don't read them. The rise of Facebook or e-books doesn't change the…

— Colson Whitehead

I wanted to be one of these multidisciplinary critics who is doing music one day, TV the next, and books the next.

— Colson Whitehead

I think each book has its own way of accommodating my concerns, whether it's about race, America, technology, the city.

— Colson Whitehead

“The white man in the book, Gulliver, roved from peril to peril, each new island a new predicament to solve before he…

— Colson Whitehead

Part of any book is establishing the rules at the end of the world. My first book, 'The Intuitionist,' takes place in…

— Colson Whitehead

The readership for 'Sag Harbor' was different from people who'd read me before - it was linear and realistic, not as strange…

— Colson Whitehead

I try to keep each different book different from the last. So 'Sag Harbor' is very different from 'Apex Hides the Hurt;'…

— Colson Whitehead

I always have a few ideas that are percolating, and then after I've finished a book and it's a year later, and…

— Colson Whitehead

Early on my career, I figured out that I just have to write the book I have to write at that moment.…

— Colson Whitehead

Twenty years ago, when I started writing, I didn't define myself as an African-American writer. And then you write books and you're…

— Colson Whitehead

I wrote a book of essays about New York called 'The Colossus of New York,' but it's not about - you know,…

— Colson Whitehead

In terms of the economics, yes obviously the rise of e-books and how people choose to read books has a big effect…

— Colson Whitehead

When I was a kid, I'd go to the African-American section in the bookstore, and I'd try and find African-American people I…

— Colson Whitehead

“HE remembered looking "agape" in his encyclopedia volume after he read Dr. King's speech in the DEFENDER. The newspaper ran the address…

— Colson Whitehead

I'm just trying to keep things rich for me creatively and for the readers who follow me.

— Colson Whitehead

I always try to mix it up with each book - changing tone, changing style keeps the work very vital for me.

— Colson Whitehead

Each book requires a different kind of treatment and structural gambit.

— Colson Whitehead

'John Henry Days' was already half in the can before my first book came out, so I'd already started something that was…

— Colson Whitehead

As I get older and write more books I'm definitely allowing the humorous side of my personality more rein in my work.

— Colson Whitehead

If you're writing a detective novel or horror or sci-fi, you want to expand or reinvigorate the genre in your own little…

— Colson Whitehead

I knew that a zombie book would not particularly appeal to some of my previous readers, but it was artistically compelling, and…

— Colson Whitehead

It's always hard to write and get your words out there, to find an editor, a publisher - readers! - who are…

— Colson Whitehead

I'm trying to keep it fresh for me. I'm just trying to not bore myself. And if I can do a detective…

— Colson Whitehead

As always, a lot of bad books will be published. Some good books will be published, and you have to seek them…

— Colson Whitehead

When I'm working on a book, I try to do eight pages a week. That seems like a good amount. Less than…

— Colson Whitehead

In terms of why everything is different, each book is different than the one before because I'm so bored of what I…

— Colson Whitehead

People don't like it when you compare the miracle of childbirth to writing a book, but I think there is some overlap…

— Colson Whitehead