Book Quote by Simon Rich
“I read a ton of nonfiction. I tend to read about a lot of very extreme situations, life-or-death situations. I'm very interested in books about Arctic exploration or about doomed Apollo missions. I tend to read a lot of nonfiction that's sort of hyperbolic and visceral. And then I kind of draw on my own personal experiences and my own sort of generic life experience, and I kind of try to feed my day-to-day reality that I have with sort of high stakes reference points that I read about. They're things everyone can relate to.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015
The speaker uses extreme, high‑stakes nonfiction as a lens to make everyday life feel more vivid and meaningful.
In simple terms: Uses dramatic stories to enrich daily experience.
Incorporate bold references to deepen perspective.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- education
- motivational speaking
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do extreme stories change your view of daily challenges?
- What balance is needed between drama and realism?
May over‑dramatize routine, causing distortion.