Books. They don't mean anything.

I accidently discovered the movie Wonder Boys recently on DVD. It's a 2000 film starring Michael Douglas, Tobey MaGuire, Frances McDormand and Robert Downey, Jr. It's a very funny film about writing and book publishing.

The Michael Douglas character, author of a successful book seven years ago now struggling with his second book, mumbles to a gifted young writer played by Tobey MaGuire:

"Most people don't think and if they do, it's not about writing. Books. They don't mean anything. Not to anybody, not anymore."

As a book publisher, I recognize that there is some truth in those lines. Steve Kloves wrote the screenplay based on a novel by Michael Chabon.---Walter Haan, www.war-books.com