2 March 2015
Many years ago, when I had just started writing books about philosophy, I got talking to two of my newly acquired peers. I asked one what he was currently working on, which as conversational gambits go is about as original as asking a novelist where she gets her ideas from. Having heard his answer, I perhaps tactlessly noted that quite a lot of books had recently appeared on this subject.
"Yes," he said, "but I really do think mine will be the best."
"Really?" I asked, perhaps too incredulously.
"Yes, I do," he said, with utmost sincerity. The second writer eagerly chipped in: "You have to believe your book is going to be the best, otherwise you'd never write it."
