Afterwards, several people – both advisers and family members – told me that I had precisely described their experience.
"I wasn't drinking," Mr. Gingrich said, "but I had precisely the symptoms of somebody who was collapsing from under this weight".
I had precisely two Bartok discs in my record collection: on one was the Concerto for Orchestra and Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, his two best-known pieces; on the other, some less well-known piano pieces.
Let me be clear: I had precisely nothing to contribute to one of my friends' books, except for partaking of his friendship and considerable hospitality - sleeping on his sofa occasionally when I was in town, sharing dinners, cadging money.
I had precisely the same experience while working on my latest book, Possessed: The Life of Joan Crawford.
I was particularly nervous in my first few bookings, but over time I learned that if I had precisely everything I would need exactly where I needed it – from handcuffs to lube to the eyeliner and nail varnish I'd wear – my anxiety would decrease dramatically.
