Antonio Damasio

Antonio Damasio is David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Neurology, and director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California. He is author several books including Descartes’ Error and, most recently, Self Comes to Mind: Constructing the Conscious Brain. Below, he takes our In The Green Room Q&A.

Q. What surprises you the most about your life right now?
A. Can I answer with a joke? I have this laryngitis and I’m still speaking.

Q. What is the last habit you tried to kick?
A. Not doing enough exercise.

Q. Who was your childhood hero?
A. Tin Tin.

Q. What do you consider to be the greatest simple pleasure?
A. Enjoying good weather by the seaside next to a forest of pines.

Q. Where would we find you at 10 a.m. Saturday morning?
A. Probably at home writing or reading.

Q. What do you wish you had the nerve to do?
A. Be an airplane pilot.

Q. Who is your favorite fictional character?
A. As a dramatic character, Gatsby. As a comedic character, Alvy Singer in “Annie Hall.”

Q. What is your most prized material possession?
A. Certain pieces of art.

Q. Who is the one person living or dead you would most like to meet for dinner?
A. Perhaps Goethe.

To read more about Damasio’s talk, click here.

*Photo by Aaron Salcido.