Andrew Needham is a history professor at New York University whose recent book, Power Lines: Phoenix and the Making of the Southwest, explores the development of Arizona. Before participating in a panel about Phoenix’s survival, he shared some thoughts about cheese personalities, Public Enemy, and making time for exercise.
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Semicolons. There’s very rarely a reason for them to exist.
Who was your biggest childhood hero?
One of them was Chester Marcol, who was the kicker for the Green Bay Packers. They called him the Polish Prince. When I was seven or eight, he beat the Chicago Bears by running in a blocked field goal.
What was the last thing that made you laugh?
The pet peeve question.
What cheese best describes you?
Five-year cheddar, because it is pretty smooth but kind of falling apart at all times.
How do you power your home?
With Con Ed electricity.
What is your favorite borough?
Manhattan. Manhattan is the new Brooklyn. You have great restaurants, you can walk anywhere, and you’re close to a subway.
What’s the best song about Phoenix or Arizona?
It’s not “By the Time I Get to Arizona” by Public Enemy.
If you had one more hour in the day, how would you use it?
I would probably use it exercising because then I would actually get to exercise.