“There is only room in the lifeboat of your life for one, and you always choose yourself, and turn your parents into whatever it takes to keep you afloat.”

American author, journalist, and opinion columnist

Anna Marie Quindlen is an American author, journalist, and opinion columnist. She became known for her writing in newspapers and books, and for a voice that moves between public commentary and personal reflection. Her work spans journalism, fiction, and essays, which has made her a familiar name to readers of opinion writing. She is known for clear, direct prose and for observations that often touch on family, work, women’s lives, and the everyday pressures of modern life.