Get to know Narayana

Person who most inspired you: My father

Favorite movies: The Godfather, The Matrix

Favorite books: "Howard's End," "The Great Gatsby" Currently reading: "Wolf Hall," by Hilary Mantel

Three famous people you'd invite to dinner (living or dead): economist Mervyn King, physicist Richard Feynman, author Mark Twain

Three favorite TV shows: Fawlty Towers, Seinfeld, Cheers

Favorite vacation destination: Lake Superior North Shore

Hobbies: Dog-walking, hiking, reading, going to: movies, theater, classical music

Drives: Acura TL

Career: Chair, University of Minnesota Department of Economics, 2006-2008; professor, Stanford University, 2002-2005; also taught at University of Iowa and Northwestern University

Pets: Australian shepherds Pedro and Alice

Favorite quote: "Nothing is less real than realism ... Details are confusing. It is only by selection, by elimination, by emphasis, that we get at the real meaning of things." --Georgia O'Keefe

Favorite musicians: The Smiths, The Killers, Jack White

Five songs on your iPod

"Take Me Out"Franz Ferdinand

"All These Things that I've Done"The Killers

"Dreaming of You"The Coral

"Stronger"ø Kanye West

"Tangled Up In Blue"Bob Dylan