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

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

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

"Dreaming of You"The Coral

"Stronger"ø Kanye West