“Maybe we’ll believe each other when we tell our stories, maybe we’ll come to different conclusions. Even from a very strong disagreement, one can begin an interesting conversation.” Julia Fiedorczuk talks to Jonathan Safran Foer, the author of Everything Is Illuminated, Eating Animals and We are the Weather.

Julia Fiedorczuk: I must begin by asking you simply: How are you? How are you coping with the strange situation that we find ourselves in at this time of social distancing?

Jonathan Safran Foer: Well, I would say a week or two ago there was a much greater awareness of the emergency. There were sirens going off all the time. And now it is almost back to normal. I mean, everyone is wearing a mask and, of course, restaurants are closed and all of that… but my life sort of resembled quarantine anyway, so, you know [laughs].

I understand completely – I’m sort of a hermit myself. What do you think the aftermath of this situation is going to be? Some people believe it might lead to an environmental awakening. Do you think this weird experience could be a chance to make people more aware of their dependence on the environment and on each other; of their own fragility?

I hope so. If nothing else, at least this moment definitely proves that we are capable of making big changes quickly, although Americans may be having a harder time with that than some other places in the world. After only one month, people are protesting. And for what? I can’t even imagine the answer to that question. Anyway, it’s interesting to think why we are able to make this change. You hear people say: It’s inspiring that we are protecting the more vulnerable among us. We’re willing to alter our lives for older or sick people. I don’t think that’s true. I think people are trying to protect themselves. If your government had said that everybody needs to go into quarantine otherwise people in Bangladesh will get coronavirus, would people have obeyed? Or not even that. If the government had said you need to wash your hands,