Sumit

Sumit is wise and kind and very funny, an irresistible combination in itself, but on top of that he’s also an outstanding poet.

Because she’s really cool. And I am not referring to her place of residence.

So many reasons. Because he took on the music industry and won (and released some dynamite records and liberated kopyright in the process). Because he took on the art industry and lost (but what a glorious failure). Because he burnt a million quid (which must at least have taken guts, no matter how self-indulgent you might think it was). Because he “magicalizes” everything he does (and magicalizes it for you, too). Because he goes on insane road trips to lunatic places (and makes psychogeography sound brilliant, not wanky). Because I find the thought of meeting him unreasonably scary (although he sounds like he’d actually be soft-spoken and thoughtful in person). And because he writes exquisitely honest stories about life and loss (and I wish I could be that honest in my writing).

Can you say zeitgeist? Douglas Coupland can.

Grant Morrison writes the most mind-boggling, hilarious and moving comics I’ve ever read. His mature-readers stuff is best, but he also manages to find new twists to redeem even the hoariest of spandex clichés. Other comic writers might – might – beat him for craftsmanship, but none of them come anywhere close to pressing my buttons the way he does.

I have met Grant Morrison, but that story is so embarrassing that I don’t really dare post it.

The man was a writing machine.

I read Gandhi’s autobiography when I was quite young – before I was a teenager – and it had a profound effect on the development of my moral philosophy. These days, there’s a lot I don’t agree with him about, but his core themes of adherence to principle and non-violent resistance are still central to the way I think about the world.

“If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.”