1.    What was the breaking point that made you snap and decide “I want to be an asshole”?

It came out of a particularly brutal performance review at work where my boss basically told me that I was too nice to be on the fast track and was not going to get promoted. I left that meeting and went home to my crappy apartment and literally cried. I felt I wasn’t getting anywhere, and a little voice came to me that said: “The problem is you’re too nice.” From that point on there was no stopping me.

2.    In the same way in which you had the Nemesis, would you say it’s important to find a similar asshole ‘mentor’ whom you can learn from whilst bitching up your life?

My breakthrough in this project came when I realized I didn’t have to change myself from the inside. I could approach turning myself into an A$$hole as an acting exercise, complete with vocal warmups and acting coaches. I created “The A$$hole” and played him in real life. Part of the process of creating any character is to study role models, both fictional and real. To become an A$$hole, I suggest looking around and really studying the biggest jerk you know. See how they walk, talk, make eye contact, run their lives. Also look for fictional idols. I picked Al Pacino in “Scarface” – but there are many others.

3.    Is the asshole lifestyle something you gradually build up and attain, or something you can lose in an instant?

My process was about six months of slow, excrutiating experiment and constant backsliding. The nice guy was constantly coming out, and he’s still there today. All of us have different sides to us, and they’ll always be there. But as with any program of change, like jogging or becoming a lawyer, we go at it day by day and ultimately end up as different people. So I’ll never lose the A$$hole in me, although I can pick and choose when to bring him out.

4.    Do you think that this way of life can help most people?

I tried it because I really believed being super-nice was ruining my life. It came from a place of total frustration. And I learned a lot from the experiment. I would say my message is not that it’s a great idea for everyone to become an A$$hole. My message is that it’s entirely within the grasp of all of us to transform our behaviors and become the person we want to be. Think about who you envy, and ask yourself, “Why can’t I just wake up tomorrow and be that person?” The answer is: you can.

5.    The idea of assholism seems like a good way to build confidence in an urban area. But, for people who have completely different lifestyles/don’t live in the US, how do you think they could benefit?

Just as there are assholes everywhere in the world, it’s possible to become an A$$hole no matter what your situation. Styles are different, the idea is the same. The central point is that selfishness, self-centeredness, extreme focus on a single goal like making money, and not listening to other people or admitting weakness – all these things can be done anywhere. In fact, I found it harder to be an A$$hole in New York City, where I live, because there are so many of them already. It’s hard to stand out in the crowd.

6.    How did your wife react to the new you?

To be honest, she laughed at me. I tried basic assertiveness at home without telling her about my experiment to turn myself into an A$$hole, and she didn’t take me seriously. Like I tried to take the remote control away from her because I wanted to watch science-fiction and she wrestled it out of my hands. As time went on, she warmed up to me being less of a pushover. And she loved the extra money. So on balance I’d say she’s happy I became an A$$hole – but not with her.

7.    Who is the biggest asshole in the world and why?

At the risk of getting my phone tapped, I’d have to say the current political leadership of the United States are doing a good impression of being A$$holes. They follow my steps quite well. They don’t listen to others, are self-centered, obsessed with money at the expense of human relationships – and, most important of all, never admit to making a mistake. I also think Heather Mills McCartney is an A$$hole of the female variety.

8.    Whilst reading A$$hole, I thought it would make a good movie. How would you see it portrayed on screen? Who would you cast as yourself and your Nemesis?

Actually, the movie rights were sold even before the book had a publisher, which is pretty unusual. It’s being developed, although the writer’s strike in the U.S. last year slowed it down a bit. I think the appeal to Hollywood was that it’s a strong role for a mature man who’s in every scene and goes through a personal transformation – someone like Will Ferrell, Owen Wilson or even Adam Sandler would be great. But my personal hope is that I’d be played by Hugh Grant. He started out his career playing super-nice, spineless men – and he’s blossomed into a bit of a cad. I think “A$$hole” could take him to the next level.

9.    Do you have any more work planned that is similar to the structure of this (sections and steps etc.)?

Absolutely. I love self-help as a genre – and mock self-help (which is what “A$$hole” is, in a way) is even better. If there’s appetite for a sequel I’d want to do something like “It’s Not Me, It’s You: The A$$hole’s Guide to Dating & $ex.” I’d finally answer the question: Do women (or men) really prefer A$$holes? I’d also like a do a book on how to raise a nasty child, but I’m not sure anybody these days needs my help to do that.

10. What advice would you give to aspiring young assholes?

The same advice I’d give to aspiring young anythings: always understand what it is you value. As long as it’s legal and you can live with the consequences, you should own it. What I mean is, if you’d like to be happy, have friends, be loved by your co-workers and schoolmates, then you can not be an A$$hole. But if what you really, truly want out of life is a bigger apartment, more money – well, my Ten Steps to Assholism can help you.