"The Impossible State" by Victor Cha

Kaveh Sardari,Harper Collins

Jeff Glor talks to Victor Cha about "The Impossible State."

Jeff Glor: What inspired you to write the book?

Victor Cha: I did not want to write a book right after I returned from the White House (He's a former director for Asian Affairs in the White House's National Security Council).. Too early, too soon. After a few years, I felt as though a book for a general audience on this difficult policy problem was needed...and from someone who had academic qualifications and policy chops.

JG: What surprised you the most during the writing process?

VC: How quickly I could write it (!) and the lack of balanced work on the topic. Most of the literature is ideologically charged from the left or the right.

JG: What would you be doing if you weren't a writer?

VC: Either a sportswriter or an investment banker.

JG: What else are you reading right now?

VC: Rafael Nadal's autobiography and Condoleezza Rice's No Higher Honor

JG: What's next for you?

VC: I would like to write a book about Jeremy Lin and Linsanity

For more on "Impossible State" visit the Harper Collins website.