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Our favorite Steven Soderbergh movie is one of his earliest: King of the Hill, in which little Jesse Bradford is left to fend for himself in a fleabag hotel during the Depression. Based on the memoir of A.E. Hotchner.

We asked readers what advice they would offer if they ran into themselves at age 10. Read the entries.

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Hey Jessica. I know, I get that a lot! Other than getting a bit taller, we look the same. It sounds like doom right now, but later you’ll be grateful. Listen carefully, there are things I have to tell you about our life, vital stuff…

On second thought, you don’t have to hear it. Carry on exactly as you’re doing. There’ll be crappy parts, but when we get to my age we will look back and laugh at them. Umm, yes, but apart from Starfleet General Order #1, it’s what makes us us, you know what I’m saying? Seriously, I almost wish there were more crappy parts so we’d have more material. Well, they don’t get us now, and they still won’t get us in the future, but some people will. I’d say don’t worry so much, but see, our neurosis kind of…becomes a career. So don’t get too sane, kid.

Oh yeah, he’s going to make some excellent movies after Take the Money and Run. The Lord of the Rings will be filmed, and it will be wonderful. Dune, not so much, but still very interesting. Do me a favor and buy every Laurie Colwin book you see, because later it’ll be harder to find copies. Read everything by James Salter and tell everyone to read him. Don’t worry, nobody understands Finnegan’s Wake.

When you start working, save money and buy stock in a company in Cupertino called Apple. Hang on to your stock even when it seems to fall apart and the guy gets eased out. He’ll be back.

Wait, here’s something. When she graduates from college, start hounding our best friend to get medical exams every year, okay? Her lungs in particular. Write that down.

When you discover Rickie Lee Jones, look up one of her associates, Tom Waits, so we can get started sooner. Don’t lose faith in Goran Ivanisevic, your belief will be redeemed. And on the year it is redeemed, you will spot a player who causes you to leap out of your seat and call your friends yelling, “Did you see that?” Bet on him. His record the following year will suck, but you will have an excellent five-year run after that.

When you book hotels on the Internet—yes, you’re going to travel a lot—never believe the words “centrally located”. If you still decide to go to Duino, get off the train at Monfalcone, not Trieste central station. Yup, we’ve been to Venice five times. Try to pay in cash, plastic will cost you.

You’ll be fine. Always trust your first impression of people. You’ll do stupid things but you’ll live, and anyhow embarrassment is better than regret. Yes we’re actually happy, and complaining is our way of saying it without being annoying. And cats are brilliant.

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The winners of the Weekly LitWit Challenge 7.0 are: noelz, jeromeshuny, evan, greeneggsnham, kratienza, stellalehua and Momelia.

But we only have one prize, so we go into Sudden Death! One winner gets the book, the runners-up get consolation prizes, and if for some reason the winner cannot fulfill his/her obligations etc etc.

Answer the same question in ONE SENTENCE. You have 24 hours. Go!

The Weekly LitWit Challenge is brought to you by our friends at National Bookstore.

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We just saw Zombadings for the fourth time and we’re in a good mood so we’re not even going to try to name one winner. The winner iiissss. . .Everyone who joined the Sudden Death competition: noelz, jeromeshuny, evan, kratienza, stellalehua and Momelia. Please post your full names in Comments (They won’t be published) and we’ll alert you when your prizes are ready (and tell you what they are!).

The Weekly LitWit Challenge is brought to you by our friends at National Bookstore.