Quantum processes in intense-laser atom physics, such as above-threshold ionization and high-harmonic generation, can be analyzed in terms of the contributions of 'quantum trajectories'. These are much like the classical orbits of the so-called simple-man model, but they are complex to account for tunneling and their contributions are superposed in the fashion of the quantum-mechanical path integral, thus allowing for interference. Various applications are discussed, in particular processes for elliptic polarization of the driving laser field. In most cases, but not always, just a few quantum trajectories are sufficient to yield an excellent description of a process.