TinaBennetthasbeenmytirelessagent,myunstinting
protector,and,goingallthewaybacktocollege,mydear
friend. Although everything about publishingbooks is
changing,shehasalwaysfoundawayformetogrowan
audience and still write what I want to write. She is
without peer.
The Rockefeller Foundation provided its gorgeous
BellagioCenterasaretreatwhereIstartedthebookand
then returned to finish the first draft. My subsequent
conversations about that manuscript with Henry, Tina,
DavidSegal,andJacobWeisbergtransformedthewayI
sawthebook,leadingmetoremakeitfrombeginningto
end.LeoCareydidalineeditofthefinaldraft,andhis
ear for language and clear expression made the book
tremendouslybetter. RivaHochermanhelpedgreatlyat
everystage,includingprovidinganinvaluablefinalread
through.ThankyoualsotoGrigoryTovbisandRoslyn
Schloss for their essential contributions.
Mywife,KathleenHobson,hasbeenmoreimportantto
thisbookthansheknows.Everyideaandstoryherewe
havetalkedthroughtogetherandinmanyinstancesalso
lived through together. She has been a constant,
encouraging force.Ihaveneverbeena facilewriter.I
don’tknowwhatthoseauthorswhodescribethewords
justflowingout ofthemaretalkingabout.Forme,the
words comeonly slowlyand after repeatedeffort.But
Kathleenhasalwayshelpedmefindthewordsandmade
me know the work is achievable and worthwhile no
matter how long it takes. She and our three amazing
children,Hunter,Hattie,andWalker,havepulledforme
each step of the way.