This book grew out several wide-ranging conversations over a year’s time. It was not easy to be clear about the point of the book. The reader may still feel that way. Whatever clarity exists, it was greatly aided by some colleagues who read and commented on the manuscript along the way. Some of their response survives in the “Commentaries” section. But we want to thank them in one place for affection and friendship sent our way by their efforts.

Thanks to Bruce Anderson, Mark Anielski, David Cayley, Michael Coffey, Walt Davis, Al Etmanski, Kevin Jones, Larry (Robert) Inchausti, Howard Lawrence, Douglas Larson-Sell, Arthur Lyons, Ward Mailliard, and Cormac Russell.

There is also a team of people at Wiley who brought this book into being. Matt Holt, our publisher, took the big chance. He said he liked to publish a weird book every once in a while, so this was it. Liz Gildea has managed the production, listens carefully, and comes back with ideas completely in line with our intentions. Matt Davis, who came on as acquisition editor, is a colleague on another book and is always a joy. Dawn Kilgore has handled her phase of production with clarity and constant support. Thanks to copyeditor Rebecca Taff for her thoughtful touches. We also thank the cover and interior design team, including Michael Freeland, for their support.

Finally, Leslie Stephen is the developmental editor, which means she takes a set of rambling ideas and reconstructs them into what becomes a book. The content of the ideas always remains the fault of the authors, but if the book has any coherence and accessible structure, Leslie is the one who made that happen. And she does it with understanding and affection. Gracias.