Acknowledgments

This book would not exist without the dozen successful entrepreneurs who took time out of their crowded schedules to be interviewed for the profiles in chapter 4. We are indebted to Nikhil Arora, Peter Barnes, Anirvan Chatterjee, Ben Cohen, Gun Denhart, Amy Domini, Jerry Fiddler, Kim Jordan, Thelma Kidd, Glynn Lloyd, Martin Rothenberg, and Jim Sherblom; to Abigail Disney for agreeing to be profiled; and to Warren Buffett for being a beacon of wisdom on fair taxation and calling things like he sees them.

Our thanks to our publishers for their thoughtful guidance and support, especially Steven Piersanti, who was so passionate about this book that he refused to delegate it to anyone else, and to the dedicated staff at Berrett-Koehler Publishers, all of whom have been remarkably kind and patient and helpful, and helpfully impatient, in bringing this project to fruition. Thanks as well to the production team at Ideas to Images for helping turn our words into the book you’re looking at today.

For their invaluable assistance with research, transcription, writing, editing, and sharing their ideas, we warmly thank our terrific research assistants, in order of appearance: Sara Bodner, Jonathan Dame, Elisha Baskin, Maggie Hanley, and Danielle Bodnar. We also extend our gratitude to Will Rice, Mike Prokosch, and Tim Sullivan, who provided writing and editorial assistance at key points in this project.

And to our early reviewers, including Jeffrey Kullick, Richard Landry, Nicole Richards, Tamara Schweitzer, and Shaula Shames, this book is stronger because of your input.

This book has its roots in a 2004 report by the Responsible Wealth project at United for a Fair Economy titled “I Didn’t Do It Alone: Society’s Contribution to Individual Wealth and Success,” which was co-authored by Chuck Collins, Mike Lapham, and Scott Klinger. That report provided the inspiration and the framework for this book. Parts of the 2004 report, including some of the profiles, were adapted and revised for use in this book. We are indebted to Chuck and Scott for their excellent work in the inception and development of the 2004 report.

We are grateful to our fellow staff members at United for a Fair Economy and the Responsible Wealth project, all of whom have contributed ideas and assistance to this endeavor in ways large and small. UFE has an extraordinarily creative, talented, and dedicated staff, and we are lucky to be working among them. Thanks as well to all of those whose financial support makes the work of United for a Fair Economy and Responsible Wealth possible, including the countless hours of research and writing that went into the production of this book.

Thanks also to the many who helped us brainstorm and bounce ideas around, participated in surveys, and offered their valuable advice, assistance, and feedback. There are too many of you to name, but you know who you are! Thank you.