I am well known for saying that I like to surround myself with very smart people, so that I am generally considered the dumbest person in the room. I feel like this is certainly the case with this book.

To be frank, I strongly considered self-publishing. I figured that because I have a very popular Web site I could do everything on my own. In the end, I chose to go with New Riders, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. The team that was assembled around this book was quite impressive, and they have made this book more solid than it would have been on its own.

Rebecca Gulick ran point for the team as the Senior Editor. Most of my day-today editing was overseen by Anne Marie Walker who always seemed to figure out what I was trying to say by untangling my philosophical ramblings. I’m very right-brained, so these two had a yeoman’s job of keeping that bit accessible to a wide audience, and they did a great job.

Other important members of the team were Nancy Ruenzel, Scott Cowlin, Nikki McDonald, Mark Levine, Mimi Heft, Sara Todd, Lisa Brazieal, and Laura Pexton. And I can’t forget Ben Willmore, who wrote such a kind foreword. I’ll never forget how we first met. He had some auto parts shipped to my place so that he could later install them on his bus parked out front for a week. I knew that any man who lived on a bus and created fabulous HDRs therein was just the kind of fella I would like.

In addition, I’d like to thank my fabulous graphic designer—the indomitable Fabien Barral who had many personal issues throughout the production of the book but was still able to work through it. He is an absolute genius, and I always enjoy working with him.