First, I would like to thank my employer Syapse. For the past three years, Syapse has given me the opportunity to learn and improve my proficiency with Backbone while doing meaningful work to improve the treatment of serious illnesses. I could not have asked for a better place to learn and refine the ideas that made up Backbone.js Essentials.

Second, I would like to thank the wonderful editorial staff at Packt Publishing. Without their support, this book could never have been made, and I am exceedingly grateful to Packt for taking a chance on an unproven author like myself.

I would also like to thank everyone who helped provide feedback on this book, but especially one reviewer in particular. Sep Dadsetan not only reviewed every chapter of this book, but he did so within hours of it being written, and his feedback was always invaluable. I could not ask for a better or more dedicated editorial assistant and friend.

I would also like to thank my family, particularly my deceased Uncle Larry. Many of my first experiences ever using a computer came while sitting in Uncle Larry's living room, and as I grew up his talks and gifts of literature helped shape me both as a writer and as a human being. He will always be missed.

Finally, I would like to thank the most important person in my life, my wife Stacy, for doing everything possible to help me write this book. I am incredibly lucky and grateful to have such a beautiful, supportive, and loving partner, who never once complained about the many hours I spent ignoring her while writing this book (even when it was during our trip to Hawaii).