ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Your Creative Brain is truly the product of many creative brains, most prominently that of wonder woman Julie Silver, my editor at Harvard Health Publications. This book would not exist without her vision, expertise, enthusiasm, and encouragement. It's hard to believe one person can wear so many hats and be so good at them all! Thanks for your guidance and creativity, Dr. Julie! Along with Julie, I'd like to thank Tony Komaroff at HHP, as well as those who provided insightful blind reviews. Speaking of reviewers, I owe a debt of gratitude to mentor and colleague Ellen Langer for her helpful editorial comments.

This book also owes its existence to my literary agent, Linda Konner, who insisted that I write a book and who knew this book would be written before I knew myself. Thanks, Linda—I hope this is the first of many! Thanks also to Betty Anne Crawford, who took my manuscript to the world.

To Alan Rinzler, my editor at Jossey-Bass, thanks for believing in this book and for making the process so easy for me! Thank you also to Nana Twumasi, Susan Geraghty, Donna Cohn, and all the folks at Jossey-Bass and Wiley who helped in the production of this book. And to Richard Sheppard, thank you for your artistic additions!

My lovely daughter, Nacie, who is a writer extraordinaire in her own right (and author of the 2012 book The Finch Effect: The Five Strategies to Adapt and Thrive in Your Working Life, published by Jossey-Bass), was instrumental in helping me shape academic content into readable prose. Thank you for helping me with the vision and the revision of this work! You are my source of inspiration, and it was so fun to share the process of writing this book with you.

I'd like to thank three scholars who have been instrumental in my career: Jordan Peterson, now at the University of Toronto, who has been my mentor and is now my colleague, friend, and constant well-spring of creative research ideas; Richard McNally, who took me into his lab when I was an orphan grad student and has continued to amaze and inspire me to this day; and Jill Hooley, who first encouraged me to explore the topic of creativity as a worthy academic endeavor.

I want to thank all of the students who have taken my creativity courses over the years and have contributed as much to my knowledge of the subject as I (hopefully) have to theirs. To the many artists, writers, musicians, and film directors and producers who have consulted me concerning their creative difficulties (and triumphs!), please know that you have contributed so much to my knowledge of the creative process (and please don't be upset if you see yourself—identity changed to protect the innocent, of course—in this book!).

Thanks are also due to the scholars, authors, and friends who took the time to read my manuscript and who contributed valuable commentary, including Stephen Kosslyn, Howard Gardner, Tal Ben-Shahar, Teresa Amabile, Dean Keith Simonton, Harrison Pope, Alice Flaherty, Dan Schacter, Bernard Golden, Diane Terman, and Peter Marc Jacobson.

It's hard to imagine how anyone can write a book without extensive support on the home front. My husband, David, has nurtured me throughout the writing process, providing meals, an occasional glass of wine during my marathon nighttime writing sessions, good advice, and hugs when needed. Love always, honey!

Thanks also to my son, David Jr., who also helped provide food and support while he was home for winter break. I owe you a few home-cooked meals, Son!

Finally, I would like to acknowledge Caveman #2 and indeed all the courageous men and women who, from before the dawn of written history, used their creative brains to pave the way for the incredible wealth of art, music, and scientific advances we enjoy today. They gave us the wheel and tools, harnessed fire, and recorded their experiences on the walls of caves. They travelled from continent to continent without the aid of ships or navigation. They endured enormous hardships yet their spirit of exploration and ingenuity endured and allowed us to be here today. We truly stand on the shoulders of unnamed creative giants!