I live in gratitude for having an amazing group of colleagues and friends who have helped me with this work. I am especially grateful to all of my patients and friends who have allowed me to share their stories with you. Thank you to Dr. Doris Rapp, Steve, Marianne, and Carlos for allowing me to tell your inspiring stories.
Thank you to Pastor Rick Warren who trusted me, Dr. Mehmet Oz, and Dr. Mark Hyman for the opportunity to help design the Daniel Plan for Saddleback Church. I may be the only person to congratulate a pastor on helping his church’s numbers to shrink (on the scales, that is)—but a 250,000-pound weight loss is a breakthrough worth being excited about—especially since the weight dropped off via a high-nutrition eating plan, which left participants not only thinner but healthier and more energetic too. Thank you to Pastor Warren’s assistant, Steve Komanapalli, for opening your big heart as you so honestly shared your story of changing your health habits, so you can leave a healthier legacy for your family. Dee Eastman and Debbie Eaton: Thank you both for letting us in on what you’ve learned about the power of small groups to change lives at Saddleback and beyond. You ladies do an incredible job. Joe Polish: Thank you, my friend, for creating the “Create Your Own Genius Network” exercise and allowing me to pass it with our readers.
Kudos to my sister-in-law, Tamara, for sharing her inspiring story of transformation, and to her sister, Tana (who happens to be my lovely wife), for her compassion and encouragement in the process. Dr. Riz Malik is a gifted psychiatrist who works at our Amen Clinics in Reston, Virginia. Riz, you made my day with the e-mail you sent titled “A Different Person.” Thank you for describing your journey to health and fitness with us and now to the readers of this book.
Dr. Andy McGill, I am so grateful to you for sharing how you managed to turn your life around in midlife, thus allowing you to have a younger brain today than you had ten years ago. I sense many will do a 180-degree turnaround for the better after reading your story. Dr. Joe Dispenza, have I told you lately how brilliant you are? The insights you gave us on how to make a once-and-for-all decision to change are simply amazing and so appreciated. Dr. Cyrus Raji, I believe your magnificent research on exercise and Alzheimer’s will motivate thousands to get walking in order to shrink their bodies and grow their brains. So grateful for the good work you do.
Jim Kwik, your contribution to lifelong learning and to this book is incredible. Thank you for being so generous with your heart and mind. Thank you to Savannah DeVarney, who shared her insights on our 24/7 Brain Gym at www.amensolutions.com, and great information about the “why” of regularly exercising the mind.
Joni Houtain, everyone should have a cheerleader like you in their lives. Thank you for sharing your story with such vulnerability and good humor. Laughter is good medicine. May you have many more years of “growing young” in body and soul.
Chris Hartsfield, you have suffered the worst a parent can imagine, and now you are helping others who are struggling to find a way to thrive after great sorrows. Your story of Sammie’s journey is a treasure, shining light in dark places, and showing that we can find joy and health, even after unspeakable loss. Your story will change lives, perhaps even save some. Gerald Sharon, blessings to you for encouraging others to tend to their health while they are going through stress and grief. You honor your wife’s memory by taking such good care of yourself.
Gratitude to all the football players and legends who participated in our NFL study, with a special shout-out to AD (Anthony Davis), Roy Williams, Marvin Fleming, Fred Dryer, and Cam Cleeland for letting us see their stories up close and personal. Also, I send my gratitude to Captain Patrick Caffrey for sharing his story and passion to help wounded warriors, and to Ray and Nancy, who continually inspire me to keep doing what I do.
I am especially grateful to Becky Johnson and Frances Sharpe, who were invaluable in the process of researching, interviewing, and completing this book. Also, our research department, including Dr. Kristen Willeumeir and Derek Taylor, provided valuable insights and encouragement. Other staff at Amen Clinics, Inc., as always, provided tremendous help and support during this process, especially my personal assistant, Catherine Hanlon, and Dr. Joseph Annibali. I am also grateful to my friend and colleague Dr. Earl Henslin, who read the manuscript and gave thoughtful suggestions.
I also wish to thank my amazing literary team at Crown Archetype, especially my kind and thoughtful editor, Julia Pastore, and my publisher, Tina Constable. I am forever grateful to my literary agent, Faith Hamlin, who besides being one of my best friends, is a thoughtful, protective, creative mentor, along with Stephanie Diaz, our foreign rights agent. If you are reading this outside of the United States, Stephanie made that happen. In addition, I am grateful to all of my friends and colleagues at public television stations across the country. Public television is a treasure to our country and I am grateful to be able to partner with stations to bring our message of hope and healing to you. And, to Tana—my wife, my joy, and my best friend—who patiently listened to me for hours on end and gave many thoughtful suggestions on the book. I love all of you.