IN THAT LONELY PERIOD when a person is consumed with the writing of a book, no individual is more valuable than one who can read what the writer has produced and offer guidance. A handful of such good and trusted friends read or listened to portions of this manuscript and offered thoughts and criticism that helped immeasurably. I particularly want to thank Ernest Hebert, Bill Barton, Vicky Schippers, Audrey LaFehr, Graf Mouen, Susan Herman, Lynn Pleshette, Bob Carvin, and Bill Oster.