I have collected many debts while writing this cultural history of Bob Dylan’s life and career. I would like to thank my friend Kristi Ward (now at SAGE) for acquiring the book and George Butler at ABC-CLIO for seeing it through to publication. I have worked with editors at Greenwood, Praeger, and ABC-CLIO for most of my publishing career and continue to be amazed at their professionalism and dedication to good work. My former graduate research assistant Gina Anne Conley helped tremendously with the Timeline and Further Reading sections of the book and demonstrated a keen editorial eye. I appreciate her help (and friendship) greatly.
Personally, I have a group of wonderful friends who serve as the wind to my writing sail. Thanks to Gary Hoppenstand, Gary Burns, Jim Plath, and Don Greiner for demonstrating what it means to be a scholar. I could never fully express the debt of gratitude I feel for Phillip Sipiora and Lawrence S. Kaplan. Each taught me what it means to be a writer and teacher. Other friends offered cheer along the way, including Chris Burtch, Larry Z. Leslie, Kelli Burns, Thomas Heinrich, Anne Beirne, Gene Sasso, Bill Sledzik, George Cheney, Josef Benson, Ashley Donnelly, Peter Magnani, and Tom and Kristine Brown. As always, thanks to the popular culture scholarly Avengers: Brendan Riley, Brian Cogan, and Leigh Edwards!
I would like to thank my Thiel College colleagues, particularly President Troy VanAken and Dean Lynn Franken. In addition, I value the support of Laurie Morocco and Victor Evans in the Department of Communication, as well as other members of the Thiel family, including Mary Theresa Hall. James Pedas, a brilliant business innovator, endowed the chair I now hold at Thiel College, which I do with what I hope is the honor and grace it deserves.
My family is incredibly supportive. Thanks to my parents, Jon and Linda Bowen, for everything they do to make our lives better. My wife Kathy is my strongest supporter and such a wonderful teacher and scholar that I feel lucky to learn from her each day. Finally, our daughter Kassie is simply the best thing in my life! My love for her is endless and beyond mere words.