It took three decades, and many failed lightbulbs, but here we are. Special commendation to the brilliant and unlucky recipients of early drafts (Victor Cruz, Jenn DeLeon, Karen Lynch, Paul Salopek, Matthew Zapruder, Billy Giraldi, Sorche Fairbanks). Also: the everyday saints at Grub Street, Hugo House, Lighthouse Writers Workshop, the Nieman Fellowship, and Wesleyan University, who have allowed me to teach remarkable writers and steal from the buffet. Thanks to my long-time lifelines: Tom Finkel, Camille Dungy, Clay Martin, Karl Iagnemma, Keith Morris, Laurie Pomeranz, Cheryl Strayed, Tom DeMarchi, and Pat Flood. A big hug to Jenni Ferrari-Adler for believing, to Emily Bell for editing the hell out of Secrets, and Molly Stern and the Zando gang for putting it in the world. Eternal gratitude to my wife, Erin Almond, who recognized what the book was striving to be and found the language to explain it to me. Over and over. Patiently. And to my children—Josephine, Judah, and Rosalie—who are all amazing readers and even better people.