This is a book about the world of ideas and about what happens when we no longer properly value that world. I hope that I will always remember to express my gratitude for the intellectual communities in which I have been so fortunately embedded.
Many of the core concepts for this book emerged from Leon Wieseltier’s office, where I used to spend nearly every afternoon, discussing the issues of the moment and the timeless books on his shelves. For nearly two decades, he has been my friend, colleague, and teacher. The book improved immeasurably from close, generous readers. It especially benefited from the shrewd, careful guidance of Rachel Morris, a brilliant editor. I’m forever grateful to David Greenberg, Barry Lynn, Nicholas Lemann, Maurice Stucke, and Jacob Weisberg for their suggestions. I received first-rate research help from Hillary McClellen and Jessie Roberts. When I needed intellectual comradery, Anne-Marie Slaughter and Peter Bergen of the New America Foundation provided me just that. Along the way, I benefited from the continued guidance of my old New Republic colleagues and friends: Jonathan Chait, Isaac Chotiner, John B. Judis, Alec MacGillis, Chris Orr, Jeffrey Rosen, Michael Schaffer, Noam Scheiber, Judith Shulevitz, Amanda Silverman, Andrew Sullivan, Greg Veis, and Jason Zengerle. Thanks also to Susan Athey, Thomas Catan, Alan Davidson, Tom Freedman, Peter Fritsch, Jeffrey Goldberg, Jonathan Kanter, Jodi Kantor, Larry Kramer, Roger Noll, and Terry Winograd.
There’s a reason that Ann Godoff is regarded as publishing’s finest. She could see the trajectory of my argument far better than I initially glimpsed it; she paid close attention to detail, while remaining a visionary. She has also assembled a murders’ row at Penguin Press: William Heyward, Casey Rasch, Scott Moyers, Elisabeth Calamari. Bea Hemming of Jonathan Cape, in the UK, was devoted to this project from the start, as was my friend and agent, Rafe Sagalyn.
My brothers helped lift me up many time along the way, and my parents somehow delicately balanced honest criticism and exuberant support. This book ends on an optimistic note, because I have Theo and Sadie, naturally born idealists and the best company. With all my heart, thanks to my wife, Abby. She has supplied me with the love, encouragement, and wisdom to make it all the way through the challenges of writing and life.