Any project of this size has stops, starts, twists, and turns. My agent, Katinka Matson, and my editor at Little, Brown, Tracy Behar, were instrumental in keeping me from meandering off the path, while also encouraging me to explore alternate routes. I benefited tremendously from their insight, support, and guidance.
Several people read drafts of chapters and provided valuable feedback, including Joe Allen, Jennifer Bauerle, Daphne Bugental, Geoffrey Cohen, Ed Diener, Elizabeth Dunn, Jesse Graham, Casey Eggleston, Cheryl Hahn, Dan Lassiter, Min Ha Lee, Robyn Mallett, Dieynaba Ndiaye, Jesse Pappas, Kathleen Schmidt, Tracie Stewart, Elizabeth Wilson, and Geoffrey Wilson. Greg Walton generously read a draft of the entire book and provided a folder full of insightful comments and suggestions. Thanks to all; the book benefited tremendously from your feedback.
My longtime friend and collaborator, Daniel Gilbert, also read an entire draft. With his sharp eye, he spotted the weakest parts, and with his deft hand, he (as always) pointed me in the right direction. I have had many fine collaborators in my career, far too many to mention here. But two have had such an influence on my work that their fingerprints can be seen on everything I do, including this book—Dan Gilbert and my graduate school mentor, Richard Nisbett.
This project is the result of a long love affair with my field, social psychology, and the conviction that it has much to say about how to improve people’s lives. Most of all, I thank the many colleagues whose work appears on these pages. You are the ones out there in the trenches doing the painstaking research, and I hope the book in some small way shines a light on your efforts.