Every book originates and is produced through the efforts of people beyond the author. In my case three specific people fulfilled particular tasks that enabled this work to be completed. Victor Shupp, with whom I shared many conversations on this topic, helped me clarify my thoughts and feelings. Roy M. Carlisle, my editor at Harper & Row San Francisco, helped structure and organize this book as he did my previous two books, We and Inner World. He also introduced me to Naomi Lucks who, through her writing skills, helped construct and polish the drafts of the manuscript. She also followed through on particular points of reseach pertinent to the myth of Dionysus and my accompanying commentary.
At various conferences and lectures countless friends and acquaintances, too numerous to mention, have provided insights. To all of these, including Victor, Roy, and Naomi, I offer my thanks and gratitude for their support.