In writing my acknowledgments, I am reminded constantly of Walt Whitman’s words: ‘I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don’t believe I deserved my friends.’ To have so many friends who have stood by me, I am at a loss as to where to begin counting my blessings. I shall attempt, in admittedly poor fashion, to thank those who have contributed to making this book possible. To B?rge and Henry, my intellectual mentors, I call on a Japanese saying to express my gratitude, ‘Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.’ I am so very fortunate to have two. Thank you both for your patience with me. To Vincent Sacco and Nicole Rafter, you believed in me when I had neither the strength nor vision to believe in myself. Without either of you, attempting a doctorate itself would have been a mere flight of fancy. For this book specifically, I have the late Gilbert Geis to thank – your words of encouragement gave me the courage to do what I once thought impossible. Rest and be assured that we carry on the great work you began.