I also wish to thank my book team at Dutton—specifically Christine Ball, John Parsley, Amanda Walker, Carrie Swetonic, Elina Vaysbeyn, Abby Endler, Chris Lin, Jill Schwartzman, Yuki Hirose, Alice Dalrymple, and Marya Pasciuto for their generous efforts and gracious support. To be sure, this book is a testament to their gifts and talents.
To my family, none of this would be possible without your enduring love and support. And no amount of gratitude may equal the credit you deserve for whatever good has come out of my life. Despite the challenges of our relationship, I would not be where I am today without my mother. For giving me life, love, and the strength to overcome any obstacle, words are inadequate to express the depth of my gratitude. When I think about the kind of man I aspire to be, I feel blessed to have an outstanding father. Dad, I cannot thank you enough for all the sacrifices you’ve made to give me a better life. Thank you for teaching me the value of hard work, and thank you for being a man I could always admire.
To Grandma, thank you for caring for me in all the ways a grandmother should and more. Your love has been keenly and consistently felt. To Lola, thank you for teaching me how to read and encouraging me to test my assumptions and ask questions that challenge my understanding of the world. Some of my happiest memories are of moments we spent together when I was young. To Peggy Cooper Cafritz, since I have known you, you have been there for me every time I’ve needed you. I love you dearly and am extremely grateful for all that you’ve done for me. Because of you, some of my childhood dreams are now among my most memorable experiences.
When I decided to write this book, I knew it would entail sharing some of the most difficult aspects of my life. Without the enthusiastic support and encouragement of loyal and loving friends, I would not have been able to complete the task. Alex Sun, I simply can’t thank you enough for being the best best friend I could ask for. To Parker Smith, thank you for being there, homie, for helping me early on to think through various technical challenges of this process, and for being a great friend. To Chirag Manyapu, thank you for supporting all my efforts and for coming through promptly when I’ve called on you. When the going has gotten tough, it’s been reassuring and meant a great deal to have you in my corner.
To Cole Teal, thanks for showing love, bro, and for being the kind of friend I could trust and confide in. Whether it’s an article or an interview or a TED talk, you’re usually one of the first to check it out and offer positive feedback. Years from now, when I look back on my college experience, the time we’ve spent together will surely be among my fondest memories. To Luke Higgins, you’re one of the most thoughtful guys I know. Throughout this process, you’ve been one of few people I could talk to with zero fear of judgment. Thank you for listening, remembering, and pointing out the positive side of the balance sheet. To Chongsuk (Eric), I’ve relished the many probing conversations we’ve had about life. You’re one of the most disciplined, hardworking people I know, and being around you has motivated me to sustain my efforts, especially when I’ve felt like I was on my last legs.
I owe special thanks to Drew Peisch. Our conversations over the years have been extremely rewarding. You’ve hit me with tough questions and cogent arguments and helped me refine my ideas and clarify my thoughts on various issues. In addition, our conversations have demonstrated time and again that great friendships can transcend political differences; that great friends learn from and appreciate the differences between them. I also want to thank other friends who’ve been there for me. Austin Thomas, we’ve become close friends over the last couple of years. Thanks for being there to give me your input—whether it be on intellectual, social, or personal matters. Kicking it with you in New York and at Williams gave me something to look forward to when my mind was consumed with the implications of sharing my life story.
A special word of thanks goes to Kyrien Edwards for giving me great advice. Key, thanks for keeping it real and being generous with your time. Joe Sageman, you’ve been a loyal and supportive friend since we met my freshman year playing football. Thanks for the good times, bro—and thank you for reminding me to consider the evidence. Because of you, I’ve developed a better sense of what it means to be pragmatic.Thank you also to Jaelon Moaney, Tyler Patterson, Adam Regensburg, and Matt O’Connor for leading by example and encouraging me to be who I am. Whenever I’m around you guys, I’m reminded of the little things each of us can do to make a positive difference.
To Mr. Lapadot and Ms. Jerome, thank you for making school something I could look forward to and be excited about every day. Our world is a better place because of educators like you.
I am deeply indebted to two exceptional mentors who read all or part of the book and made helpful suggestions for editing. To David L. Smith, your impact on me goes far beyond useful comments on early drafts of the manuscript. I would like to thank you for being the first person to read it, but, more importantly, for taking the time to help me work through my biggest concerns. To Reginald Dwayne Betts, thank you for answering my endless questions about what writing this book may entail. And thank you for helping me see that I could embrace vulnerability without shame. Without your advice, responsiveness, and ongoing support, my capacity to complete this book would have diminished.
To George E. Marcus and Steven Gerrard, I offer my heartfelt thanks for consistently supporting my intellectual efforts. I am extremely fortunate to have had you both as educators and advisers. To Kathryn Tabb, thank you for helping me deal with some of the book’s more delicate content. I’d often leave our conversations feeling better about everything. To Amy Cuddy, thank you for your presence; you inspire me to reach ever further.
Finally, I’d like to give special thanks to Reanne Young for believing in me when I doubted my ability to drop everything and start all over again. At a time when my life was filled with anxiety and uncertainty, you helped me find the inner strength necessary to keep moving forward.
About the Author
Zachary R. Wood is a Robert L. Bartley Fellow at The Wall Street Journal and a class of 2018 graduate of Williams College, where he served as president of Uncomfortable Learning, a student group that sparked national controversy by inviting provocative speakers to campus. His recent work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Nation, Inside Higher Ed, Times Higher Education, and SLAM magazine. A Washington, DC, native, Wood currently resides in New York City.
What’s next on
your reading list?
Discover your next
great read!
* * *
Get personalized book picks and up-to-date news about this author.
Sign up now.
Uncensored Page 22