Glasgow and Scotland: My dear friends Andrew and Ann Elder did their best to help me understand Scottish history and dialect, took me to Glasgow again, and read the manuscript many times. Thanks also to Stephen McEwen. Once again any errors are all mine.
Manuscript: Colleagues and friends who helped with research or manuscript details or in freeing me to write include Sheila Lehajani, Mia Bruch, Olivia Santiago, Shubha Raghvendra, Katie Allan, Kelly Anderson, Pornprang Plangsrisakul, Jody Jospeh, Talia Ochoa, Erika Brady, Donna Obeid, and Nancy D’Amico. Stuart Levitz, Eric Steel, and John Burnham Schwartz read the complete manuscript and offered invaluable comments; John is Literary Director at the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference, which is for me the annual event that renews my faith in the joy and the power of the written word. Peggy Goldwyn read early versions and had sage advice; the writer and publisher Kate Jerome read several versions, and during the most trying times she shared her business insights and encouragement, for which I am deeply indebted. Two classmates from my time at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop have remained my closest friends and confidantes: Irene Connelly has worked on, read, and proofread every book of mine, this one more than any other, and has always been there for me; Tom Grimes devoted countless hours to Covenant toward the end––my love to both of you.
Writers are nothing without editors, and the right editor makes all the difference. It was my extreme good fortune to be edited by Peter Blackstock. He shaped the book in essential ways, and did so with confidence, acuity, good humor, and humility. My agent Mary Evans found me in Iowa in 1990 and has represented me since. I owe her so much over my writing career, but especially for finding a home for this book with Peter and the incredible team at Grove Atlantic. I had the precious editorial assistance of Courtney Hodell with earlier versions; she gave this with uncommon patience, wisdom, and insight; to her and to Nathan Rostron, who read and offered such helpful advice, my heartfelt thanks.
The act of writing is a solitary one, but for this writer at least, it cannot happen without love, indulgence, support, and forgiveness from friends and family. Of my three dear sons––Steven, Jacob, and Tristan––only my youngest, Tristan, was with me during the years of writing this book, the two of us the sole occupants of the house; his forbearance, equanimity, and quiet but deep love and support sustained me through the highs and lows. My older brother, George, is the rock in my life, my true north; he is not only a beloved MIT professor, but also a brilliant proofreader and insightful reader. Each Wednesday morning for two decades I have met in person or virtually with my San Antonio “brothers”: Jack Willome, Drew Cauthorn, Randy Townsend, Guy Bodine, Olivier Nadal, and the late Baker Duncan. The group was formed to support and hold each other accountable; the unconditional love of these brothers is a gift beyond any measure; and Randy and Janice lent me their Big Island retreat at a crucial point in the writing.
Stanford University has been a wonderful home for me since 2007. I am deeply indebted to Bob Harrington, my friend and the Chair of Stanford’s Department of Medicine, for his unwavering commitment to his nontraditional Vice Chair. I thank Ralph Horwitz for bringing me to Stanford. Lloyd Minor, Dean of Stanford’s School of Medicine, has championed my work; he and Priya Singh catalyzed the center I lead, PRESENCE: The Art and Science of Human Connection. Sonoo Thadaney is the wizard and conductor behind PRESENCE, BedMed, and all my other efforts at Stanford. I consider her, along with Errol Ozdalga, John Kugler, Jeff Chi, Donna Zulman, and every member of the BedMed and PRESENCE team, to be my extended family. Many other Stanford colleagues, too numerous to list, have kept me learning and growing; I thank you all. The Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial chair that I hold allows me the freedom to pursue interests across all the campus schools. Caring for the sick and teaching medicine at the bedside remain my foremost passions, and I am grateful to the patients, medical students, house staff, and chief residents at Stanford as well as all the other institutions where I have served who keep me humble and who keep my sense of calling as fresh as when I first began.
Finally, I can’t imagine this book or my life without Cari Costanzo. She never lost faith through my ups and downs; she has read back to me every line in this book and done so through countless iterations, and also nourished my body and soul, all this while being a busy Stanford academic and a wonderful mother to Kai and to Alekos. Getting to know her older son Alekos has felt like a special gift to me these last few years. Though this book is dedicated to my mother, it owes its existence to you, Cari. Omnia vincit amor: et nos cedamus amori.
H