Karen Swallow Prior - On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life Through Great Books

I am grateful to the entire Brazos teamthey were professional, personal, knowledgeable, warm, and encouraging. This project was a long time in the makingand writing. Without Bob Hosacks interest and support from the beginning, and his seasoned guidance throughout, this would have been an entirely different (and inferior) book. Eric Salos investment of time and skill from start to finish was invaluable, as were his careful eye and attuned ear. Jeremy Wells is the pin holding all the parts together, and Im very thankful for his enthusiasm and expertise.

Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoungwho, unlike me, is an expert and scholar in philosophywas generous and gracious in directing me at the start of my research (and throughout) to the best contemporary sources in the field of virtue ethics.

Several graduate and undergraduate students assisted me with research and clerical tasks, allowing me to do much more than I could have accomplished without them. Im grateful to Bailey Jarnagin, Emily Meadows, Rebecca Olsen, Emily Thompson, and Hannah Underhillas well as to Liberty University for providing me with the support of these student workers and graduate research assistants (and the time to write).

Some of this book was drawn heavily from material I teach. Some of it came from research in areas new to me. Combining these threads in ways both accurate and (hopefully) compelling was a challenge, and Im grateful for the many former students, colleagues, and friends who offered to read drafts of chapters and give me feedback. Thank you to Marybeth Baggett, Christy Chichester, Gina Dalfonzo, Paul Faust, Kathryn Harmon, Emily Beth Hill, Ginger Horton, Teri Hyrkas, Robert Joustra, Pam Keating, Lauren Lund, Dustin Messer, Adam Myers, Nick Olson, Leo Percer, Kelly Sauskojus, Kayla Snow, and Janna Campbell Wiersma. (And my sincere apologies go to anyone whose name I inadvertently omitted.) I must make particular mention of Jennifer Bolan Ulrich, who read several chapters and provided helpful feedback time and time again. So much of writing is a solitary act. But it is rooted in and offers fruit in community. Im thankful to be surrounded by a rich and deep community of fellow readers and writers who make my work what it is and make me who I am.

To have my words adorned by the lush, bold prints of the talented Ned Bustard is a blessing and honor that only the Lord could have orchestrated. Im thankful to share these pages with such a visionary artist.

Finally, Im thankful to my family, who is so supportive of me, for giving me the time and space required to read and write, read and revise, and read and write some moreand for making sure I take time to do other things too, because moderation is a virtue after all.