Barker Teresa - The soul of money: reclaiming the wealth of our inner resources

It took a village to write this book. It has been one of the most challenging and difficult things I have ever done and would not have been possible without the support, participation, collaboration, and generosity of many, many people.

I first want to acknowledge my brilliant collaborative writer, Teresa Barker, who became one with me during the three-year process of creating this book. Her keen intelligence, deep partnership, and sturdy professionalism made what you are about to read possible.

My remarkable literary agent, Gail Ross, encouraged me in a way that transformed the idea of writing this book into a reality. She has stayed with me and supported me every step of the way.

My editor at W. W. Norton, Angela von der Lippe, brought her wisdom, graceful intelligence, and years of experience to each page. Her assistant, Alessandra Bastagli, managed the complex production process of turning a manuscript into a book of which both W. W. Norton and I could be proud.

More than twenty years of experience with The Hunger Project were the platform for much of what I have written here. My teacher and mentor during those years and for most of my adult life has been and will continue to be Joan Holmes, the president of The Hunger Project. Her example, her brilliance, her integrity, and her unyielding commitment have in many ways forged and shaped who I am.

Other colleagues during my Hunger Project years were vital contributors to my understanding of money and how it relates to the deepest issues we face as a human community. John Coonrod, Carol Coonrod, Mike Wick, Franc Sloan, Tom Driscoll, Ted Howard, Dick Bishop, Jay Greenspan, Sherry Pettus, Catherine Parrish, Bill Parrish, Kendra Goldenway, Ronn Landsman, Mike Cook, Les Traband, Lee Traband, Larry Flynn, Raul Julia, Merel Julia, Janet Schreiber, Fay Freed, Joe Friedman, Dana Carman, Jane Shaw, Michael Frye, Tom Henrich, Gunnar Nilsson, Scott Paseltiner, Lalita Banavali, Naji Loynmoon, Fitigu Tadesse, Badiul Majumdar, Tazima Majumdar, Shingo Nomura, Mikio Uekusa, Hiroshi Ohuchi, Ian Watson, Peter Bourne, John Denver, Robert Chester, Annetta Chester, Valerie Harper, and countless others are all colleagues who have left a deep and profound imprint on my life and helped shape my perception of the world. The thousands of Hunger Project volunteers, activists, fund-raisers, and investors with whom I have worked over many years were both the laboratory and the inspiration for this message and to them I am deeply grateful.

I particularly want to acknowledge Faith Strong, who, as a woman, as a philanthropist, and as a partner in my work in the world, has taught me more than she will ever know.

My dear friends and consummate philanthropists Alan Slifka and Ted Mallon have stood by me long before and all during the incubation and fulfillment of this project and have provided wisdom, financial support, and unlimited love along the way. There are no words to adequately thank them.

My friend and soul brother, Tom Burt, has been my full partner in this endeavor, always encouraging me, inspiring me, and pushing me lovingly into the next space to have the vision of this book realized. His financial and spiritual partnership has been invaluable, but more important, his love and belief in me were the nourishment I needed to complete this work.

Neal Rogin, longtime friend and colleague, has always helped me find words for the inexpressible. Wink Franklin, president emeritus of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, helped me name this book and the work that it represents, as well as providing wise counsel for the past two decades of my life. The encouragement of Michael and Justine Toms to write this book was steadfast throughout the process. Michaels seminal interview with me on the Soul of Money was the launching pad for the book.