Gautam Mukunda - Picking Presidents: How to Make the Most Consequential Decision in the World

First and most importantly, of course, I need to thank my wife, Eva Maria Janerus. We first met when this books manuscript was in its final stages, and it was her support that got me through the long process from manuscript to publication. Along with Eva Maria, I need to thank Rudy, the Worlds Greatest Dog, who graciously agreed to allow me to join the family as long as I became his Emotional Support Human. This books final revisions were made with Rudy in my lap insisting that both hands are meant for petting, not typing.

I also need to thank my wonderful editor, Tim Sullivanthis is the second time weve done a book together, and I couldnt ask for a better thought partner. Equally, I must thank my amazing agent, Jim Levine, who fought for this book far more than I could ever have asked him to.

Many others were of great assistance during the process of researching and writing this book. Fareed Zakaria originally suggested that this research question made more sense as a book than as an article (my original intention). Daniel Summers-Minette was critical to doing the Monte Carlo analysis, and J. Chappell Lawson made excellent suggestions about the other statistical analyses. Clayton Christensen provided invaluable mentorship and encouragement for fifteen yearswithout him, I doubt I would have been able to push this (or many other) projects through to completion.

Thomas LeBien was of great assistance in shaping early drafts of this book. Dylan Rem wrangled footnotes superbly, far exceeding what anyone could expect from someone his age. The entire faculty support team at Schwarzman College helped with some of the initial research. John Dickerson pushed my thinking during a series of interviewsI hope that I helped his book as much as he helped mine.

Julie Battilana, Hannah Riley Bowles, and David Gergen greatly sharpened my analysis and gave me a home at the Kennedy Schools Center for Public LeadershipI owe them enormous thanks. Thomas Friedman, Nitin Nohria and Samuel Popkin provided much useful advice at various stages of the process, as did Tsedal Neeley, Rebecca Henderson, Ken Oye, and David Moss. Mike Tushman and Joshua Margolis put long hours into helping me bridge the (enormous) gap between political science and organizational theory, as did Lakshmi Ramarajan, Ryan Raffaelli, and Boris Groysberg.

I would also like to thank the team at University of California Press for all the work they did converting a manuscript into a book in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Francisco Reinking, my production editor, Ben Alexander, my copy editor, and Jen Burton, my indexer, all came through time and time again.

Finally, I need to thank Eva Marias parents, Ingolf and Eva, for so generously welcoming me into their family, and my parents, Ram and Meera, for a lifetime of support. No one could ask for better in-laws, and no one could imagine better parents. I will be forever grateful.