Acknowledgements

This text is a testament to the efforts of many people. For each of these 79 chapters, numerous steps were required to generate the knowledge presented: ideas were fostered; grants were written; research was painstakingly conducted and replicated; and scientific papers were written, revised, and published. Much of this work was accomplished over many years by our expert chapter contributors, each an authority in his or her respective field. It is to these exemplary individuals that I extend my greatest thanks and appreciation. Without your hard work, the science of human happiness would not exist.

From beginning to end, the team of professionals at Oxford University Press was an outstanding partner in taking this project from proposal to reality. Martin Baum's idea of creating an end-to-end, cross-disciplinary volume on human happiness was both timely and insightful. Charlotte Green, Abigail Stanley, and the book team graciously facilitated every aspect of the volume with the highest level of attention to detail. Thank you to all of you.

This book would not have been published were it not for the rare combination of outstanding editing skills, organization, and social nous shown by Christina Congleton. A very special thank you is also due to the other Evidence Based Psychology team members: Jennifer Lee, Kimbette Fenol, Karen Monteiro, and Anthony Samir: your stellar support for this complex project made all the difference. A strong vote of thanks is also due to our many clients: your understanding that happiness research impacts on many facets of your own work provided the inspiration and impetus for this book.

The thought leaders at the Institute of Coaching—Carol Kauffman, Margaret Moore, Ruth Ann Harnisch, Laurel Doggett, and the rest of the team—are dedicated to using evidence to positively impact human experience. Thank you for the inspiration, foresight, and insight that you continue to provide, and for your tremendous contribution to our field of study.

My mother, Veronica, my late father, Sidney, and Christopher, Madeleine, Liezel, Alex, Sam, Charlotte, Moshe, Robyn, and Richard have taught me much about joy, gratitude, perseverance, and acceptance. Anthony Samir, my husband and life partner for almost two decades: my deep happiness has its roots in you. Thank you. Noah David: you were born during the editing of this book. Your joy, sense of wonder, and unfolding understanding of the world redoubled my commitment to this work. You affirmed my conviction that happiness research is relevant to our daily lives. Its lessons teach us how to meaningfully enrich life for ourselves, our children, and their children to follow

Susan David, Ph.D.