Читать книгу Naked Ambition - Dan Roberts - Страница 3

This book is dedicated to Hunter, a young man who inspired the character of Nick Blick and the story of Naked Ambition. To him I say thank you for your friendship throughout the years, especially for the support you showed to me during that very difficult, dark period of my life: those months of my wife’s illness and after her death. To know you and your heart is a privilege.

I also wish to acknowledge and thank a group of young volleyball players—a truly unique tribe—who were the inspiration for Team Toka-Tonga. These young people have exhibited not only a love for the game of volleyball but have also shown, through genuine acts of kindness, a deep and abiding affection for each other. In addition, they have vicariously shown me just how much fun life can be. Thank you for allowing me, an older, non-volleyball player, to connect with you.

This book would not have been a success without the help of several friends who put both time and effort into supporting me through their reading of the book and then giving me helpful feedback. A heartfelt thank you goes to: Donna, Hanna, Jackye, Merritt and Tom.

A very special thank you goes out to my editor, Fay, who worked willingly and tirelessly to make Naked Ambition the best it could be. Fay, you have helped me more than you will ever know.

Lastly, I want to thank my 101-year-old mother, Norma, who, week after week, listened to me read parts of each chapter as I completed them. She has proven to be my number one fan. To her, this is the best book I’ve ever written. (I have to keep reminding her that this is the only book I have written.)