About the Author (and his Biases)


 In the research for and writing of this book, I have tried to be as open to new information, viewpoints, and perspectives as possible. But every author is subject to the biases of their familial and cultural influences, their race, gender, and generation. The one thing I can claim is a breadth of life experiences and exposures.

Raised in a stereotypical, middle-class, suburban, white, Christian, nuclear family, my upbringing in the 1950s and 1960’s may have most resembled the Cleavers of the “Leave it to Beaver” sitcom. My father voted Republican. My mother was a self-declared Democrat Pacifist. As a teenager, I went door to door in San Jose, California, advocating equal housing for people of color, and marched with Cesar Chavez out of Delano and into Sacramento in support of farm worker rights.

After High School, I went to university for one year before dropping out in 1968, letting my hair grow and hitchhiking around the country and Europe. In the ensuing years, I was, at times, homeless and a day laborer. I lived in a multi-racial and turbulent Berkeley. I studied and practiced numerous world religions and joined cults. As a Conscience Objector, I served my country, earning $100 a month for two years as a counselor to troubled teenagers.  I was educated in the philosophy of women’s liberation by powerful females and took up modern dance as a straight, cisgender male. Lying on a warm sandy beach in Santa Cruz, I had an epiphany that I’d better rise up and get going if I was to accomplish anything in my life.

Over the ensuing decades, I earned an undergraduate degree in Humanistic Psychology, a master’s degree in social work, practiced as a Clinical Social Worker, left the field in 1980 to pursue a career in business and computing, and got my second graduate degree (MBA) in 1989.

My work life spanned the spectrum from digging ditches, cleaning, painting, and building houses to controlling the fate of corporations as a “god-like” Database Architect and Administrator.

With my wife of nearly 50 years, we’ve raised two children and spoiled three grandkids. Since retiring in 2012, we’ve traveled to over 50 countries across the globe and enjoyed making new friends from many different backgrounds and cultures. I’ve always been fond of people and interested in hearing their stories. I currently live in a community of 257 households and serve as the HOA President. Most other residents are from India and China and work in technology.

Does this past and do these experiences make me immune to biases and prejudices? Certainly not. As much as I’ve tried to make this book universal in its outlook, I’m certain to have blind spots. By nature, and upbringing, I am a pragmatic humanist. As you will discover, I have faith in Humanity even as I’ve seen its weaknesses and stupidities. What other choice do we have? The alternative is to follow Job’s wife’s advice to the poor fellow - ”Curse God and die”. No thanks.

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