xviii
Preface
Forever question what is right, find it where you may. Right can offer a hint
at perspective, a dash of method, a snippet of theory, a glint of an idea. But
the right you need is never enough to grasp, it is ever fleeting, never entombed
or made comfortable. Were right to be right, there would be no problems to
solve, no discord between practice and theory, no contemplation of experiments, no compassion for research, no “what if.” Order and resolution would
prevail. As right cannot be right and never wrong, neither can right be all
wrong. There must be some right in right as there is some wrong in right.
Ask, “What is wrong with right?” But beware, the way of right is numbing,
but the way of wrong is treacherous. The fact that you have strayed off the
path of right is taken as irreverent and is offensive. You will sense ire from
the gentlest soul. Persist and you may or may not discover, you may or may
not be better for your journey. There may not be an end, you may never find
completeness. It is the journey that pits you against yourself.
I view everything as if it is flawed, whether by error in assumption, perception, logic, or judgment. Although the natural consequence of my thinking might be perceived as mistrusting of all that is said and written, that
contrivance is untrue. Assumptions are tested, perceptions changed, logic
analyzed, and judgment is made malleable. The result is a staunch commitment to intense study and reflection, development of countertheories, conjuring novel ideas, exploring new approaches to solving problems, and
forging new ways to pose and answer questions with context more proper
and fit.
I am deeply indebted to my wife Teresa whose endearing patience made this
book a reality. No other person could have such tolerance and indulgence, for
I am a person oft referred to as “stubborn” and “difficult.” I think I heard “and”
and not an “or.” And to the few who tolerate my ideas, thank you for your labor
of patience: John Osmundson, James Lake, Tim Ferris, Eduardo Kujawski.
Preface
Forever question what is right, find it where you may. Right can offer a hint
at perspective, a dash of method, a snippet of theory, a glint of an idea. But
the right you need is never enough to grasp, it is ever fleeting, never entombed
or made comfortable. Were right to be right, there would be no problems to
solve, no discord between practice and theory, no contemplation of experiments, no compassion for research, no “what if.” Order and resolution would
prevail. As right cannot be right and never wrong, neither can right be all
wrong. There must be some right in right as there is some wrong in right.
Ask, “What is wrong with right?” But beware, the way of right is numbing,
but the way of wrong is treacherous. The fact that you have strayed off the
path of right is taken as irreverent and is offensive. You will sense ire from
the gentlest soul. Persist and you may or may not discover, you may or may
not be better for your journey. There may not be an end, you may never find
completeness. It is the journey that pits you against yourself.
I view everything as if it is flawed, whether by error in assumption, perception, logic, or judgment. Although the natural consequence of my thinking might be perceived as mistrusting of all that is said and written, that
contrivance is untrue. Assumptions are tested, perceptions changed, logic
analyzed, and judgment is made malleable. The result is a staunch commitment to intense study and reflection, development of countertheories, conjuring novel ideas, exploring new approaches to solving problems, and
forging new ways to pose and answer questions with context more proper
and fit.
I am deeply indebted to my wife Teresa whose endearing patience made this
book a reality. No other person could have such tolerance and indulgence, for
I am a person oft referred to as “stubborn” and “difficult.” I think I heard “and”
and not an “or.” And to the few who tolerate my ideas, thank you for your labor
of patience: John Osmundson, James Lake, Tim Ferris, Eduardo Kujawski.