Years ago, my father told me that middle class Americans enjoy more freedom than any people in the history of the world. His theory was that, with just a little effort, people can rise above poverty and be free from hunger. They have the freedom to pursue happiness because our government guarantees the rights of individuals, and they aren't so rich or famous that people notice them if they make a mistake. He believed his anonymity to be a treasure, something to protect and cherish.

I love that counsel, but I also believe that reading a book is an investment. People have the right to know something about the author, so it is with some reservation that I write the following.