William James and the Art of Popular Statement

Acknowledgments

ix Acknowledgments x W hen I was still an undergraduate student, two events foreshadowed the writing of this book. First, I began reading William James’s work. For the most part I didn’t yet understand James, but his thoughts captivated me nonetheless. Second, I heard the word “rhetorician” for the first time, and, for some strange reason, it sounded like something I wanted to be. William James and the Art of Popular Statement is, at least in retrospect, the culmination of these two events. Of course, in the years between my undergraduate education and the publication of this book, numerous individuals have given me their time, guidance, and criticism (in the best sense of the term). Marty Medhurst is not only an extraordinary editor but a longtime teacher, mentor, and friend. Jim Aune has been a profound influence on my life and career, and I owe him more than he’ll ever know. John McDermott was really the first to help me understand William James, and his scholarship and teaching continues to inspire me. x Acknowledgments At the University of Wisconsin, I was fortunate to study with the best rhetorical scholars in the country. Rob Asen, Erik Doxtader, Sue Zaeske, and Rob Howard were, and continue to be, invaluable scholarly influences. Above all, I am indebted to Steve Lucas, whose unfailing encouragement, guidance, feedback, and friendship helped improve my work in countless ways. He was able to see the shape of this book long before I was, and his editorial abilities strengthened my writing several times over. I should also thank my graduate-student cohort in Madison, who made earning a PhD more fun than it should have been. I am particularly grateful to Pam Conners for her friendship over the years. Various other individuals are due my sincerest thanks. At Vanderbilt University, John Sloop, Bonnie Dow, Vanessa Beasley, Claire King, Kass Kovalcheck, and John Lachs have been incredibly supportive. Bill Keith, Mike Hogan, Angela Ray, Scott Stroud, Jeremiah Hickey, and Meghan Gilbert-Hickey have provided helpful and incisive feedback on various stages of this project. Participants at the 2010 William James symposium, especially Paul Croce, Robert Richardson, and Lynn Bridgers , shared numerous insights on James’s life and work. The staff at Harvard’s Houghton Library, which houses the James papers, made archival research a pleasure. At Michigan State University Press, Martha Bates and Kristine Blakeslee, among others, have expertly guided the publication of this book. Dick and Nancy Stob, my parents, and Andrew Bandstra, my grandfather , have supported me in more ways than I know how to list. Perhaps my largest debt of gratitude is due to my wife, Sarah, and my son, Elliott. Over the last several years they have kindly listened to an insufferable number of anecdotes about William James. Only occasionally did they role their eyes at my enthusiasm. ...