Parker J. Palmer is a highly respected writer, teacher, and activist, whose ideas have found resonance with people in many walks of life, including education, medicine, religion, business, philanthropy, and social change. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)'s "Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award" is given annually to the directors of ten U.S. residency programs that exemplify humanism in medical education. Palmer's work has been recognized with honorary doctorates, two Distinguished Achievement Awards from the National Educational Press Association, an Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press, and major grants from the Danforth Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, and the Fetzer Institute. He is the founder of the Center for Courage & Renewal.

Arthur G. Zajonc is professor of physics at Amherst College and has been a Fulbright professor and visiting professor and research scientist at numerous institutions in Europe. Author, coauthor, or coeditor of Catching the Light, The Quantum Challenge, and Goethe's Way of Science, he serves as a scientific coordinator for the Mind and Life dialogue with H. H. the Dalai Lama whose meetings have been published as The New Physics and Cosmology: Dialogues with the Dalai Lama (Oxford, 2004) and The Dalai Lama at MIT (Harvard, 2006); is cofounder of the Barfield School of Grad Studies of Sunbridge College; and directs the Academic Program of the Center for Contemplative Mind.

Megan Scribner is a writer and editor who has worked with numerous foundations and educational organizations. She is coeditor of Teaching with Fire and Leading from Within and coauthor of The Courage to Teach.