Acknowledgments

I have the immense good fortune of being a baker. For me, the baker’s life has always been one of work and reward. What begins as tangible—the work—has often over the years been transformed into something less tangible, because the rewards of baking are not just financial. The rewards can take the form of community service, personal growth, and often social and spiritual development. It may be commonplace these days for people to romanticize the life of a baker, but it would be wrong to underestimate the amount of work the baker is required to perform daily. Coupled as it is with early and often long hours, the baking trade is a strenuous one that requires physical dexterity, finesse, and stamina. Years of determined focus and commitment to hard work are necessary in order to achieve mastery.