Leonard Nimoy

I’m a first-generation American. My parents were very ghettoized people; they were immigrants. For everything that broke in the news, their concern was: “Was it a Jewish person?” and “Is it good or bad for the Jews?” If there was something terrible that somebody did, you prayed that it wasn’t a Jewish person because it would inflame anti-Semitism. We’re past that to some degree. We don’t have Father Coughlin on the radio spouting anti-Semitism. Still, we take pride in the accomplishments of Jews and worry about the negatives. What can we offer the world today? It would be wonderful to say, “Oh, we’re honest, striving, liberal, educated, persevering, cultured, sophisticated, people of the book, all that good stuff.” But it’s not so easy today to hold ourselves as an example. Just look at the question of Israeli-Arab relations. I was having a conversation with an Israeli cab driver once and he said, “They lie to us! We can’t negotiate with them; they lie to us!” After a moment’s pause, he added, “And we lie right back!” Leonard Nimoy is an actor and photographer.

I call her Amazing Grace. She rejects that name and denies that she is amazing, but I insist, because she is. There have been countless books written about Star Trek - many, perhaps too many, by those who were actively involved. I've done two myself. But until now (and I admit I haven't read each and every one of them), I would place a large bet that no one has written as personal, moving, and powerful a one as Grace has written. If you think this is simply another book of Star Trek anecdotes and inside jokes, take a deep breath and plunge in. This is a Star Trek book which will transform people's lives. It will give insight into a human condition and guidance to many in need. lt is a blessing to all of us that she has put this life of hers to such generous use.
My thanks to Grace—always amazing.

Leonard Nimoy