Databases hold a profound significance for the author, Damien Katz, who passionately reflects on their role as a foundational advancement in human knowledge and consciousness, comparable to telecommunications, the internet, and even the invention of the written word. Katz's fascination with databases stems from their capacity for knowledge representation, collection, transformation, and sharing, which he views as integral to the expansion of humanity's collective mind. He highlights the historical and contemporary impact of databases, from IBM's mainframe dominance to Google's internet indexing, illustrating their transformative power in organizing and unlocking information. Despite the complexity and sometimes mundane nature of the intricate details that make databases function, Katz is driven by a deep commitment to improve and innovate in this field, recognizing the profound influence these systems have on society and individual users alike. His dedication is evident in his decision to create an open-source database engine, underscoring his belief in the importance of making database technology accessible and reliable for diverse applications, from small devices using SQLite to enterprise solutions provided by Oracle. Through his work, Katz feels privileged to contribute positively to the world's knowledge landscape, driven by a desire to enhance the way information is handled and shared globally.