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The Second Mountain
A review of

The Second Mountain

The Quest for a Moral Life

David BrooksRandom House • 2019

Follow Your Soul

by David Meyer

New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks delves into what satisfies the ego versus what satisfies the soul and offers detailed guidance regarding the latter.

The dominant ethos of the early 21st century is “hyper individualism”: seeing life’s purpose as attaining independence, self-fulfillment and happiness. Yet this trend spawns various spiritual and social afflictions, including loneliness, mental illness, substance abuse, a lack of purpose, and fragmented families and communities. Instead, says New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks, prioritize relationships and commitments.

Freedom and Professional Achievement

People initially aspire to ascend the “first mountain” in life by pursuing the social and cultural norms: going to university, getting a good job, participating in respectable society and enjoying personal security. First mountain values focus on the ego at the expense of generosity, compassion and love.


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