The importance of understanding and acknowledging others.
Acknowledging the ongoing degradation of basic moral and societal values leading to a significant societal collapse, a topic that New York Times columnist Brooks has explored in his previous works (The Second Mountain, The Road to Character, etc.), he presents another motivational guide to cultivate strong moral values and achieve genuine self-realization. He emphasizes one skill that forms the foundation of any healthy individual, family, school, community organization, or society: the capability to deeply understand another person and make them feel acknowledged. This, according to him, is the essence of being a good person and the greatest gift one can offer to others and oneself.
To elaborate on his sincere and relatable goal, Brooks draws on a variety of literary, scientific, and psychological resources, shares personal stories, and provides detailed profiles of notable figures like Vivian Gornick, Zora Neale Hurston, and Frederick Buechner. He also uses the principles from Iris Murdoch’s writings as a moral guide, especially her book The Sovereignty of Good. This book seems more like a practical guide than his previous ones.
Aiming to equip readers with a better understanding of their fellow humans, he presents thought-provoking questions and comprehensive insights, such as “A person is a point of view. Every person you meet is a creative artist who takes the events of life and, over time, creates a very personal way of seeing the world.”
However, Brooks’ descriptions of experiences from his wealthy circle of friends and insights from high-level dinner-party conversations sometimes seem out of touch. These instances occasionally detract from his stated goal of truly understanding people from all walks of life. Despite this, his intentions appear sincere and genuine.
