THE SECOND MOUNTAIN

The popular New York Times columnist propels
himself through another heartfelt, earnest pilgrimage toward self-awakening and
commitment.

Deeply concerned about the breakdown in civil discourse and the
terrible compromises that successful people—especially politicians—make in
their careers, Brooks (The Road to Character, 2015, etc.) elucidates
another way to live, what he calls the Second Mountain. The first mountain is
what people of his well-educated, affluent milieu climb to gain good jobs,
recognition, money, and success—doing what our society expects us to do. While
some people reach the top, they might find it “unsatisfying.” Others fall away
and fail, for whatever reason, and spend time suffering in the valley, which is
where Brooks finds the truly interesting stories. “The people who have been
made larger by suffering are brave enough to let parts of their old self die,”
he writes. “Down in the valley, their motivations changed. They’ve gone from
self-centered to other-centered.” Brooks uses innumerable examples of people
who have suffered in this profoundly disappointing wilderness and been made
stronger in their sense of purpose. These include historical figures like
Abraham Lincoln and Leo Tolstoy as well as the author’s friends and
acquaintances. Indeed, Brooks uses his own experience of being broken by the
dissolution of his marriage of 27 years and his embrace of Christianity (he was
raised in a Jewish household) and eventual remarriage to a younger woman who
acted as his research assistant and spiritual guide. Essentially, he sets out
to create a blueprint for moral transformation by eschewing the hyperindividualism
we are taught to champion as children and which, he concludes via social
data, leads only to loneliness, distrust of institutions, loss of purpose, and
tribalism. Instead, we must open ourselves to family, community, and religious
commitments. Brooks is a heart-on-his-sleeve writer, and his language is not
terribly profound, but his message is accessible and inclusive.

A thoughtful work that offers an uplifting message to those
struggling in the wilderness of career and existential challenge.