THE SECOND MOUNTAIN

We live in a society that celebrates freedom, that tells us to be true to ourselves. We have taken individualism to the extreme - and, in the process, we have torn the social fabric. The path to repair is through making deeper commitments.

In his new book, David Brooks explores the four commitments that define a life of meaning and purpose: to a spouse and family, to a vocation, to a philosophy or faith, and to a community. Our personal fulfillment depends on how well we choose and execute these commitments. Brooks looks at a range of people who have lived joyous, committed lives, and who have embraced the necessity of dependence. They embrace a life of interdependence, not independence. They surrender to a life of commitment.

David Brooks' previous books THE SOCIAL ANIMAL and THE ROAD TO CHARACTER both debuted at #1 on the New York Times list, and established their author as one of our most popular explainers of human nature.