Fame and fortune, that’s what many strive for. But once that’s achieved, many will also wonder if the constant striving after wealth and success was worth it. For David Brooks, such was the emptiness of the “first mountain” he climbed as a successful columnist for The New York Times and a political commentator on TV. After his marriage fell apart, Brooks found himself caught in a valley of despair and wrote this book to help find “the second mountain” of a “life lived as a gift for others.” With his very readable and quotable prose, Brooks succeeds in offering “a practical (and yet spiritual) guidebook to the committed life, to the life lived in service of a vocation, a marriage, a creed, and a community.” While some readers may wish Brooks had gone even deeper into his personal life and beliefs, it is clear he has found joy in a new marriage, faith, and a vocation committed to building “thick” communities and institutions bound by strong relationships. (Random House)
About the Author
Otto Selles teaches French at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich., and attends Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids.