I have strongly gravitated towards books on this very theme over the last several years, working in politics and religion as I do. I am increasingly persuaded that the "hustle" that is so valorized in American culture and history is predicated on a fundamental libertarianism: trying to get one over on the other guy before he gets one over on you. It's "I got mine; screw everyone else" distilled down into a poisonous emetic that purges you of the charity and humility necessary to relate open-heartedly to others. So we've increasingly lost the imagination necessary to exhibit those traits toward others because we fear it means we're the sucker.
“Americans are drowning in the lack of grace, the lack of humility, the complete inability to assume well about others.”
That’s a powerful quote. Definitely one to sit with for a while.
I have strongly gravitated towards books on this very theme over the last several years, working in politics and religion as I do. I am increasingly persuaded that the "hustle" that is so valorized in American culture and history is predicated on a fundamental libertarianism: trying to get one over on the other guy before he gets one over on you. It's "I got mine; screw everyone else" distilled down into a poisonous emetic that purges you of the charity and humility necessary to relate open-heartedly to others. So we've increasingly lost the imagination necessary to exhibit those traits toward others because we fear it means we're the sucker.
Yes! Books with a real sense of compassion, empathy, humility, and earnestness have stood out to me more than anything else the last couple years.
Yes it is. The book is chock-full of 'em.
Raising Lazarus was so well done.
Right?! I'm surprised it hasn't gotten more attention, honestly.
The correct rendering is y'all, not ya'll.