The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David  Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some good things have been happening in Brook's life in the past few years; many have noticed the difference in his regular NYT's columns. This book gives some good insight & specifics as to Brook's recent faith journey--I found the chapter describing his double religious upbringing--Jewish by family/culture & Christian by education/summer camps--very fascinating. Both of those influences were strictly cultural/traditional, but later in life, after experiencing some true difficulties/crises, Brooks describes how his views of the Bible and who Christ was/is slowly changed. As with all of us, his spiritual journey is a work-in-progress, and this book is a call against the status quo of individualism/"me-ism" and a challenge to rise above tribalism to live a solidly moral life that is a benefit & blessing to others & our wider communities. Some of it seemed a bit weak on the "why" that should/ought to be the way we live--i.e. we were created for this by a loving, caring God of all peoples--but it gives a lot of solid food for thought for a general audience. Borrowed from the library; listened to on my iPhone.


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