David Brooks, author of The Second Mountain, delves into the profound journey from individual achievement to a life rich in commitment and meaning. He discusses how the first mountain, marked by personal success, often leads to emptiness, while the second mountain emphasizes selflessness and deep connections. Brooks highlights the transformative power of relationships and outlines four crucial commitments that can infuse life with purpose. He also tackles the challenges of hyper-individualism, advocating for community ties as essential for overcoming loneliness and anxiety.
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insights INSIGHT
Character Formation
Character formation is about commitment and relationships, not just individual willpower.
Commitments to loved ones, like children, can foster selflessness.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Brooks' Valley
David Brooks experienced a personal valley after "The Road to Character."
This period involved the end of his marriage, kids leaving, and loss of friends, leading to a sense of moral and relational numbing.
insights INSIGHT
The First Mountain
The first mountain is about building up the ego and acquiring external validation.
It involves pursuing career success, material possessions, and social status, often leading to emptiness.
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In 'Bowling Alone', Robert D. Putnam presents extensive data showing how Americans have become disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and democratic structures. He argues that this decline in social capital has significant negative impacts on physical and civic health. The book explores various factors contributing to this decline, including changes in work, family structure, suburbanization, and the influence of technology such as television and the internet. Putnam also discusses historical precedents and potential solutions for reviving civic engagement and social connections.
The meaning of marriage
Herbert Doms
In 'The Meaning of Marriage', Herbert Doms delves into the theological and philosophical underpinnings of marriage, discussing its primary and secondary ends. The book emphasizes the procreation and education of children as the primary end of marriage, while also addressing the mutual help and support between spouses as a secondary end. Doms' work is rooted in traditional Catholic teachings and explores the implications of these teachings on marital relationships and sexual ethics[2][3][5].
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Gerd Albers
Jane Jacobs
Published in 1961, 'The Death and Life of Great American Cities' is a seminal work by Jane Jacobs that critiques the urban planning policies of the 1950s. Jacobs argues against the modernist urban renewal practices that separated uses and led to the decline of city neighborhoods. She advocates for dense, mixed-use development, walkable streets, and the importance of 'eyes on the street' to maintain public order. The book emphasizes the complexity of urban life and the need for planning that prioritizes the needs and experiences of residents. Jacobs uses her own neighborhood, Greenwich Village, as a model for a healthy and vibrant urban environment, contrasting it with the urban renewal projects championed by figures like Robert Moses[2][3][5].
The Road to Character
David Brooks
In 'The Road to Character,' David Brooks delves into the lives of some of the world’s greatest thinkers and leaders to illustrate how they built strong inner characters. The book contrasts 'résumé virtues' (external achievements) with 'eulogy virtues' (internal character strengths like kindness, bravery, and honesty). Brooks examines figures such as Frances Perkins, Dwight Eisenhower, Dorothy Day, and others, highlighting their personal struggles and the virtues they developed. He argues that modern society often prioritizes external success over internal character, and he provides practical advice on how to rebalance these aspects of life. The book is a call to rethink priorities and strive for a life marked by humility, moral depth, and meaningful relationships[2][4][5].
The Second Mountain
The Quest for a Moral Life
David Brooks
In 'The Second Mountain', David Brooks explores the concept of two mountains in life: the first mountain, which represents individual success and ego-driven achievements, and the second mountain, which symbolizes a life of deeper meaning, commitment, and contribution to a greater good. Brooks argues that our society's extreme individualism has torn the social fabric, and the path to repair is through making deeper commitments to a spouse and family, a vocation, a philosophy or faith, and a community. The book is both a personal reflection on Brooks' own life journey and a broader social commentary, offering practical advice and stories of people who have lived joyous, committed lives[2][4][5].
Note: This is a rebroadcast. This episode originally aired June 2019.
Do you ever feel like you’re spinning your existential wheels in life? That outwardly, you seem to be doing ok, but inwardly, you feel kind of empty?
My guest today would say that you’ve got to move on from trekking up life’s first mountain, to begin a journey up its second. His name is David Brooks and he’s the author of The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life. In that book, David makes the case that there are two mountains that we climb in life: The first is about the self — getting a college degree, starting a career, buying a home, and making your mark on the world. But at some point, that mountain starts to feel unfulfilling. That’s when we discover there’s a second mountain to ascend — a path of selflessness, relationships, and greater meaning.
Today on the show, David tells us what he got wrong in his previous book, The Road to Character, and how The Second Mountain expands the vision of the good life. We then discuss why the first mountain of life gets more attention in the West and how the hyper individualism it encourages has led to an increase in loneliness, anxiety, and existential angst. David then walks us through how we shift courses from the first mountain of achievement to the second mountain of meaning by making commitments to things outside of ourselves. We then discuss the four commitments he thinks bring us real meaning and significance, and how we can seek and find them.
Show Highlights
How this new book serves as a correction to TheRoad to Character
Lies that culture tells us about becoming moral (and happy)
The social history of our country’s individualism
The downsides of this individualism
The rise of tribalism
Why David is optimistic about how people are using social media
The wrong ways that people look for meaning and significance
The first mountain vs. the second mountain of life
How do commitments give life meaning and bring us joy?
The Art of Manliness 
