I didn’t know who the author was when I selected this piece, and I think that helped me approach it more objectively. Sasse is a US republican senator, but breaks party lines and criticizes trump (for my Utah audience) in a Romneyesque fashion. The book isn’t political, but its message seeks to address, what seems to me, the core of the division in the country.
The first three chapters of the book explain the problem, American young adults lack Virtu (My word, not his, something like roman manliness, but more just adultiness). Sasse outlines evidence of the problem, highlights it’s impact, and briefly touches on a failed solution: schools.
The next six chapters deal with Sasse’s proposed solutions to the problems; There were three that really jumped out to me.
1. Consume less —“…there is almost nothing more important we can do for our young than convince them that production is more satisfying than consumption.” The idea isn’t new, of course, it’s essentially the notion that rights have responsibility attached, Jordan Peterson might be the most prominent voice telling people they need to find the heaviest thing they could possibly lift, and carry it to be happy. Sasse says essentially the same thing, but we need to teach it to our kids. Consumption is not satisfying.
2. Travel to see —“Travel to experience the difference between “need” and “want”. Travel is a manifestly good way to learn. Sasse’s descriptions of what can be learned made me prioritize travel (as opposed to touring) with my family a priority. He also has some tips for making travel more meaningful, like studying the place in books before you arrive. I took him up on the challenge prior to our trip to oahu by watching a documentary about Hawaii’s volcanic formation and reading a book about Pearl Harbor. Reading the book made pearl harbor a far more poignant experience for me. This is surely the way to travel.
3. Build a bookshelf— Sasse quotes Neil Postman (late author of Amusing Ourselves to death) “What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. —Neil Postman” Sasse claims that reading lots of good books, not just reading, but discussing, directing, and wrestling with them, results in increased character (Virtu). I agree. He extends the argument by postulating that parents should select a broad and deep reading list for their kids. The structure behind this idea spurred me to make my 12 important topics reading list.
The book is definitely worth a read for parents and for kids nearing the “emerging adult” phase of life.