the second mountain the important peak

a must read. brings perspective to what is important and what's not. At times the stories are a bit too long at other times not long enough. Very thoughtful and enjoyable

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A very powerful message

A lot of brilliant, thought provoking ideas in the book. It does seem to resonate quite well with my experience of the ego based lifestyle of seeking pleasure, money and reputation feeling empty and meaningless, while giving and caring for a few close relationships feeling extremely meaningful.

The book has a couple of chapters that are really insistent on faith and religion and spirituality, that can be a very off-putting for readers who weren’t looking for this - seeing these chapters almost made me abandon the book. The rest of the book is great though.

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Beautiful book

The book speaks to my soul. It has put everything I've been feeling into words. A truly wonderful read worthy of reading.

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Probably the most important book I've ever read

Genuine wisdom, like a lighthouse guiding our ships that pass in the night. Worth reading again and again. I feel like I found a treasure in the attic, a guide about HOW to live in he good life.

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Deeply, lastingly thought provoking

Brooks has written an extraordinary treatise on the value of a moral life and how each and every one of us is already qualified to begin to live such a life. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

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Thank you, David Brooks

I am humbled by this very thoughtful book about personal transformation. It's both heart-felt and rational. As a religious, I cannot imagine a more convincing argument for what we call mysticism. Though I'm embarrassed to make such a confession, I must attempt to be as honest as the author: traditional Mystics are good at describing their experience but not so good at making a rational apology that so keenly appeals to our modern minds. Here is a mostly secular guy (al be it, one that stands on the shoulders of two great mystical traditions--Jewish and Christian) who is well able to describe our experience in modern, well-informed language. Bravo, David Brooks. You've helped to clear away some of the dust and cobwebs of my mind...not by "answers" but by opening cracks. "That's how the light gets in!" Thanks

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It's a good message well delivered but...

The more we get to know the author the less we like him. The premise for this book is a good one. Many people struggle to find meaning in their lives once they reach mid-life. The idea that service to something greater than yourself or tending to a flock brings the satisfaction a career once did seems valid but once the author starts pontificating about Jesus and then tells us how he left his wife of 27 years for his researcher 23 years his junior we start to feel like he's preaching to himself and trying to justify his actions. Nevertheless there are some decent touch-points in the book and good lessons to be learned. The side of the book that talks generally about observations made in relationships and the workaday world is well written and thought provoking, he proposes the idea of 'turning towards' people close to us who seek out attention rather that 'turning away' with our responses and I have found that practice useful. I also like the message that when you decide to work at a company you are agreeing to become the type of person that works at that company. For me the parts of the book that were more memoir than non-fiction/philosophical did not add to the overall experience. Narration was excellent.

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3 people found this helpful

This book is a jewel

This book is pure gold.

It talks about how “self” and the pursuit of happiness no longer works, and shows an alternative where the society at large, and the reader in particular, could follow.

Really great book, worth the read.

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1 person found this helpful

fascinating view on life

this audiobook is fascinating, the author goes into great detail with each of the four areas of one's life - vocation, marriage, faith/religion and community. while the religious element had the least appeal to me, it was interesting to hear the author's journey into becoming a religious person. I would have liked to hear more on community and less on religion.
I found the audiobook excellent but quite long.

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Interesting ideas but could be more efficiently described

Good book all in all but unfortunately a bit to scattered and long and therefore difficult to finish. It should be possible to say what he's trying to say in a shorter way.

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