ONWARD, AT LAST

An essayist confronts the precarious foundation of the American dream.

After graduating from New York’s Cardinal Spellman High School, followed by a stint in the U.S. Army, Howard forged a successful career as a banker and “achieved the ideal American middle-class life.” Yet, despite his accomplishments and economic stability, he “felt completely disillusioned and physically on the path to a stroke at the age of 40.” It wasn’t until he moved to a nature preserve in the Pacific Northwest, rededicated his career toward climate change mitigation, and underwent a decent amount of soul-searching that he could even begin to address his burning internal question, “Why am I not happy?” In this collection of 80 short essays, Howard explores the root causes of American unhappiness and offers guidance on how to achieve personal and collective progress. Howard contends that too many Americans have internalized the social values of “independence, competition, and self-interest so deeply that we hardly notice how they drive our choices, relationships, [and] outlook.” Indeed, while these values may fuel the engines of capitalism, they are often a barrier to societal happiness and ecological stability. While many chapters focus on the pitfalls of 21st-century greed, inequality, pandemics, environmental decay, and war, the bulk of the book is positive in its outlook, reminding readers of our “Universal Oneness” and interdependence. Modern society, for instance, emphasizes a skepticism toward strangers, while the book urges us to instead seek “intimacy” and “physical proximity” with others. Once we (as both individuals and a collective society) “shed the I centered lens of our social conditioning,” we can embrace our collective humanity. The book’s mini-essays (which it calls “commentaries”) are not designed to be read in a single sitting, or even in chronological order, but are meant to spawn “thoughtful consideration.” Some of the essays are a single page and feature experimental prose that borders on poetry.

An insightful reflection on human interconnectedness.