The Second Mountain

Though Brooks, a NEW YORK TIMES columnist, is a frequent television commentator, this audiobook is narrated by Arthur Morey. But it seems as if Brooks is talking directly to the listener. Since this is an intimate work about finding life's meaning that relies heavily on research and quotes from philosophers and writers, that conversational tone is critical to the audiobook's impact. There is much to admire in the author's thesis that happiness is not as rewarding as the joy that a life of service brings. The audiobook provokes the listener to think about a range of subjects and offers prescriptive advice on how to achieve personal growth through social responsibility. For those who are questing, Brooks and Morey offer a pathway to the purpose-driven life. L.W.S. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine