by John W. Gardner, 1978, W.W. Norton & Company, New York

As is the case with many of the books I read, I didn’t really seek this book out as one I would really want to read. It was in the bookcase in my nightstand, and I had just finished another book. I was in one of those “What should I read next situations.” When I opened the book, I was surprised when I saw the bookplate sticker had my grandmother’s name “Hildred T. Wilson” along with the date 1980. When she died in 1993, the nursing home in Winona, Minnesota, where she had lived for the previous two decades, told me that there was a box of her books that I could have if I wished. There were some real treasures in that box, particularly several volumes of the works of Willa Cather. This book was also one that I kept. Grandma Wilson certainly had excellent reading taste!

So, I should say something about the book. I was surprised and in awe of it. It’s only a 154-page book and Gardner nails about everything that is happening in our society today, 46 years after its publication! At the time that he published the book in 1978, the United States was in a period of malaise and discouragement. While Gardner doesn’t mention the specific issues of the time, mortgage rates were about 10% and it was a time of extremely high inflation. His message, however, is that all is not lost as humans have a strong ability to create and recreate. He manages to keep his tone hopeful, but, at the same time, he has a realistic view of human shortcomings and limitations.

Gardner is short on specific examples and references to support his opinions (he only mentions Watergate one time), but this is okay. He makes cogent observations and reasoned opinions without having to spend much verbiage backing them up. The last book I read was so full of obscure references that I was relieved to see that this one didn’t. I also believe that not referencing many current events helps to keep this book fresh, even after so many years have passed since it was written.

I think this book should be read by everyone today as it contains so many truthful observations about our current society and manages to do it in only 154 pages. I probably won’t read any of his other books, however, as I can’t imagine what else there is to say.