Dedicated

Starred review from May 14, 2021

To Davis, a civic advocate from Falls Church, VA, living in a culture of open options--choosing novelty over depth, individuality over community, and flexibility over purpose--leads to an ethos of indifference and meaninglessness in society. A remedy for infinite browsing, he says, is to enter into voluntary commitments, dedicating oneself to particular causes and crafts, places and communities, professions and people. In this book based on his Harvard Law School graduation speech that went viral, Davis calls for readers to choose to devote themselves to a project or a relationship, and develop loyalty to particulars: particular neighborhoods, people, and missions, in order to live a life of value and make the world a better place. VERDICT This title is an excellent purchase for all public libraries.--Deborah Bigelow, Director Emerita, Leonia P.L., NJ

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2021
A celebration of caring and community within our often bloodless digital world. Davis, co-founder of the Democracy Policy Network and Getaway, which offers vacation escapes to tiny, off-the-internet cabins, expands his recent Harvard commencement speech into a heartfelt argument in support of the "Counterculture of Commitment" and rejection of the "Culture of Open Options." Characterized by infinite browsing and fluid attachment to any identity, place, or community, the Culture of Open Options can yield certain pleasures, such as flexibility and novelty, but also leads to decision paralysis, shallowness, and isolation, "the malaise of having no connection to anything, of having no expectations set for you." Drawing on abundant examples of "long-haul heroes" from friends, family, public figures (Martin Luther King Jr., Ken Burns, sports champions, and political activists, among many others), and myriad interviewees, Davis makes a persuasive case for dedication as "an alternative path of life." He acknowledges that commitment may generate fears: "If we commit to something, we will later regret having not committed to something else instead," or we fear undermining "our identity, reputation, and sense of control." But he asserts that rather than threaten identity, commitment enhances it, bestowing the "gift of solidarity" within a shared moral culture rather than affiliation with the kind of micro-identities found in Twitter communities and on Reddit boards. Davis laments that in the Culture of Open Options, education focuses on training for personal advancement rather than on cultivating attachments or honing professionalism. "To be educated for attachment," he writes, "is to learn the art of settling--into particular professions, crafts, causes, and communities--and to find there the peace of reverence and duty." Commitments foster looking out for others rather than only for ourselves: "They structure our world, giving us authority to respect, myths in which to see ourselves, and communities in which we have a voice." An earnest invitation to reassess personal priorities.

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Starred review from April 15, 2021
In a world of infinite options, Davis makes a plea for commitment. He acknowledges that we fear that we'll regret our choices or miss out on opportunities. He also recognizes that there's value in sampling different paths, especially for young adults. But ultimately, constantly jumping between options becomes tiring rather than fulfilling. Changing a situation or mastering an art comes from sustained efforts, not an endless shifting of focus. Davis illuminates the experiences of some "long-haul heroes" whose contributions came after years of dedication. No fan of the call to return to the old ways, Davis offers another option, voluntary commitment. You choose your mission, jump in, and see what happens. As you're drawn into the process, you become one of the "solid people in a liquid world." That doesn't mean that you're locked in forever. You may realize that you've headed down the wrong road and that changes need to be made. But if you stay in long enough, Davis advises, you'll lose any fear of missing out on options and find depth, friends, and a reawakening of purpose and honor. Well-versed in the current zeitgeist, Davis is insightful without being preachy, and his wise guide to commitment should be on everyone's reading list.

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