Greatness is a choice by Ethan Penner (Hardcover)

Happiness seems to be something that too many have lost the ability to find. In the United States, the use of antidepression medication and the obesity levels have each reached epidemic proportions and continue to soar. Frustrations with economic disparity and fears of poor futures for our youth proliferate. And, despite record levels of spending on public education for many decades, our school system is producing frighteningly poor results that get worse annually. Free-market capitalism, which has been a foundation for the US success story, is now looked upon by many, rightly or wrongly, as the root problem. Those disaffected or see themselves as being left behind, desperate for new answers, are even favoring forms of communism. We see people bounce from one disappointing ideology straight into the arms of another, whose failures are much more epic, and predictably painful, it seems that there has never been a time more desperate than today for new ideas. We must ask new questions that beget new answers. This book offers a different idea - Societism. The underlying philosophy is simple: If something is good for society, then it's good. If it is not, then it is bad. This simple idea ought to appeal to everyone, and it should naturally curb the excesses and failings of the other isms. Of course, what is good and what is not good for society will be hotly debated; however, the hope is that by framing the debate through this question the needle will be sufficiently moved away from the stalemate between our current failed isms. To be a proper Societist first requires that one has a correct sense of self. One cannot be of any value to others if not first standing strongly on a solid foundation. With that in mind, much of this book aims at addressing the personal foundation that enables one to be a successful Societist. The second portion of this book lays out some ideas and reflections on societal ideas.