#1545 - W. Keith Campbell

Published in 1944, 'The Razor's Edge' by W. Somerset Maugham is a novel that delves into the search for the meaning of life and the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality. The story centers around Larry Darrell, a former World War I aviator who returns to Chicago a changed man. Larry rejects conventional life and sets out on a spiritual journey, influenced by his harrowing war experiences and the death of a friend who saved his life. The novel is narrated by Maugham himself, who interacts with and observes the characters over a twenty-year period. The story explores themes of war, death, life, marriage, and profession, and contrasts Larry's spiritual pursuits with the more materialistic lives of characters like Isabel and her uncle Elliott Templeton. The novel is set in various locations including Chicago, Paris, and India, and it was one of the first Western novels to propose non-Western solutions to societal issues.

The book explores how the ideas 'what doesn’t kill you makes you weaker,' 'always trust your feelings,' and 'life is a battle between good people and evil people' have become embedded in American culture. These 'Great Untruths' contradict basic psychological principles and ancient wisdom, leading to a culture of safetyism that interferes with young people’s social, emotional, and intellectual development. The authors investigate various social trends, including fearful parenting, the decline of unsupervised play, and the impact of social media, as well as changes on college campuses and the broader context of political polarization in America.