A profoundly inspiring and transformative argument that purposeful
commitment can be a powerful force in our age of restlessness and
indecision.
Most
of us have had this experience: browsing through countless options on
Netflix, unable to commit to watching any given movie—and losing so
much time skimming reviews and considering trailers that it’s too
late to watch anything at all. In a book borne of an idea first
articulated in a viral commencement address, Pete Davis argues that
this is the defining characteristic of the moment: keeping our
options open. We are stuck in “Infinite Browsing Mode”—swiping
through endless dating profiles without committing to a single
partner, jumping from place to place searching for the next big
thing, and refusing to make any decision that might close us off from
an even better choice we imagine is just around the corner. This
culture of restlessness and indecision, Davis argues, is causing
tension in the lives of young people today: We want to keep our
options open, and yet we yearn for the purpose, community, and depth
that can only come from making deep commitments.
In
Dedicated,
Davis examines this quagmire, as well as the counterculture of
committers who have made it to the other side. He shares what we can
learn from the “long-haul heroes” who courageously commit
themselves to particular places, professions, and causes—who
relinquish the false freedom of an open future in exchange for the
deep fulfillment of true dedication. Weaving together examples from
history, personal stories, and applied psychology, Davis’s candid
and humble words offer a meaningful answer to our modern frustrations
and a practical path to joy.