The Lives We Are Leading

David Brooks writes "The Summoned Self" in order to inform people and make them think about how they are currently living. Brooks explores two very different lifestyles. The first is the "Well-Planned Life". In this lifestyle, you think solely on what you should do with your life and do everything that could help. In contrast, the second way of living is called the "Summoned Life". This lifestyle emphasizes the idea that the circumstances around you are calling you to do something specific. Brooks uses real-life examples to help the reader better understand what he is trying to say. Since the two lifestyles are different, that is how he switches gears. He contrasts the "Well-Planned Life" with the "Summoned Life". Brooks turned to a current issue of the Harvard Business Review to provide a clear personal example that we, the reader, could easily understand. Clayton Christiansen is quoted directly since he is the author of the Harvard Business Review. I believe that we as humans live lives in between the "Well-Planned Life" and the "Summoned Life". We plan our lives based on what we believe we were called to do. The people who are more toward the "Summoned Life" lead happier lives because they enjoy what they are doing. These types of people feel like they are contributing more to society because they are basing things off of their surrounding circumstances. The other types of people living more along the lines of the "Well-Planned Life" are typically more unhappy with their life all around. While people should try and lead the "Summoned Life", I think it is very difficult to apply it to your own life.