The summoned life

In the text Brooks shows the differences between a well-planned life and a summoned life. This text shows how both lives have good and bad qualities to them. A well panned life requires a goal and a well thought out plan to achieve that goal. They accomplish short term goals that lead up to the final achievement rather than working on the full picture. The well planned life invests energy in what is happening at that moment in time “as a result, the things that are most important often get short shrift” (Brooks). In a summoned life people view their life as a purpose rather than a goal. “Life isn’t a project to be completed; it is an unknowable landscape to be explored” (Brooks). Brooks mentions how the summoned life may include concepts of ideas but until those ideas are in effect in that person’s life they cannot fully understand the concept. Brooks uses the lives of others to show how each differs. He uses Christensen as an example of a well-planned life and explains the kind of person he is and why he lives this type of live. He also uses America vs. other places to show how different cultures use the different ways of life. Overall Brooks does a good job representing the ideas of both the summoned life and the well-planned life and how they compare and contrast. In my belief, I feel like these two lives can coexist and they don’t have to be two extremes. Someone should have well thought out plans for their life while trying to uncover a purpose and incorporate proper connection with others.