"The Summoned Life" Breakdown

“The Summoned Life” Breakdown

The Summoned Self essay is about the two ways of thinking about yourself: Well-Planned Life vs. Summoned Life.  The writer is trying to inform the reader what each way is. He gives many examples of each way of life which allows the reader to gain a clear understanding. Brooks seems to be on both sides because this essay is to inform the readers on the different ways of life. He provides examples of each and makes very clear, valid points. For example, in paragraph ten he discusses the Summoned Life. He explains to the reader that this way of life is the unknown and has to be explored. With the unknown can cause many disadvantages which Brooks explains by stating that a young person cannot see what the future has to bring. He/she can see thing like parenthood but does not understand meanings until an event occurs (paragraph 10). Well- Planned life, stated in the second paragraph, is taking the time to find a clear purpose, however; can take so much time that the most important things can get pushed aside (paragraph 6).

The author does use shift from one way of life to another. Brooks explains Well-Planned Life first and then transitions into the second way of life, Summoned Life. By doing this, the author uses many examples to show the reader what he is trying to portray. He uses the examples to help the reader grasp a better understanding. While talking about Well-Planned life the author uses the example of a serious Christian who refuses to play in a tournament of a Sunday. “He emphasizes finding the right metrics, efficiently allocating resources and thinking about marginal costs.” (Paragraph 8) Life can appear as a project which can be fixed along the way (paragraph 9). When the author is discussing both he states questions that the reader can ask themselves. Well-Planned Life would ask “What Should I do?” and the Summoned Life asks “What are my circumstances asking me to do?”

During this essay the writer using the description Clayton Christensen states in the issue of the Harvard Business Review. The author uses many quotes from Christensen to help explain the ways of life. One quote specifically used is  “When I was a Rhodes scholar, I was in a very demanding academic program, trying to cram and extra year’s worth of work into time at Oxford. I decided to spend an hour every night reading, thinking, and praying about why God put me on this earth.” (Paragraph 2) This quote defines Well-Planned Life very accurately. Once you find your purpose you need to make decisions about your life which can take much time and effort. As stated in the last paragraph Well-Planned Life is known to be the American way. Summoned Life is known elsewhere. David Brooks, the author of The Summoned Self, has accomplished a great essay about the two ways of life. “But they are both probably useful for a person trying to live a well-considered life.”