When I first outlined Chapter 2, I knew what I didn’t want to write.

I didn’t want a takedown of civilization. I didn’t want a nostalgic myth about pre-modern life. And I didn’t want another argument that ends with “and therefore everything is broken.”

What I needed instead was altitude.

The core challenge of this chapter wasn’t making a point — it was holding two truths at the same time:

Civilization made our lives possible. And civilization quietly bypassed how humans actually form understanding.

If I tipped too far in either direction, the chapter would collapse into something familiar — either critique or comfort. Neither would help the reader see differently.

So I kept returning to one framing word while drafting:

Shortcut.

A shortcut isn’t evil. It’s not a mistake. It’s a tradeoff.

Civilization didn’t replace human formation. It routed around it — compressing experience into rules, symbols, roles, and institutions so large groups of people could coordinate quickly.

That move worked. And it worked so well that we stopped noticing what it cost.

This chapter was written to surface that cost without assigning blame.

The most delicate editorial choice was resisting the urge to solve anything.

It would have been easy to jump ahead to tools, practices, or fixes. But doing that here would repeat the very pattern the chapter is describing: skipping formation in favor of outcomes.

So Chapter 2 ends with a pause.

Not an answer. A recognition.

That moment matters more than it looks. Because once someone sees that their struggle may be structural rather than personal, pressure starts to lift. Shame loosens its grip. Curiosity can re-enter the room.

If this chapter works, it doesn’t convince you of anything.

It simply creates enough space for the next question to be asked honestly:

What lens have I been looking through without realizing it?

That question is where the rest of the book begins.

Chapter 2 is nearing completion. If you’d like to be notified when it’s released to early readers, you can join the Early Reader Circle here. No pressure — just a quiet way to follow the work as it takes shape.

→ Learn more about the book here