The Last American Man book review

I just finished reading The Last American Man and I have to say that I consider this an important book. It was originally published in 2002 which was perhaps a bit ahead of the public consciousness but now, in 2011, I think it is a must read.

The book is the story of Eustace Conway but really, despite the laudations on the cover and any of the other reviews you might read, it’s about much more than Mr. Conway. It is as much about North American society told through the filter of a boy who dared to question the assumption that this society is the pinnacle of human endeavour.

The book focuses a lot on the negative aspects of Eustace Conway in an effort to balance the idea of Eustace Conway (I hope that makes sense) but in the end there is a lot to be learned from his philosophy on life – good points and bad points. I would call mindfulness to be a particularly good lesson but obsession not so much. The one thing I felt was missing from the book would have been a bit more about the lives of the DETI’s (disgruntled ex turtle islanders). I think this would have gone a long way to placing Eustace Conway’s philosophies in context of modern America.

Eustace Conway is in some ways presented as a sad contradiction. I see in his story that he is afflicted not so much by his father as the author asserts, he has been more afflicted by his mother’s positivism. Eustace Conway is a man who should be happy and probably would be except for his excessive ambition and dreams of glory. Near the end of the book he laments that sure he could live life the way he thinks it should be lived but then he wouldn’t be changing the world like he thinks he should. If nothing else Eustace Conway is a lesson that goals and dreams are important but also need to be moderate.

At it's conclusion the book finds that the Last American Man, like everyone else, needs to find that precious life/work balance the HR people talk about.

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