Et cetera : What we're reading: A Psalm for the Wild-Built

What do humans need?

At first glance, this seems like a question we've all been asked in elementary school science. However, when you sit down and try to answer this question, you'll find that the third-grade answer of food, water, and shelter feels shockingly inadequate when applied to modern life. This is the question that Becky Chambers' heartwarming masterpiece "A Psalm for the Wild-Built" attempts to answer.

It is a very simple book in plot, yet shockingly complex regarding mood and emotion. The story is about a young monk's search for purpose and self-fulfillment in a future where humans have been all but exiled from the natural world. It is a tale of ennui and is quite melancholy at times, but I think that the overarching themes are freedom and hope.

The main substance of the book is told through a series of conversations between a monk and a robot that hike through the wilderness. They speak of disconnection from the natural world, the individual's duty to a larger society, and many other things that can be applied so easily to the times we live in now. In short, if you have ever felt lost or purposeless in modern society, this is a must-read.

~Loren, VPL Volunteer