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Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing
Maybe someday
37
/100
I Index Overall Rating
Readers
22/100Critics
53/100Scholars
Author:
Pete Davis
Publisher:
Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
Date:
May 4, 2021
Most of us have had this experience: browsing through countless options on Netflix, unable to commit to watching any given movie--and losing so much time skimming reviews and considering trailers that it's too late to watch anything at all. In a book borne of an idea first articulated in a viral commencement address, Pete Davis argues that this is the defining characteristic of the moment: keeping our options open. We are stuck in "Infinite Browsing Mode"--swiping through endless dating profiles without committing to a single partner, jumping from place to place searching for the next big thing, and refusing to make any decision that might close us off from an even better choice we imagine is just around the corner. This culture of restlessness and indecision, Davis argues, is causing tension in the lives of young people today: We want to keep our options open, and yet we yearn for the purpose, community, and depth that can only come from making deep commitments. In Dedicated, Davis examines this quagmire, as well as the counterculture of committers who have made it to the other side.
What The Reviewers Say
Dedicated is Davis’s attempt [...] to show that commitment, so often associated with conservatism and traditionalism, can be a radical act.
In a world of infinite options, Davis makes a plea for commitment. He acknowledges that we fear that we’ll regret our choices or miss out on opportunities. He also recognizes that there’s value in sampling different paths, especially for young adults. But ultimately, constantly jumping between options becomes tiring rather than fulfilling.
Drawing on abundant examples of 'long-haul heroes' from friends, family, public figures (Martin Luther King Jr., Ken Burns, sports champions, and political activists, among many others), and myriad interviewees, Davis makes a persuasive case for dedication.
