Hey curiousllama, I think you bring up very valid points. A few other posters have brought up one or two arguments that have some overlap so let me try to clari

Hey curiousllama, I think you bring up very valid points. A few other posters have brought up one or two arguments that have some overlap so let me try to clarify where I’m coming from and post a useful response. I don’t advocate that the individual shouldn’t bear the brunt of the responsibility. I’m trying to say that the responsibility should be _shared_ by society. I see how the main goal of the book is indeed to focus on the individual and their drive to being “exceptional”. So for people who find themselves dissatisfied with their comfortable mediocrity, so to say, I can imagine there is some value here in solving problems and removing obstacles. Finally, what I’m trying to say is: I think this concept can and is applied very generally to a large population that find themselves, at the individual level, at drastically different positions in the hierarchy of needs. What roadblocks are you powering through when you might not have shelter or food? When you feel unsafe? Should we dismiss those individuals’ “excuses”. That’s what I meant by very American. The example of Ms B. Who is clearly a one in a million type success story. Should we really bother dismissing every other pressure around us because someone was somehow able to do it? We’re her children happy and healthy? Did her marriage survive? Should we all strive to be Ms B, costs what it costs, regardless of food, shelter, security, health etc.