An Evening with David Brooks

David Brooks, NY Times columnist and best-selling author, argues that America’s cultural climate is defined by pervasive loneliness and distrust, steeped in tribalism and institutional disengagement. He suggests that the collapse of traditional moral formation—once nurtured by schools, churches, and civic organizations—has left individuals feeling alienated and morally unmoored. As "elites" retreat into ideologically narrow enclaves, marginalized communities respond with resentment and populist backlash. Yet Brooks retains hope, urging a turn toward communal repair through ordinary acts of presence, listening, and respect—as he eloquently puts it, “democracy is conversation.” This renewal, he suggests, begins at the personal level: reclaiming political meaning through moral formation, relational habits, and habits of civility.