Victor Frankl & David Foster Wallace
I'm intrigued by these two men and want to read more of their work. From what I've seen, both point to the freedom and dignity that comes from good choices in difficult circumstances. They encourage everyone to develop the ability to choose well despite adversity. Don Miller has an excellent summary of Frankl in his book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years." David Foster Wallace explains how a good education can allow us to thrive in the stifling and routine times of life in a commencement address - "This Is Water." I think what all of these authors point to as well is the power of focused thinking - or meditation - to choose well and live a rich life even in terrible circumstances. I've encountered this in the Christian tradition too and I'm seeing it become more mainstream within the business and high tech overachiever crowd.