Modern Society

"Modern Society" by Julia Ward Howe is a thoughtful exploration of the issues and opposing concepts present in today's world. It looks at topics like being yourself, right and wrong, and how society is changing. The author thinks about how people have to balance being social with spending time alone, and how different forces in society affect our morals and values. The book starts with the author's goal to understand modern society, using a journey as a symbol to visit its different parts. She mentions how hard it is to question things philosophically, as she struggles with the many contradictions in social systems and how people act. The author shares her thoughts and what she has seen, using examples from the past to show the changes she has noticed. She paints a vivid picture of meeting various cultures and people, stressing the importance of truly connecting with both familiar and unfamiliar societies, while also pointing out the difficulties caused by valuing material possessions too much and trying to maintain moral principles.