The Errors of Mankind

The Errors of Mankind is a philosophical inquiry into human nature and what gives rise to its evil side as well as the possibility of its redemption. This inspirational saga addresses both personal and national struggles to find a place in the world. On the national level, it probes into the roles that geopolitics, globalism and international finance played in American policy that led up to World War II, the Vietnam Conflict and the many military campaigns that followed. On a personal level, it speaks to the need for empathy, self-awareness, and morality, aka the role of God, as individuals progress through their lives. This historical fiction novel unfolds in a Socratic dialogue between three main characters: Will, a retired consultant who served in the Marines during the Vietnam conflict; Johann, a distant relative of Will’s who fought for Nazi Germany in the Waffen-SS during World War II; and Lena, an Auschwitz survivor who lived through the Holocaust. Will is still struggling to find his purpose in life after a stroke seven years ago while Johann strongly holds onto his beliefs in the discredited regime he once fought for. The two begin an uneasy collaboration to deconstruct their disastrous past and overcome the trauma imposed on them by their government, culture, and family but ultimately it is Lena who shows them the way to redemption.The story is structured around four cycles of increasing self-awareness expressed at the personal level by Will and at the national level for Nazi Germany by Johann. As the two men interact with one another and later with Lena, they reconcile their limited understanding of the world with the infinitude of the divine reason that created it. The characters are fictional, but the historical events relayed are real; both provide the reader with a view of history and human nature that is frequently not explored.Written by a Marine veteran who served during the Vietnam Conflict then graduated summa cum laude with degrees in English and History and travelled the world as a management consultant, this book provides an insightful and reflective look back on how America evolved during the 20th century and offers a roadmap for personal growth and a progressive vision for our nation’s future.