“If human beings flourish from their inner core rather than in the realm of impact and results, then the inner work of learning is fundamental to human happiness, as far from pointless wheel spinning as are the forms of tenderness we owe our children or grandchildren.” – Zena Hitz, Lost in Thought

Lost in Thought begins with Zena Hitz’s own story about feeling both useless and consumed with status as an academic. She writes about her journey back to a love of learning for its own sake, and then transitions to an examination of why an intellectual life is a good and worthy pursuit. She examines the purpose of learning through stories of individuals, from Malcolm X to Augustine. As she explores the intellectual life, she draws out questions of what it means to be human and what is good. This is not a comprehensive portrait of human flourishing or virtue but a deep dive into one important component of life–one which is easily neglected. For anyone involved in education or who feels tempted to measure worth by utility, Lost in Thought is a pleasant read that makes a good case for the rewards of an intellectual life.