As it says in the introduction, A compass that always points south can help you find your way as surely as one that always points the other way. Likewise, a moral compass that always points to the wrong pole can be just as useful. If you know what would absolutely be wrong, then you know that you should absolutely search in the other direction.

This is an excellent beginning - or mood lifting mini-map - for the search. Byrnes hits on some particularly modern blind spots and failings. He's most effective when tweaking common statements, attenuating them, or adding the unexpected to his tag. (Not to scandalize Emily Dickinson - but coming at his intended truth, slant-wise.) Some captions hit so near the bone they miss the wincing graze of satire and merely puncture. Yet there's a great deal of wry and scathing wit, here. Humor, with a salutary edge. And much moral rightness, in pointing to what's wrong. ( )