The Errors of Mankind: Mistaking the True Conditions for Our Well-Being: Mistaking the True Conditions for our Well-Being

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.

About the Author :
CURT CANFIELD grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, where he acquired most of his beliefs as a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and a Church Youth Group Leader. He enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating from high school during the Vietnam conflict. During his three-year enlistment, he earned two meritorious promotions, traversed most of Southeast Asia and lost most of those beliefs.He went to college to understand what happened to America and graduated summa cum laude from Moravian University, majoring in English and History. He had several poems and short stories published before he undertook a professional career that took him around the world as a management consultant. He published numerous articles in leading law journals such as The American Lawyer and the New York Law Journal.Curt retired in 2017 to pursue his interests in religion, philosophy, and modern history. His debut novel, The Errors of Mankind, is an anti-war novel covering both World War II and Vietnam. It is not a war story, nor does it attempt to redeem either side in either conflict. It focuses on the key moral issues involved in each war's inception, prosecution, and aftermath; it also deals with the existential issues each character in the book must face as they make their pilgrimage through life.World War II, the Vietnam Conflict and America's War on Terrorism were all launched and defended by ideologies. National Socialism, Communism, and Democratic Capitalism all fought to preserve their version of truth during the 20th Century; while the first two crumbled, the last has prevailed, but its foundations are now beginning to crack and my novel attempts to explain why.Check out his website - www.curtcanfield.com - to view a wide range of BETA-Reader comments and to preview four extracted chapters that introduce the characters in the book.

Review :
Indies Today ★★★★☆ When studying the modern history of our world, it is impossible to exclude war from the curriculum. Stemming from religious and political divisions to run-of-the-mill selfishness, war has been a driving force behind almost every land and nation. Military veteran Will knows this firsthand. A Marine who served in Vietnam, Will struggles to accept the things he's seen and done in the name of service to his country. A personal project researching the branches of his family tree leads Will to Johann, a 91-year-old veteran who devoted some of his best years to World War II. On paper, it seems like these two seasoned men share more than just lineage, including common experiences and consequences that only a soldier could understand. But Johann fought for Germany under Hitler as a proud member of the SS. Instead of dismissing this elderly man as an enemy, though, Will takes time to hear history he is already well versed in, but from a remarkably different frame of reference. The discussions ... are tense at first ... But honest conversations give way to genuine empathy and enlightenment. Will often has the thought, "I never heard it put that way before." Both men reluctantly reckon with their pasts as they look ahead to the future. ... the novel really shines in its elevated conversations, offering a chance to see what reasonableness looks like when emotion and expectations are pushed aside. It is especially enlightening to consider the mood behind the scenes of each military conflict, one side joining with the promise of being able to see the world or learn responsibility, the other serving to save culture and community. When read with an open mind and a receptive heart, The Errors of Mankind can expand our viewpoint and lead us to examine the way we empathize with others. Booklife: The Errors of Mankind. This promising plot revolves around conversations between a Vietnam veteran, a World War II German veteran, and an Auschwitz survivor, exploring humankind's culpability for evil acts. An allegory about human nature, the book starts off strong ... When Canfield focuses on characters, the prose flows smoothly and allows for deeper insights-especially regarding the protagonist Will ... The novel shows great promise, and using three distinctive characters, each possessing divergent perspectives and life experiences, is a gripping concept. Canfield mimics the trauma aftereffects of war in the novel's partial access to its characters, particularly with Will; readers are allowed unpredictable glimpses into his struggles following his return from Vietnam-and only intermittent exposure to the darkness lurking inside of him ... Lena is a riveting character: an Auschwitz survivor caught between righteous anger while desperately wanting to be at peace, she is a definite standout.