"Our goal, generally understood, but frequently not articulated, is to amass enough wealth or where-with-all to retire. For many, the ravages of age, sickness and/or age-related job restrictions actually compel us to retire. This is like a hurtling train hitting a massive brick wall. Like a bird flying at full speed into a window pane. Like a sprinter dashing to the finish line and stopping on a dime. Injuries can and do result. Opposites collide. Hard. A lifetime of working becomes a life of leisure? relaxation? boredom? unease? All covered by a patina of guilt because of non-productivity." Author Joseph M. Gould presents a clear nimbleness of heart and mind in his essays about the human condition in "Summing Up." Displaying a penchant for examining and commenting about his life, Gould easily flits from a discussion about God to the appeal of American football. His steadfast honesty challenges and delights as he delves into the human psyche. Gould's amusing potpourri of forays into the human condition exude sensitivity and insight, offering a unique point of view of our world today.