The need to protect the integrity of our own minds is an idea with a long history. It was examined by American transcendentalist thinkers such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, who both denounced the conformity of their age. An essayist, lecturer, poet, and philosopher, Emerson remains one of the most influential writers in the American canon. His seminal essay “Self-Reliance,” published in 1841, is both timeless and timely reading. As Emerson noted of American society, “The virtue in most request is conformity.” In response, he promoted self-reliance as an antidote to mindless obedience. This idea is relevant today when so many are content to go along with popular narratives, often disregarding objective evidence and common sense. But those willing to adopt a philosophy of self-reliance will find the complicated world presents a valuable opportunity to cultivate their character in the face of external pressure. The Pitfalls of …