How to Human: Three Ways to Share Life Beyond What Distracts, Divides, and Disconnects Us

This upbeat but overstuffed offering from social media star and former recording artist Whittaker investigates how to be a better person in an increasingly isolating world. “How does humanity get back on course to being the kind of people who run together to help a stranger in need?” Whittaker wonders, before answering: “It starts with us. We need to return to the original design for who God made us to become.” Whittaker explains how to achieve that by learning to “be,” “see,” and “free.” He illustrates the concepts with a host of personal vignettes, including how a 2019 DNA test unexpectedly revealed his Nigerian ancestry—after his father steadfastly denied he was Black while growing up in the 1980s South. Elsewhere, he recounts the realization of his own bias toward his elderly white neighbor. Occasionally, gems cut to the heart of the human condition: “The fact that we can find out whatever we want whenever we want isn’t human,” Whittaker muses. “What if we were created for a much simpler life?” But despite the engaging stories and moments of clarity, Whittaker takes on too much in his attempt to set right racial unrest, the sense of disconnection brought about by the pandemic, and political divisiveness through a faith-based approach. There are some solid takeaways, but many readers will find it’s a bit too much work to get to them. (Jan.)