What are the three things that Faber says are missing from life?

Faber identifies three crucial elements missing from life in his society: quality information, the time people need to process that information, and the ability to freely act on what they have learned.

Faber's Diagnosis of a Meaningless Existence

In a world increasingly devoid of meaningful literature and independent thought, Faber, a disillusioned former English professor, articulates a profound emptiness at the core of human existence. He argues that the absence of books, and the intellectual engagement they foster, strips life of its essential components, leaving individuals unfulfilled and easily manipulated.

Here are the three elements Faber believes are missing:

1. Quality Information

The first missing element is quality information. Faber contends that the overwhelming volume of superficial media and government-controlled narratives has replaced genuine knowledge and diverse perspectives. In this environment, deep, nuanced, and truthful content is systematically suppressed. This lack of rich, thought-provoking information prevents individuals from truly understanding the complexities of their world, their history, or themselves, leading to a superficial and unexamined life.

2. The Time to Process Information

Beyond just the availability of information, Faber emphasizes the absence of the time people need to process that information. Modern society is engineered for constant distraction, rapid consumption, and immediate gratification, leaving virtually no room for quiet reflection, critical analysis, or deep contemplation. Without this essential "leisure," as he sometimes calls it, even if some form of quality information were to trickle through, it would remain unassimilated, unexamined, and ultimately ineffective. True understanding requires time to digest, question, and internalize.

3. The Ability to Freely Act on What Is Learned

Finally, Faber laments the loss of the ability to freely act on what they have learned. Even if individuals were somehow to acquire quality information and manage to find the time to process it deeply, the pervasive totalitarian system restricts any independent action or meaningful dissent. True understanding becomes moot if it cannot translate into informed choices, personal agency, or the capacity to influence societal change. This suppression of freedom to act renders knowledge powerless and perpetuates conformity.

These three elements, working in conjunction, form the foundation of an informed, thoughtful, and free human experience. Faber's analysis underscores that their collective absence leads to a society where individuals are passive, ignorant, and easily controlled.

Summary of Missing Elements