The Rank-Link Imbalance, Haiti, and Basketball

Have you picked up a copy of Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller?  You should.  Early on Keller cites a piece by David Brooks that referenced “rank-link imbalances”.  Here’s the original piece, which is highly worth reading.  And here’s a great quotation:

Then they go into one of those fields like law, medicine or politics, where a person’s identity is defined by career rank. They develop the specific social skills that are useful on the climb up the greasy pole: the capacity to imply false intimacy; the ability to remember first names; the subtle skills of effective deference; the willingness to stand too close to other men while talking and touching them in a manly way.

This is worthy reading for all ambitious young guys.  Prepare to be nailed to the wall.

Also, check out Andrew Lisi’s piece on the tragedy unfolding in Haiti.  Helpful.  Our prayers are needed.