Harold Hardscrabble, by G. D. Dess, is a sympathetic novel filled with philosophical musings on the state of society and our place within it.* The story captures the feelings of frustration and helplessness that many of us experience in our daily lives. These sentiments are embodied in the contemplative, quietly charming protagonist, Harold, who, like Walter Mitty, lives largely in his own world of thoughts and dreams. We follow Harold's transformation from a dreamer to a man of action as he struggles to discover how to live a meaningful life in a...