The Wonderless Age

The end of awe, the rise of cynicism, and the wisdom of children

Gracious reader,

While attending Redefining Classics this past weekend, a conference dedicated to celebrating overlooked voices and experiences in The Great Conversation, I met Junius Johnson, a Yale Ph.D.- turned independent scholar who teaches fascinating courses directly to incurably curious lifelong learners.

He shared that he’d written a book on why fantasy literature is so good for children. It’s called On Teaching Fairy Stories: A Guide to Cultivating Wonder in Students through Great Literature, and I can’t wait to read it.

“Why do you want to teach kids that the world is a magical place?” I asked him.

“Because the world is a magical place,” he replied, wonder in his eyes.

And he meant it—not in a sentimental or escapist sense, but in the deepest, most reality-rooted way. He offered an example: scientists have discovered only about 15% of the animal life on Earth. The rest remains a mystery—hidden in ocean trenches, forest canopies, forgotten caves, mountain peaks, and unknown valleys. We truly have no idea what might be out there. For all we know, creatures we think of as myths—dragon-like beasts, glowing birds, transparent frogs—may exist. The planet remains mysterious, brimming with life, possibility, and awe.

And yet, despite this possibility for wonder, many of us have forgotten how to see it.

Children Are Born With Wonder

Children enter the world as natural philosophers. Curiosity is their native tongue—an instinctive drive to wonder, question, and explore. Yet all too often, we stifle it—unwittingly smothering their awe with our cult of utility and efficiency. Curiosity doesn’t always chart the most direct path from point A to point B—but that’s precisely its power. Left unhindered, a child’s day is a litany of astonishment, a symphony of small revelations.

• “Why is the sky blue?”

• “Where do birds go when it rains?”

• “What does the moon eat for breakfast?”

They are masters of awe, fluent in curiosity. A dandelion is a marvel. A shadow is an enigma. A cardboard box becomes a rocket ship, a pirate’s cave, or a secret treasure chest. They are constantly awed by everything.

But this awe isn’t just charming—it’s foundational. Wonder is how children learn. It’s how they love. It’s how they begin to understand the world and themselves. Wonder is the operating system of a young mind.

The Voyage of Life- Childhood by Thomas Cole- The innocence, curiosity, and boundless potential of childlike wonder

Cynicism: The Enemy of Wonder

The opposite of wonder is not boredom. It’s cynicism. And cynicism is not intellectual sophistication—it’s spiritual fatigue. It’s the feeling of being certain, so certain that nothing can surprise you anymore.

Cynicism is the refusal to be impressed.

It’s a shield we raise when we’ve been disappointed too many times. It’s the result of overstimulation, over information, and under-delight. It often masquerades as wisdom, but it’s more often a kind of despair: the decision that nothing new under the sun is worth our time, our joy, our reverence.

We don’t become cynical overnight. Children lose their wonder gradually, through:

• Over-scheduling: Structured, achievement-driven environments that leave little time for open-ended play and exploration.

• Screens and algorithms: Which offer instant novelty and dopamine, short-circuiting real-world curiosity and slowing attention spans.

• Education that prizes answers over questions: The goal becomes scoring well, not marveling well.

• Adult modeling: When the grown-ups around them are distracted, disenchanted, too busy to look up at the stars or down at the ants, children learn that wonder is something we outgrow.

And so awe fades.

Adult Awe

We need wonder just as much—perhaps even more—as adults.

Wonder is not a luxury. It is a vital nutrient for the soul. It softens us. It reminds us we’re part of something bigger. It awakens humility, delight, and gratitude. It calls us out of ourselves.

Adults who cultivate wonder:

• Are more resilient. Awe increases our ability to cope with stress and setbacks.

• Are more generous. Wonder has been shown to make people kinder and more collaborative.

• Are more alive. Wonder reintroduces depth, mystery, and surprise into lives flattened by routine and responsibility.

And the good news is—we can learn it again. Children can be our teachers.

Let the Children Lead Us

Children don’t need to be taught how to wonder. We do. What they need is for us to protect and preserve their sense of awe—and, whenever possible, to let it spill over into our own lives.

We can start by:

• Watching how they look at the world. Try seeing things through their eyes. A puddle is an ocean. A caterpillar is an alien. A balloon is magic.

• Following their curiosity instead of always leading it. Let them set the pace on a walk. Let their questions become the curriculum of the day.

• Limiting distractions. Phones, schedules, and stress pull us away from awe. Practice being fully present with them and the world around you.

• Asking more questions. Not to get the “right” answers, but to linger in mystery: What do you think the moon is thinking about right now?

And then: look up. Look down. Look long.

Recovering Wonder: A Beginner’s Guide

1. Look Up at the Sky

Whether day or night, the sky is a free, ever-changing masterpiece. Watch the clouds shape-shift or the stars flicker into view. Let yourself feel small in the best possible way.

2. Ask Childlike Questions

The more we ask, the more these questions will arise naturally within us. In time, we’ll begin to soften—loosening the grip of our fear of failure or of looking foolish—and gradually reclaim the childlike wonder we once knew. Instead of rushing for answers, ask a question you don’t know the answer to—Why do leaves change color? What’s inside a cloud? How old is the oldest tree in the world? Stay in the curiosity.

3. Go on a “Wonder Walk”

Take a short walk and set the intention to notice five things you’ve never observed before—textures, colors, sounds, smells. Move slowly. Let yourself be astonished.

4. Watch a Child Discover Something

If you have children in your life, join them in their play. Let them explain something to you— don’t rush them. Their delight is contagious—and instructive.

5. Read a Myth, Fairy Tale, or Fantasy Story

Step into a world of talking animals, magical quests, or enchanted forests. These stories remind us of the deep truths that reason alone can’t explain.

6. Keep a “Wonder Journal”

Every evening, write down one thing that surprised, amazed, or delighted you that day—no matter how small. Over time, you’ll train your mind to find the miraculous in the mundane.

7. Stargaze or Watch a Sunrise

These moments remind us we live on a spinning rock in a vast universe. Just five minutes of skywatching can reset your whole sense of time and place.

8. Turn Off Your Phone for an Hour

Silence the noise. Disconnect to reconnect—with your senses, your surroundings, and your own mind. Wonder requires space to breathe.

9. Touch Nature

Run your fingers over bark. Smell the soil. Watch a bee at work. Nature is not just beautiful—it’s strange, intricate, and endlessly mysterious.

10. Let Yourself Be Moved

Listen to music that gives you chills. Read poetry aloud. Stand before a work of art.

The Magic in the Mundane

“Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old."

—Kafka

The extraordinary is hidden in the ordinary, for those with the eyes to see it. Embrace this invitation to pay attention.

The world is still full of dragons and dreams, hidden creatures and invisible forces, unanswered questions and unexplored paths. The world is a magical place—not in spite of its reality, but because of it.

We do not need to manufacture wonder. We simply need to learn how to see again.

And the children in our lives—if we let them—will show us the way.

Recent Speaking Engagements:

St. John’s Classical Academy

I had the honor of delivering the commencement address to the graduating class of St. John’s Classical Academy—200 bright young people standing at the edge of what’s next. I reminded them that while their schooling might be over, their education is just beginning.

We talked about vocation—not just the kind that pays the bills, but the kind that feeds the soul. I urged them to pursue both: a profession that meets the needs of the body and a calling that meets the needs of the mind and heart. We are more than economic units. We are thinking, wondering, meaning-seeking beings. And the life of the mind—the pursuit of wisdom, beauty, truth—is worth continuing long after the caps are tossed.

Redefining Classics Conference

I had the joy (and challenge!) of multitasking in a more literal way—delivering a talk at the Redefining Classics Conference in Washington, D.C., while having 8-month-old Sebastian John with me on stage. Thank you to my brilliant friend Anika Prather, Ph.D. for hosting such a rich, generous space. It was riveting to be among people engaging deeply with the classical tradition—especially the voices too often overlooked or left out entirely.

I’m thankful Bash was able to join me for these talks and conversations—not because he grasped the words, but because he felt their presence. In rooms alive with ideas and purpose, he was held not just in my arms, but within a spirit of inquiry and meaning. Even at nine months, he absorbs the rhythm of thought and the quiet power of voices seeking truth. Being in such spaces is nourishment, and I trust he carries their imprint deep within him.

Whether it’s an auditorium full of graduates or a symposium of scholars, the truth remains the same: learning is not a phase. It’s a way of being. And I’m so grateful I get to keep walking that road—and sharing it with others, little ones included.

Special Project!

I had the pleasure of traveling to Vancouver to film something truly exciting for Trinity Western University! I’m absolutely thrilled to share more about this project soon!

Looking ahead:

• September 26- 27, 2025- Civility Summit

• 2025 Indiana Women's Collaborative, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, August 28, 2025

• The Polo Club of Boca Raton, November 3, 2025

In the news:

• Is Silence Violence? How Yale Law School Reminded Me of the Virtue of Viewpoint Neutrality- “Viewpoint neutrality isn’t weakness — it’s a principled stand that respects disagreement and protects civil discourse.” Sharing my latest for WSB blog — interested to hear your thoughts!

• Zionsville Mayor’s Youth Council to sponsor author visit

• The World’s Oldest Stories to Help Your Relationships! With Alexandra Hudson- Truth Changes Everything Podcast

• I Love to Read: Author Alexandra Hudson to headline Zionsville Community Read event- Wishtv.com- Want to know the secret to doing politics well today? Doing politics LESS. We’ve allowed politics to take up too much of our mental consciousness, and it’s hurting society and ourselves. Join us in Zionsville at The Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library on April 30th at 6:30 PM in the Lora Hussey Room to explore this and many other surprising ways to heal our divides.

• Paideia, Humanitas, Civility and Education- I was honored to be invited to write this essay for The Ronald Reagan Center on Civility and Democracy. In a time often marked by division and discord, reflecting on the relationship between civility and education offers both wisdom and hope.

• Thanks to Timothy Donahue of Oakland University for this thoughtful Public Books review of The Soul of Civility! He highlights a key argument: civility isn’t mere politeness—it’s essential for real social progress. Read here!

• I had a great time joining Josh on the Good Morning Liberty podcast! We discussed historical lessons on civility, focusing on how John Adams and Thomas Jefferson overcame deep political divides to restore their friendship. Their story is a powerful reminder that mutual respect can heal even the deepest rifts. The episode is now live—tune in and let me know your thoughts!

• It’s Time for a New Era of Christian Civility- read my latest piece for Christianity Today!

• Thanks so much to MSNBC for hosting a segment about The Soul of Civility. Watch here!

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Thank you for being part of our Civic Renaissance community!