In the unit “The Spirit of Individualism” there are two parts, “Celebrations of the Self” and “The Dark Side of Individualism” with passages presenting very different perspectives about human nature. “The Dark Side of Individualism” portrays human nature as greedy, confused, easily captured by fame, and addicted to wealth and possessions. In “Celebrations of the Self,” human nature is seen in a more positive light. The characteristics displayed are self-confidence, independence, wisdom and altruism. The pieces “The Dark side of Individualism” are written with a more macabre tone, while the pieces “Celebrations of the Self” have a more positive and uplifting tone. The generalizations of human nature are different because the pieces in “The Dark Side of Individualism” and “Celebrations of the Self” have completely different views on life and human nature. In the “Celebrations of the Self” section, the pieces focus on gaining wisdom, living in harmony with nature, and relying on what the individual believes is right. Self-confidence is encouraged by the ability to “trust t...