Chapters 36-40 Summary

In Chapter 36, the author thinks about ideas that he once held that should be repudiated now that he is older. Others have thought of him as being hot stuff, but he has never considered himself that way. Regarding socialism, he had been strong on that political and economic side in his youth, but since then has realized that the ideals of socialism will likely never be realized. He nonetheless thinks the ideals are still worth pursuing such as to eliminate hunger, homelessness and illiteracy. In Chapter 37, Trout admits that his actions after the end of the timequake were self-serving and cowardly, not heroic as some people thought. He was trying to find shelter from the ever-growing din of disasters outside. In Chapter 38, the author reflects that no matter how good one is at anything, there will always be people better at...