02450cam a22003133u 4500 50093 UtSlPG 20260610134142.0 m cr n 260607r2015||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 D501 Bacheller, Irving, 1859-1950 Keeping Up with William : In which the Honorable Socrates Potter Talks of the Relative Merits of Sense Common and Preferred Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2015 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2015-09-30 Produced by David Widger from page images generously provided by the Internet Archive "Keeping Up with William" by Irving Bacheller is a novel written in the early 20th century, specifically during the tumultuous period of World War I. The narrative revolves around the reflections and conversations of Socrates Potter, a country lawyer who discusses societal and moral issues in light of the war. Primarily, the book critiques the concept of "Williamism," a metaphorical representation of the pride and arrogance associated with inherited superiority, particularly in the context of German militarism. In this book, the protagonist Socrates Potter engages in a deep examination of contemporary societal values, contrasting the productive toil of past generations with what he perceives as the idle, self-indulgent behaviors of modern individuals, particularly women. Through a series of anecdotes and philosophical discussions, Potter highlights the dangers of inherited superiority and the importance of common sense and democracy. He illustrates how the quest for superiority can lead to moral decay, comparing various characters and societal behaviors to underline the fundamental truths about human nature, responsibility, and the consequences of neglecting one’s conscience. The narrative serves not only as a critique of contemporary society but also as a call for introspection and action during times of conflict. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified World War, 1914-1918 Williams, Gaar, 1880-1935 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50093 90931 90931