Better is the End

In "The Errors of Mankind," Will Barnes was purged of the beast that drove him to survive and excel, regardless of how it impacted others, and found a peace that enable him to reconcile with his wife over past transgressions. In this sequel, "Better is the End," he finds this peace is being undercut by a darkness left behind by the beast, an uncontrollable anger that causes him to lash out at others. Feeling like an alcoholic, he follows the AA program. He retraces his steps through life to find others he has harmed and then struggles with the process of making amends. He finally completes the process and unexpectedly finds lasting peace in a surprising way.
Onlinebookclub review: "...5 out of 5 stars. I like the writing style of the novel because it is so well-written that one is almost convinced it is a true story. The author should be commended for the good plot and for conveying an important message to everyone in the world about greed, power, arrogance, intolerance, and selfish interest. "Better Is the End" is particularly suitable for readers who are interested in historical fiction with a strong moral and political dimension. Those who appreciate a nuanced examination of historical events and their implications for contemporary society will find this book engaging. Additionally, readers who enjoy stories of personal redemption and complex characters grappling with their pasts will connect deeply with Will's journey."
A Beta-reader: "Great job! I loved the journey both books took me on. You're a great storyteller who, through these books, tells a deeply compelling and painfully personal story that is quite entertaining. While most people have not been through what Will's been through, most folks have had their own journey and should be able to put themselves in Will's shoes because the concepts of 'Why am I here?', 'What does it mean to be happy?', 'Am I good?', and 'Can I be redeemed' are universal concepts with which we all grapple."

Curt grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, where he acquired most of his beliefs as a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and a Church Youth Group Leader. He enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating from high school during the Vietnam conflict. During his three-year enlistment, he earned two meritorious promotions, traversed most of Southeast Asia and lost most of those beliefs.
He went to college to understand what happened to America and graduated summa cum laude from Moravian University, majoring in English and History with Honors. He had several poems and short stories published before he undertook a professional career that that led to partner in a management consulting firm where he practiced internationally and spoke extensively on the strategic use of information technology for the practice and management of legal services. He published numerous articles in leading law journals such as The American Lawyer and the New York Law Journal
Curt retired in 2017 to pursue his interests in religion, philosophy, and modern history. His debut novel, The Errors of Mankind: Mistaking the True Conditions for Our Well-Being, is an anti-war novel covering both World War II and Vietnam. It is not a war story, nor does it attempt to redeem either side in either conflict. It focuses on the key moral issues involved in each war's inception, prosecution, and aftermath; it also deals with the existential issues each character in the book must face as they make their pilgrimage through life.