Suicides in Palo Alto

Yikes.

A cluster of teen suicides at Palo Alto high schools in 2010 was followed this year by another four suicide victims from the wealthy and achievement-blessed Henry M. Gunn High School. Fifty-two of its 1,900 students were treated for suicide ideation this past school year.

Increasingly, Americans are looking to career achievements as the basis for "the good life." Anyone who reads novels or history ought to understand this to be foolish, but these people don't have time for that between SAT prep courses, reading self help books, and checking their bank balances.