Nampa, Idaho - April 30, 2026 - An excerpt from Chapter 6 (Columbia Bound):
To me, the best attributes of being human are like stars we can see in the night sky. If you were with me, I’d point at a cluster of stars just above the trees on the other side of the pond and say, “Look over there! You can see cooperation, generosity, and accountability.” Then we’d walk for a bit, appreciating the soft breeze and silence, until I’d stop and point upwards again. “Can you believe it?” I’d ask. “If you look between those two clouds, you’ll see humility, loyalty, and compassion.” As luck would have it, we’d stumble upon an abandoned rowboat that was practically begging us to climb aboard. We’d quietly push away from the bank toward the center of the pond, the only sound coming from the water dripping off the lifted oars.
Back Cover:
Six true stories comprise Silver Linings in a Mad World. I specifically chose these confounding and disappointing personal events because they reflect my feelings about today’s public space, where an elite ruling class forces the working slaves of America to exchange their humanity for basic needs.
But is it really fair to place all of the blame on our corrupted government, monopolizing corporations, and billionaires with more wealth than the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt? While some of us will exercise free will to rise above the dystopian gloom, others appear unaffected by it. What’s their story? Are they merely robots programmed by mainstream indoctrination? Or are they simply ignorant, lost within a new America whose constitution begins with “I, the Person?” That may be true for the majority, but I discovered a different reason, a silver lining that affords a fortunate few happiness, purpose, and love despite living in a mad world.
-Chuck Trunks
“This work was written independently by the author without the use of generative AI.”
Trunks Art moved from Columbia, South Carolina, to Nampa, Idaho, in 2025 and has made this city his home and writing inspiration.
To see more of my work, please have a look at more posts or email me at chucktrunks@gmail.com. Or, visit my website at www.trunksart.com. Also, you can find me on Instagram (chucktrunks) and Facebook (Chuck Trunks).
