Within the university, students and professors scrutinize every possible aspect of our universe -- from the billions of galaxies to subatomic particles, electrons, quarks -- but they assiduously avoid examining their own lives. In the wider world, we keep hectically busy and fill every free moment of the day with some form of diversion -- work, computers, television, movies, radio, magazines, newspapers, sports, alcohol, drugs, parties. Perhaps we distract ourselves because looking at our lives confronts us with our lack of meaning, our unhappiness, and our loneliness -- and with the difficulty, the fragility, and the unbelievable brevity of life.