Disillusionment is a paradox: while we desire to disabuse ourselves of illusions and live meaningful lives, almost nothing is as painful as realizing that we have chased a lie. In The Virtues of Disillusionment, internationally acclaimed writer Steven Heighton delves into both the dangers of false hope and the power of disillusionment. Drawing on thinkers such as Herman Melville, Leonard Cohen, Kate Chopin, and Thich Nhat Hanh, Heighton reveals the role illusions play in creativity, art, and society. Celebrating the catalyzing force of disillusionment, this thoughtful treatise points the way toward true freedom.