"Peripheral Vision" presents a literary cocktail of views and opinions that author Cat Schmidt shares about the quality of life in America. Some of her ideas are extreme and "out of the box," but she hopes that they will encourage some positive changes, however small. The personal experiences she shares offer a unique perspective on everyday life; from her somewhat dysfunctional family life to the realities of being middle-aged in our society today, no topic is left unexplored. She also raises more serious issues, such as what it feels like to apply for a job. The thing that makes Schmidt different from most folks is that while some people are pursuing their everyday tasks and chores, chatting on their cell phones, and thinking about their confused lives, she is thinking of ways to change things for the better. She believes that change is definitely needed; ranging from the realities of global warming to the challenges of medical insurance, her unique take on these and many other topics provides a lot of food for thought. By taking the time to consider ways to make our lives a little better in this great country, things just might get a little better for everyone.