Humanity has shifted from being a self-sustaining organism to a place where survival of the fittest means survival of the wealthy at the expense of those with less. No longer does our society focus on the health and survival of its citizens. Author Ken Anderson encourages readers to think critically and question society's conventional and common social values. "Unencumbered: Poems of a Youthful Soul's Empowerment" highlights our desire to achieve more than our fellow man, and our belief that we are more content when we have more than we need. Unencumbered shines light on how these restrictive principles are holding society back, and how we must not continue down that path if we are to preserve our environment and culture. With his poetic expressions, original use of language, and profound imagery, Anderson's collection of poems are stepping stones encouraging readers to break the habitual ways of the past and cast aside the status quo.