Beware of Cynicism is a satire that examines medical education with sharp and cutting humor in the setting of profound disillusionment. The story chronicles the adventures of The Morality Police, Jaded Larry, Follows the Rules, and The Grumbler, four over 40-year-old students, as they navigate medical school at the world’s most conservative university, The Land of the Zealots.

The heroes find themselves immersed in a milieu with classmates young enough to be their children, bureaucrats who are out of touch, and administrators struggling to adhere to their own proclaimed values in the midst of a woke revolution. The Morality Police soon discovers a sinister plot to overthrow The Four Commands, which all Zealots are sworn to uphold, and an evil spirit of entitlement that threatens to destroy the foundations of the academy.

While struggling to come to terms with his disillusionment with the medical establishment, The Morality Police is forced to take a careful inventory of his values and motivations, particularly as they relate to his noble pursuit, which is to become a doctor and take care of people with cancer. He lays it all on the line while attempting to live up to the highly publicized code of conduct at his university. In doing so, The Morality Police is exposed to the ugly dirt that gets swept under the rug while the leadership attempts to maintain the status quo. Complicating the situation is his first exposure to cancel culture and the woke mob.

Butler’s story pulls back the curtain on medical education and the toll that it takes on students, especially those with lived experience. More importantly, the story shines a light on important problems in higher education, such as an overreaching bureaucracy, blatant corruption, and unapologetic nepotism. Be warned, if you are associated with academia, you will likely see some of yourself in the characters in this story. Pull up your socks and get ready for a wild ride!