The professor who wrote that book, interestingly, ended up being denied tenure and was subsequently unable to get another academic job despite years of trying. Here's a recent podcast with him: https://www.persuasion.community/p/deresiewicz

It may not be the best thing in the world to be an "excellent sheep," but perhaps it's better than being a lone ram.

If you reject the shepherd, you have to be prepared for the brutal life of a mountain goat.

He was denied tenure before writing the book. So I guess if you refuse the shepherd dog, be prepared to face wild dog predation.

Even if you were a mountain goat, where would you go? Other people already own all the mountains.