So it's about connection, and how authenticity affects it.

The author's gripe is about losing one's self to the influence of society.

Being driven, rather than doing your own driving. Following instead of leading.

And then once you're in this rut, it becomes difficult to connect with you. Trust is an issue because the reader doesn't know who is writing anymore. Hence his disclaimer at the start.

I don't know what to say though. Careful, authentic writing takes time that everyone seems to be running out of.