Description
Book SynopsisWe like to think of ourselves and our friends and families as pretty good people. The more we put our characters to the test, however, the more we see that we are decidedly a mixed bag. Fortunately there are some promising strategies - both secular and religious - for developing better characters.
Trade ReviewThe book is a sobering reflection on the ambivalent nature of human behaviour and motivation, made all the more authoritative by its research basis. * David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer *
a beautifully crafted book, and rewards several reads. * Heythrop Journal01/03/2018 *
It is accessible and it makes you think. It engages and entertains. It tells you what character is and lets you know how you can cultivate it. This book is a must read. Full of facts that will stay with you. It is well researched and the author really knows his stuff. Brilliant. * Frost Magazine *
This is a book full of insight, informed by research and written by someone with a profound understanding of character. It is a must read for anyone looking for a fresh presentation of its importance in human life. * James Arthur, Director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham *
Christian Miller cautions that this is not a self-help book. Don't believe him. Of course, it is not a set of tips and tricks to magically become a better person. But if honest, realistic self-knowledge and clear-eyed empathy are crucial for the moral life, then this book will help. Anyone serious about traveling the road to character should bring this book on the journey. * James K.A. Smith, Professor of Philosophy, Calvin College, and author of You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit *
The topic of character is both timeless and timely. In this especially lucid and personal narrative, Christian Miller guides the interested reader through the modern science of character, with special emphasis on its moral aspects, and with helpful and practical recommendations for its development. * Angela Duckworth, Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance *
Dietrich Bonhoeffer taught us that nothing that we despise in the other is entirely absent from ourselves. Christian Miller teaches us that the road to virtue lies in humility about our own virtue and an acceptance that others are struggling with their flaws. This is a very valuable book at a moment when our society could use a dose of openness and a sense of forgiveness. * E.J. Dionne Jr., Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution and University Professor in the Foundations of Democracy and Culture, Georgetown University *
The Character Gap is a careful and accessible entry point into the complicated topic of human moral character. * Journal of Markets and Morality *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface Part One: What is Character and Why is it Important? Chapter One: What Are We Talking About? Chapter Two: Why Should We Bother Developing a Good Character? Part Two: What Does Our Character Actually Look Like Today?? Chapter Three: Helping Chapter Four: Harming Chapter Five: Lying Chapter Six: Cheating Chapter Seven: Putting the Pieces about Character Together Part Three: What Can We Do to Improve Our Characters? Chapter Eight: Some Initial and Less Promising Strategies Chapter Nine: Some Strategies with More Promise for Improving Our Characters Chapter Ten: Improving Our Characters with Divine Assistance Works Cited
