Character Is Destiny: The Value of Personal Ethics in Everyday Life (Hardcover)
Description
An inescapable truth lies at the heart of this simple yet profound book: The quality of our lives is not determined by the happenstance of genetics or by the influence of environment; it is not measured in material possessions or in the trappings of youth; it is not dependent on personality or social acclaim. On the contrary, the intrinsic value of the lives we lead reflects the strength of a single trait: our personal character. Character Is Destiny, a sort of self-help guide for the soul, shows how we can lead richer lives simply by being better people.
"This profound book reminds us how utterly central character is to all else in life . . . I plan to stay in touch with this book for many years." — Shelby Steele
Russell W. Gough, a nationally prominent writer and speaker, describes the steps to personal growth from examining our lives to taking responsibility for our actions, from discarding selfishness to embracing the greater good, from becoming a better role model for our loved ones to finding the courage to do the right thing naturally and consistently. By cultivating the habits of virtue, we will strengthen not only ourselves but, more important, our families and our world. Character Is Destiny shows how to overcome the most formidable obstacle to an ethical life: ourselves.
Each and every day we are faced with scores of choices that, in subtle yet discernible ways, can either enrich or impoverish our personal character. The choices we make, and the manner in which we make them, illuminate the paths our lives will take. Character Is Destiny can be our compass.
About the Author
Russell W. Gough is a professor of ethics and philosophy at Pepperdine University. He lectures frequently across the country and is a chairman for the annual White House Conference on Character Building. His articles on ethics and character have appeared in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and elsewhere. In addition, he is the author of the book Character Is Everything: Promoting Ethical Excellence in Sports.
Praise for Character Is Destiny: The Value of Personal Ethics in Everyday Life…
"This profound book reminds us how utterly central character is to all else in life . . . I plan to stay in touch with this book for many years."
— Shelby Steele
"This book speaks directly to the moral crisis of our time. It is a book educators, parents, and just good people will not want to miss."
— Amatai Etzioni, author of The Spirit of Community
"Reading Character is Destiny is like listening to a trusted friend giving you heartfelt, character-building advice. Its wise, passionate, and down-to-earth message will not only show you how and why but will make you want to improve the ethical quality of your everyday life"
— Jack Canfield, coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Soul series
"For anyone concerned with the moral decline of the nation and looking for the prescription for cure, this is a good place to start."
— Yitta Halberstam, coauthor of Small Miracles
"Russ Gough has accomplished something very rare: A college philosopher has written a book in real English for real people on the most important subject of all—character. I congratulate him."
— Dennis Prager, radio talk-show host and author of Think a Second Time
