The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories
Book Review: Don't do a disservice to your kids.
Summary: 1 Stars
This book should never have been put together. Many of the works are butchered. Sometimes not even the original title is included and it seems that authors are missing from several as well. He even butchers Aesops fables -- guess he doesn't want to overtax young minds with the full versions in all their splendor. Of course, many of the selections are classics, but what he's edited out leaves me not only cold but disgusted. If your kids internallize some of the slop used to demonstate these virtues, it will be hard to erase a number of pernitious misconceptions later.Book Review: A hearty recommendation!
Summary: 5 Stars
It is this very elixer of truth that all of us must drink. Would it only be possible for all of America to see the truth contained in this brilliant and optimistic book, we would truly shine only brighter. For too long has America's counterculture dragged us down to lower standards, our youth despoiled and undiciplined. Mr. Bennett has performed a national service by this book, and one we should all repay by immediately committing to heart its contents and message. Let us all be more virtuous, day by day, slowly, slowly.Book Review: OK Book
Summary: 3 Stars
This book was a bit boring. It seemed to skip around a little too much. Bennett is smart, but he is a bit arrogant, which shows through in this book. He could have made the book better by organizing it better. Some interesting information, but maybe not worth the read.
Book Review: Could this book help our civilization survive?
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a book that every parent must buy and read to his children. William Bennett has done a masterful job in compiling and collating the best moral tales from history and literature to teach our children (and ourselves) how to live virtuous lives. The underlying supposition is that virtue must be taught and that it is not innate to human nature. This concept of teaching virtue is increasingly understand attack by the political left and ignored by just about everyone else. As our society drifts into a morass of moral relativism, The Book of Virtues is a bold stroke against the decay of virtuous living. It is interesting to note that the historian Will Durant repeated makes the observation that the decline of virtue, the innate sense of right and wrong, is the precursor to the decline of civilization. When the middle class ceases to purse virtue, the pursuit of hedonism and self-serving pleasure becomes paramount. The result is that instead of seeking the greater good and the common defense a society becomes weak. Religion, virtue and patriotism become objects of scorn by the so-called intellectuals and artist. Little do these intellectuals realize that the pursuit of art and philosophy is only possible because religion and of virtue made it possible. Until there is order in the land (economically, socially, and politically) people have little time or energy for the pursuit of art and philosophy. Only when a society obtains a level of order and economic prosperity does civilization turns it attention to the arts. Religion and the pursuit of virtue provide the stability and economic foundation upon which the arts and philosophy are founded. As civilization thrives, art and philosophy become increasing hostile to religion and virtue as they seek to find freedom from the restraints they impose. But what these intellectuals do not realize is that they have sown the seeds of their own destruction by doing do. Without virtue, men will not stand up for what is right, nor will they defend their society. The recent terrorist attacks in Spain are a case in point. The Spanish peoples response to terror was surrender. Nobody wants to fight, nobody wants to stand for virtue. As a result if current demographics continue within fifty years, most of Europe will be Moslem. European civilization as we know was mortally wounded after two world wars and will die unless the pursuit if virtue is rediscovered.
All civilizations rise and fall. Their strength is the pursuit of virtue. Can American survive the current onslaught of relativism? Only time will tell. But as long as we have men like William Bennett who pass on the next generation the virtues that have made us great, I am hopeful we will survive.
Book Review: Ho Hum say my kids
Summary: 1 Stars
We received this book as a gift when it was popular [...] and we tried to read it, but blah blah blah. This is what turns kids off from Sunday School. Have them read CS Lewis and JRR Tolkein instead; [...]