The Road to Character, by David Brooks: A Book Review

By James Barasch on May 5, 2015

Fully engaging in the hectic pace of the modern life of the information age can be an exhilarating and exciting experience, but it can also be bewildering, exhausting and confusing.

Many of us are bombarded by messages urging self-promotion, self-esteem, and admonishing us to “keep up” with the whir of information, opportunities, and choices that surround us every day.

As David Brooks, bestselling New York Times Columnist and writer so persuasively argues in The Road to Character, many people today are absorbed in developing their “resume virtues,” traits we can offer an employer and that aid our productivity, while shunting to the sidelines their “eulogy virtues,” those theoretical concepts like generosity, bravery, kindness and decency that form memories and leave impressions in others that long outlast our earthly existence.

Brooks states that both sides of our consciousness, that of achieving, striving and self-aggrandizement, as well as that of abnegation, self-denial, and generosity and consideration toward others must be developed in order to achieve a full and meaningful life.

Because many of us have lost our way and strive ever more fiercely to vainly find deeper meaning in accomplishment and self-promotion, Brooks looks to some of the greatest leaders and thinkers and examines how their internal struggles and growth led to a harmony between their need for accomplishment and striving and their need for spiritual fulfillment, love, and deep happiness. In these Profiles in Courage for the modern world, Brooks hopes to inspire, instruct, and uplift a new generation of leaders to harken back to the virtues of the past, and apply them to a modern world sorely in need of their steadying hand.

Many of Brooks’ heroes of character pursued courses that are squarely out of fashion in today’s “Big Me” culture of self-promotion and inflated self-worth. Brooks instead emphasizes self-effacement, humility, self-discipline, and generosity.

Frances Perkins, the first female cabinet member and a tireless worker for the rights of laborers, exercised a policy of suppression of herself, and a stark separation from her personal life in order to champion causes far greater than her own self. Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in WWII and President, lived a life not “true to himself” but one of strict impulse control, and rigorous self-restraint.

Dorothy Day was a Catholic convert and lover of the poor who turned away from a life of empty physicality to decades of selfless giving and steady activism for the rights of the oppressed. Brooks delves deep into history as well, recounting the chaotic and spiritually heroic life of St. Augustine, who turned away from secular accomplishment to spiritual-self examination and ordered self-love that produced some of the great works of the Western Canon, as well as the careful self-improvement and self-reflection of 18th century writer Samuel Johnson that made him one of the most beloved characters of English literature.

Each one of Brooks’ examples practiced some form of restraint, abnegation, or self-control that allowed them to learn about themselves, and find their true values, instead of focusing solely on earthly success.

As seniors, we embark on the next stages of our journey, hopefully equipped with the knowledge and skills that will guide our careers and personal lives. David Brooks seems to be speaking directly to us, a new generation of the educated, exhorting us to not be taken in by the hectic, accomplishment-centered culture of modern times.

Take time for self-exploration, self-discovery, but especially, time for giving oneself to others or a great cause greater than our individual selves. Eloquently written, and persuasively argued, The Road to Character, should be required summer reading for every graduate this year.

Rating: *****+

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