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Character Is Destiny: The Value of Personal Ethics in Everyday Life [Hardcover]

Russell Gough (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
List Price: CDN$ 27.95
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Book Description

Release Date: Aug 13 1997
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.

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As Russell Gough implies, the fact that people are lapping up books on personal ethics, virtue, and character is best understood as a long-overdue reaction to the two dominant schools of pop psychology: the determinist "you are your upbringing" school and the free-individualist "express yourself, don't repress yourself" school. He insists, contrary to both, that we can indeed choose the content of our own character (even though bad habits of character are hard to break), and that doing this character-building is both a lifelong project and a central activity in all fulfilling and worthwhile lives.

Since he's a professor of philosophy, Gough's own addition to the growing library of books on "personal virtue" is grounded in a solid knowledge of thinkers like Aristotle and Emerson. He writes clearly, although in an introductory fashion, spending much of his time on basic issues such as the distinction between personality and character or the failure of intellectual knowledge of moral issues to induce people to act well. This is a well-written book that should be put in the hands of every serious-minded teenager, but adults--and those already familiar with philosophy--may want to sit at the feet of a more demanding tutor. --Richard Farr

Review

"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
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Stuff Aug 23 2001
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
The author did a great job all around. He at least nibbles around the edges of trying to put a philosophical foundation under this, still largely, "how to" book. If, like me, you would like to go further and understand the solid foundation that supports all of the author's fine work, I'll give you a tip that can save you a lot of prolix philosophical reading. I found a book called "WEST POINT", by Norman Thomas Remick that explains all the philosophy in easy to read, understandable language behind the 200 years of character building at West Point, the world's premier school for that purpose. It will advance your understanding of the principles presented so expertly by Mr. Gough in his 5 star effort. Regardless of whether you are serious about understanding what all this is REALLY all about, you'll find "CHARACTER IS DESTINY" readable and enjoyable.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A inward checkup on our Core Values! Mar 2 2001
By KeepItSimple
Format:Hardcover
I bought and read this book months ago-it made an immediate impact and revealed some self-conflict. I just pulled it off my office shelf for a re-read. This book strikes at the heart of whether or not there is "right" and "wrong" in human relations, regardless of ones religious views. Almost 28 years of military service in leadership positions has utterly convinced me that there are undeniable "laws" at work in human relations-principles or laws, such as "being polite", "being neat", "being honest", "being helpful"... at work with undeniable consequences, whether or not we believe they are. We don't really break these "natural laws," we break ourselves against them and suffer consequences, sooner or later, directly or indirectly. Gough presents this very personal ethics issue in a simple, direct way that can be very helpful in developing your character and leadership! It should be included in every LEADER's kitbag!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Great Gift For Parents and Partners! April 10 2000
By Dr. Bob Fournier
Format:Hardcover
Enjoyed this book immensely. I have purchased three additional copies for my adult children, in the hope that they too may benefit. Although this book's content would likely be included in any "good ethics course" in college, I couldn't help but wonder if students today are "taking ethics". An excellent overview of personal ethics and virtue, most appropriate to today's fast-paced and increasingly self-centered and self-absorbed world. A beautiful presentation of Dr. Gough's apparent love of life, virtue and the struggle we must all experience in life in order to be virtuous, and, thereby, become our unique or real self. Dr. Gough's admission of his own imperfections, his own struggle to become virtuous, and his love of his family and God enable the reader to achieve an intimate bond with a philosopher and his philosophy: no easy task with such a "deep" subject. Try it and you'll like it!
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Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth reading and rereading.
This short book takes a good look at the value of trying to be good. It's a subject that doesn't lend itself well to easy reading, but Gough has been able to write a book worth... Read more
Published on Dec 11 1999 by Adam Khan
5.0 out of 5 stars A fine work on the nature of character formation
"Character Is Destiny" offers a well-organized and well-written primer on the nature and formation of good character. Read more
Published on Dec 11 1999 by Jeff
5.0 out of 5 stars Should be read by any person in business.
What a delightful book and how simply but powerfully it gets its message across. The subject of ethics is one of the most interesting of all - and Russell Gough gets you interested... Read more
Published on Oct 18 1999 by Neil Jenman
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!
This book is written in laymans terms. It is easy reading and insightful. The authour will challenge they way you look at things from an ethical point of view. Read more
Published on Nov 4 1998
5.0 out of 5 stars Best lifestyle change book yet!
I have had the opportunity to read through many different books on self-improvement. So many in fact that I couldn't really tell you what they were about...until now. Dr. Read more
Published on July 13 1998 by Ken Silvestri (kensilvestri@worldnet.att.net)
5.0 out of 5 stars It really makes you want to be a better person.
Written very simply, it gets right to the point of what goes on in our everyday lives with respect to decisions between right and wrong. Read more
Published on May 18 1998 by R. Crown
5.0 out of 5 stars The beauty of the book is that it makes you look inward
I have never read a book that has made me challenge myself so much as to actually make me want to find my faults and fix them. Read more
Published on April 28 1998
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