13. Is morality the central drama of your life – is it what gives purpose and meaning to your life? If not, what is (family, work, friendships, etc. are other possibilities)? Do you think morality is an appropriate goal for life? During the bookclub discussion, the concept behind this question was rejected outright. Folks askedContinueContinue reading “Character 14: Is Morality the Central Drama of Your Life?”
Category Archives: Road to Character by David Brooks
Character 13: Do We Have to Think of Ourselves as Inherently Flawed to Keep Our Baser Instincts in Check?
12. Do you believe in Brooks’s assertions that humans are inherently flawed sinners? Does he put too much emphasis on that aspect of human nature? How much focus on our baser instincts is necessary to keep them in check? Brooks oft-repeats the “crooked timber” view of humanity-that we are inherently flawed and must be everContinueContinue reading “Character 13: Do We Have to Think of Ourselves as Inherently Flawed to Keep Our Baser Instincts in Check?”
Character 12: A Circular or Linear View of History and the Human Experience?
11. How does a view of history and the human experience as a circular pattern where opposing interests and values compete and give way to one another over time compete with Brooks? Do you see history as more circular, or more linear? Several people from book club pointed out that history is neither circular norContinueContinue reading “Character 12: A Circular or Linear View of History and the Human Experience?”
Character 11: I’ll Cut to the Chase-Let’s NOT Blame the Millennials
10. Did this book change your thoughts about Millennials and even younger Americans? Brooks spends considerable time comparing surveys of college students in the 60s and the 2000s. He often portrays Millenials as delicate snowflakes with unrealistic exepctations for their lives. Is he being fair to them? Y’know who is doing all the complaining aboutContinueContinue reading “Character 11: I’ll Cut to the Chase-Let’s NOT Blame the Millennials”
Character 10: Moving Into the Big Leagues and Maintaining Both Humility and Dignity
9. When is it appropriate to move from Little Me – humble and self-effacing as personified by Eunides – to Big Me – brash and self-aggrandazing as personified by Joe Namath? Katherine Graham, editor of the Washington Post, changed herself from a reticent personality to a strong, assertive one that took on presidential administrations -ContinueContinue reading “Character 10: Moving Into the Big Leagues and Maintaining Both Humility and Dignity”
Character 9: Let’s Talk About Ethics and Sex
8. Compare the impact of the socially unacceptable sexual practices of Bayard Rustin and George Eliot. Where does Brooks draw a line and judge their behavior? What values and standards is he using to make his conclusions? I know I’ve been religious, and stodgy, and old-fashioned for a solid seven questions here. I’ve been aContinueContinue reading “Character 9: Let’s Talk About Ethics and Sex”
Character 8: Do You Have a Responsibility to Become More Moral Over Time?
7. John Stuart Mill said that people had a responsibility to become more moral over time. Do you believe this? Does this apply to societies as well as individuals? I believe an individual’s life is less circular than a society’s-that while we definitely have setbacks, an individual’s life is generally more straightforward. Even if youContinueContinue reading “Character 8: Do You Have a Responsibility to Become More Moral Over Time?”
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