David Brooks, a columnist for the New York Times Op Ed page, has recently mused as much about philosophy as politics. In his latest book, The Road to Character (170 B), he asserts that our market-driven society rewards outer success at the expense of the inner soul. He challenges us to rebalance the scales between our “resume virtues” – achieving wealth, fame, and stature – and our “eulogy virtues” that exist at the core of our being: kindness, bravery, honesty, and especially humility. The central chapters are profiles of exemplary figures from history, such as Dorothy Day, George Eliot, and Saint Augustine. The book ends with his “humility code,” specific guidelines for gaining maturity and wisdom – surely something we can all benefit from!

-Carol Jensen, Church Librarian