The Road to Character

"Joy," David Brooks writes, "is a byproduct experienced by people who are aiming for something else. But it comes." From the publisher: "Blending psychology, politics, spirituality, and confessional, The Road to Character provides an opportunity for us to rethink our priorities, and strive to build rich inner lives. With the wisdom, humor, curiosity, and sharp insights that have brought millions of readers to his New York Times column, David Brooks has consistently illuminated our daily lives in surprising and original ways. Responding to what he calls the culture of the Big Me, which emphasizes external success, Brooks challenges us, and himself, to rebalance the scales between our 'résumé virtues'—achieving wealth, fame, and status—and our 'eulogy virtues,' those that exist at the core of our being: kindness, bravery, honesty, or faithfulness, focusing on what kind of relationships we have formed."