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The Road to Character
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey, David Brooks
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
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Publisher's summary
Number-one New York Times best seller
David Brooks challenges us to rebalance the scales between the focus on external success - “résumé virtues” - and our core principles.
Named one of the best books of the year by The Economist
With the wisdom, humor, curiosity, and sharp insights that have brought millions of readers to his New York Times column and his previous best sellers, David Brooks has consistently illuminated our daily lives in surprising and original ways. In The Social Animal, he explored the neuroscience of human connection and how we can flourish together. Now, in The Road to Character, he focuses on the deeper values that should inform our lives.
Looking to some of the world's greatest thinkers and inspiring leaders, Brooks explores how, through internal struggle and a sense of their own limitations, they have built a strong inner character. Labor activist Frances Perkins understood the need to suppress parts of herself so that she could be an instrument in a larger cause. Dwight Eisenhower organized his life not around impulsive self-expression but considered self-restraint. Dorothy Day, a devout Catholic convert and champion of the poor, learned as a young woman the vocabulary of simplicity and surrender. Civil rights pioneers A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin learned reticence and the logic of self-discipline, the need to distrust oneself even while waging a noble crusade.
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 marked by humility and moral depth.
“Joy,” David Brooks writes, “is a byproduct experienced by people who are aiming for something else. But it comes.”
Praise for The Road to Character
“A hyper-readable, lucid, often richly detailed human story.” (The New York Times Book Review)
“This profound and eloquent book is written with moral urgency and philosophical elegance.” (Andrew Solomon, author of Far from the Tree and The Noonday Demon)
“A powerful, haunting book that works its way beneath your skin.” (The Guardian)
“Original and eye-opening... Brooks is a normative version of Malcolm Gladwell, culling from a wide array of scientists and thinkers to weave an idea bigger than the sum of its parts.” (USA Today)
Critic reviews
"Brooks himself delivers the introduction, clearly and engagingly explaining how a career as a pundit, often rewarded for shallow cleverness, has made him yearn for more depth and significance. But how to achieve it? As read by Arthur Morey with lovely pacing and an interested inflection, he finds that one looks to those who have gone before." (AudioFile)
“[Brooks] emerges as a countercultural leader.... The literary achievement of The Road to Character is inseparable from the virtues of its author. As the reader, you not only want to know about Frances Perkins or Saint Augustine. You also want to know what Brooks makes of Frances Perkins or Saint Augustine. The voice of the book is calm, fair and humane. The highlight of the material is the quality of the author’s moral and spiritual judgments.” (Michael Gerson, The Washington Post)
“If you want to be reassured that you are special, you will hate this book. But if you like thoughtful polemics, it is worth logging off Facebook to read it.” (The Economist)
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- By: David Brooks
- Narrated by: David Brooks
- Length: 40 mins
- Original Recording
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David Brooks shares his views and raises awareness on new forms of anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism, while addressing issues of bigotry and contemporary discrimination. Presented in cooperation with the Simon Wiesenthal Center in memory of Dorothy Gardner Adler.
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If Only . . .
- By Krandall/Shivaji on 11-14-20
By: David Brooks
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I Don't Want to Talk About It
- Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression
- By: Terrence Real
- Narrated by: Adam Verner
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Psychotherapist Terrence Real offers an important and compelling look at the silent epidemic of depression among men and shows, with compassion and clarity, what can be done to break this vicious cycle.
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Dated, Freudian take on subject with shock value
- By Matthew&Rebecca on 04-28-12
By: Terrence Real
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American Awakening
- Eight Principles to Restore the Soul of America
- By: John Kingston, David Brooks - foreword, Anne Snyder - foreword
- Narrated by: John Kingston
- Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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From his youth, Kingston has always carried a vision for a free and united America. With an approachable and conversational style, as well as a dash of humor, John Kingston draws on a diverse and compelling collection of wisdom—the parables of the Bible and the philosophy of Aristotle, the legacy of Nelson Mandela and the speeches of Abraham Lincoln, the songs of Bruce Springsteen and current studies from the best neuro and social scientists today—to remind us that there is no "them", there is only us, and we're in this together.
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The most important book of 2020
- By John on 07-30-20
By: John Kingston, and others
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Infectious Generosity
- The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading
- By: Chris Anderson
- Narrated by: Chris Anderson
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Let’s face it: Recent years have been tough on optimists. Hopes that the Internet might bring people together have been crushed by the ills of social media. Is there a way back? As head of TED, Chris Anderson has had a ringside view of the world’s boldest thinkers sharing their most uplifting ideas. Inspired by them, he believes that it’s within our grasp to turn outrage back into optimism. It all comes down to reimagining one of the most fundamental human virtues: generosity. What if generosity could become infectious generosity?
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Inspirational
- By Tom on 06-25-24
By: Chris Anderson
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Summary & Analysis of The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life
- A Guide to the Book by David Brooks
- By: ZIP Reads
- Narrated by: Michael London Anglado
- Length: 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Please note: This is a summary and analysis of the book and not the original book. In The Second Mountain, political commentator and author David Brooks explains how individuals and societies can transition from selfish individualism to a focus on community. He believes that to achieve solidarity, wholeness and true happiness, we must shift our character from the hyper-individualistic first mountain to the more relational second mountain.
By: ZIP Reads
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The Nature of the Beast
- By: David J. Anderson
- Narrated by: L.J. Ganser
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Does your dog get sad when you leave for the day? Does your cat purr because she loves you? Do bears attack when they’re angry? You can’t very well ask them. In fact, scientists haven’t been able to reach a consensus on whether animals even have emotions like humans do, let alone how to study them. Yet studies of animal emotion are critical for understanding human emotion and mental illness. In The Nature of the Beast, pioneering neuroscientist David J. Anderson describes a new approach to solving this problem.
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Neuroscience at it’s best!
- By Ulrike Griebel on 10-29-23
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Applied Empathy
- By: Michael Ventura
- Narrated by: Michael Ventura
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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In Applied Empathy, Michael Ventura, CEO and founder of Sub Rosa, a design firm that finds creative solutions for iconic brands and institutions such as GE, Nike, Citibank, Nikon, and Warby Parker and also West Point and the White House, offers entrepreneurs and executives a radical new business book and way forward. Applied Empathy presents real strategies, based on Sub Rosa’s design work as well as the popular class Ventura and his team have taught at Princeton University, on how to make lasting connections and evolve your business internally (your employees, culture, and product/services) as well as externally (your brand, consumers, and value).
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A Fantastic Must Read!
- By Gil on 06-19-18
By: Michael Ventura
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Mindwise
- Why We Misunderstand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want
- By: Nicholas Epley
- Narrated by: Nicholas Epley
- Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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You are a mind reader, born with an extraordinary ability to understand what others think, feel, believe, want, and know. It's a sixth sense you use every day, in every personal and professional relationship you have. At its best, this ability allows you to achieve the most important goal in almost any life: connecting, deeply and intimately and honestly, to other human beings. At its worst, it is a source of misunderstanding and unnecessary conflict, leading to damaged relationships and broken dreams. How good are you at knowing the minds of others?
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Finally gave up - no real point
- By Thomas on 05-12-14
By: Nicholas Epley
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Build the Life You Want
- The Art and Science of Getting Happier
- By: Arthur C. Brooks, Oprah Winfrey
- Narrated by: Arthur C. Brooks, Oprah Winfrey
- Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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In Build the Life You Want, Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey invite you to begin a journey toward greater happiness no matter how challenging your circumstances. Drawing on cutting-edge science and their years of helping people translate ideas into action, they show you how to improve your life right now instead of waiting for the outside world to change.
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You already know all of this
- By Indigo on 09-13-23
By: Arthur C. Brooks, and others
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Build Better Characters
- The Psychology of Backstory & How to Use It in Your Writing to Hook Readers (Creative Academy Guides for Writers)
- By: Eileen Cook
- Narrated by: Bonnie Agan
- Length: 4 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Compelling characters are what keeps readers turning pages and buying books—from fantasies to mysteries to the great literary novel. But how to do you create characters that feel three-dimensional and real on the page? Counsellor and author Eileen Cook shares common psychological techniques to help you build your characters and take your story to the next level. This book covers understanding your character's backstory and how it impacts their choices in your book by doing a structured counselling interview, personality structure, and the Stages of Change.
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Insightful and new perspective
- By Andrea Bøe Abrahamsen on 04-07-23
By: Eileen Cook
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Brave New Words
- How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That's a Good Thing)
- By: Salman Khan
- Narrated by: Salman Khan
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Whether we like it or not, the AI revolution is coming to education. In Brave New Words, Salman Khan, the visionary behind Khan Academy, explores how artificial intelligence and GPT technology will transform learning, and offers a road map for teachers, parents, and students to navigate this exciting (and sometimes intimidating) new world. A pioneer in the field of education technology, Khan examines the ins and outs of these cutting-edge tools and how they will revolutionize the way we learn and teach.
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Honestly, I'm a little disappointed.
- By Jake Dahn on 05-25-24
By: Salman Khan
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10 Conversations You Need to Have with Yourself
- A Powerful Plan for Spiritual Growth and Self-Improvement
- By: Shmuley Boteach
- Narrated by: Shmuley Boteach
- Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Some of the most effective talk therapy is self-talk therapy - learning to connect positively with that internal voice that serves as your own personal GPS to guide you through life. Rabbi Shmuley teaches the reader to reconnect with the inner voice of conscience, the source of personal dreams and values, which has been so drowned out by the noise of a culture that emphasizes form over substance, career over calling, and consumption over conviction. Drawing on Rabbi Shmuley's extensive counseling experience, this book helps you defeat negative self-talk.
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Grateful for inspiration, guidance and humility
- By Mike on 07-27-15
By: Shmuley Boteach
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From Strength to Strength
- Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
- By: Arthur C. Brooks
- Narrated by: Arthur C. Brooks
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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At the height of his career at the age of 50, Arthur Brooks embarked on a seven-year journey to discover how to transform his future from one of disappointment over waning abilities into an opportunity for progress. From Strength to Strength is the result, a practical roadmap for the rest of your life. Drawing on social science, philosophy, biography, theology, and eastern wisdom, as well as dozens of interviews with everyday men and women, Brooks shows us that true life success is well within our reach.
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A self-help book for overeducated overachievers
- By 11104 on 02-23-22
By: Arthur C. Brooks
What listeners say about The Road to Character
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Jane
- 11-12-15
I really liked a few of the ideas.
Some of the biographies were interesting, but several parts were dull.
The author talks about several famous people, giving examples of their work and contributions to society.
The author divides humans into two selfs: Adam 1 the traits that appear on a resume, Adam 2 the traits that appear on a tombstone or eulogy.
Adam 2 traits/ideas include the following:
humility, quiet your own ego
struggle against sin (selfishness, prejudice, insecurity, cruelty)
become more disciplined, considerate and loving
one can achieve a good life through their vocation
APPRECIATION:
Two examples showed that one should not do things in hopes of being appreciated. Dorothy Day did many things for the poor and said “don’t expect the poor to appreciate you.” A comment about Augustine “His hunger for admiration enslaved him rather than delighting him. He was at the whim of other people’s facile opinions, sensitive to their slightest criticism.”
DOMESTIC ABUSE:
I’ve always wondered why so many men become abusive to their wives. This book was not about that, but one idea I think is a link to that abusiveness. “Power exaggerates the disposition making a rude person ruder and a controlling person more controlling. The higher you go in life, the fewer people there are to offer honest feedback or restrain your unpleasant traits.” If a woman interrupts her career to give priority to the home and children, she loses power, and he has more power.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
The narrator Arthur Morey was good.
Narrative mode: 3rd person
Genre: nonfiction self-help, biography.
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15 people found this helpful
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- S. Garrett
- 03-10-17
Informative and edifying, but overly long
I am a huge fan of David Brooks but I ended up skipping the final chapter and a half. There was good content and analysis, but the deep probing into psyches and moral development became tedious after awhile. I did appreciate learning more about influential personalities from the past.
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11 people found this helpful
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- Ricardo Ernst
- 06-01-15
Good for Reflexion
What did you love best about The Road to Character?
The book allows readers to re-calibrate their personal expectations. Reading about other people with true 'character" is very motivating.
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Sally Forth!
- 08-12-17
Had High Hopes, but underwhelmed.
Struggled to finish and the subject of "character" in humans has long been a topic of significant importance to me.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Paul H Aube
- 07-13-18
Revealing. Time to upgrade ourselves
Being influenced mostly by Stoic philosophy, I was a bit adamant about a contemporary book on character.
Some of the life stories may not accord with my perspective, but the moral and trials, we all share something.
The last chapter is the most revealing and insightful on taking the road the character.
A must for the ones seeking excellence.
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- Christopher Joseph
- 02-14-18
excellent book to read. this really open my eyes.
I recommended his ebook to all of my friends
, family. I give this to self I know
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- Craig Bell
- 10-10-17
Something you should send your friends and family
It's about possibly changing what's important in your life... your resume or your legacy. David Brook's introduction is a great start, but the stories that follow are worth your study.
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- Wendy Kim
- 06-22-15
Too long!
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
I just felt like there was way too much information and often wondered what central point was being made.
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- Michael
- 02-28-17
Favourite book
One of The best books I've ever read or listened to. Highly recommend it to anyone interested in reflecting on the purpose of life
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- Gail M. Webber
- 05-04-15
All good
Invigorating, provocative and inspiring. The over view helps create a context for us to identify issues related to character. How do we I.D. how behaviors align with these traits?
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