David Brooks is one of the “smart” conservatives. He writes a column for the New York Times (which disqualifies him from the Right in some circles), he believes in science and climate change, and actually listens to Liberals. I’ve read David Brooks’ other books:
Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There (2000) ISBN 0-684-85377-9
On Paradise Drive: How We Live Now (And Always Have) in the Future Tense (2004) ISBN 0-7432-2738-7
The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement (2011) ISBN 978-1-4000-6760-2
The Road to Character (Random House, 2015) ISBN 978-0-8129-9325-7
David Brooks’ latest book delves into the old-fashioned concept of “character.” Brooks claims that the younger generation craves substantial changes in our materialistic culture so their character can be tested and developed. I found Brooks’ argument intriguing, but my students seem more concerned about getting a Good Job and paying off their student debts. A Road to Character was AMAZON’s top seller a few weeks ago. Obviously, there’s an audience for this kind of thoughtful work. GRADE: A-
I used to read Brooks regularly but to be honest I’m not a big fan. For an obviously intelligent guy he is taken in way too often by nonsensical right wing ideas.
Jeff, most of THE ROAD TO CHARACTER are profiles of “people with character.” Politics is absent from this volume.
I group him with someone like George Will: someone who has had to twist their logic into progressively more pretzel-esque shapes in order to make the craziness on the right appear normal, workable, and worthwhile. No thanks. If I want to sample right-wing delusion, I’ll read the comment sections of political blogs.
/soapbox dismount!
Deb, I’m with you on George Will. I respected his writings and his appearances on Sunday morning programs. But, as you pointed out, Will (and to some extent David Brooks) have had to “modify” their positions to fit in with the Right Wing ideology. But THE ROAD TO CHARACTER avoids the politics and just concentrates on what make great people great.
I’m with Jeff and Deb on Brooks. Not my cuppa.
Rick, I would categorize THE ROAD TO CHARACTER as “inspirational” reading. All the people Brooks writes about–George Eliot, Dorothy Day, Jane Addams, Dwight Eisenhower, George Marshall, etc.–overcame problems to achieve their successes.