Paul Mayer

Profound and Deeply Troubling This book challenged me to think about modern society in a new way, challenging assumptions about what I thought were obvious values. Hunter makes a compelling case for why Character is dying, and was destined to do so under the current cultural framework we have inherited. The book spends a lot of of space painstakingly detailing the history of character in the U.S., and while I found this section long and dense, I understand its importance. The book concludes with a rewarding synthesis of all the material and is worth getting to. Hunter cites philosophers and sociologists from across history, and the sheer breadth and scope of this work is impressive. Hunter’s citations of Charles Taylor were particularly thought provoking (though I have not yet read the books mentioned). I believe more people need to read this book. Dr. Jonathan Haidt suggested it to me, and I am glad I read it. This is a rare book that will likely cause you to think deeper about the current cultural conflict.