Character Is Destiny: The Value of Personal Ethics in Everyday Life

I bought and read this book months ago-it made an immediate impact and revealed some self-conflict. I just pulled it off my office shelf for a re-read. This book strikes at the heart of whether or not there is "right" and "wrong" in human relations, regardless of ones religious views. Almost 28 years of military service in leadership positions has utterly convinced me that there are undeniable "laws" at work in human relations-principles or laws, such as "being polite", "being neat", "being honest", "being helpful"... at work with undeniable consequences, whether or not we believe they are. We don't really break these "natural laws," we break ourselves against them and suffer consequences, sooner or later, directly or indirectly. Gough presents this very personal ethics issue in a simple, direct way that can be very helpful in developing your character and leadership! It should be included in every LEADER's kitbag!

Enjoyed this book immensely. I have purchased three additional copies for my adult children, in the hope that they too may benefit. Although this book's content would likely be included in any "good ethics course" in college, I couldn't help but wonder if students today are "taking ethics". An excellent overview of personal ethics and virtue, most appropriate to today's fast-paced and increasingly self-centered and self-absorbed world. A beautiful presentation of Dr. Gough's apparent love of life, virtue and the struggle we must all experience in life in order to be virtuous, and, thereby, become our unique or real self. Dr. Gough's admission of his own imperfections, his own struggle to become virtuous, and his love of his family and God enable the reader to achieve an intimate bond with a philosopher and his philosophy: no easy task with such a "deep" subject. Try it and you'll like it!

"Character Is Destiny" offers a well-organized and well-written primer on the nature and formation of good character. Based on the ethical traditons of Aristotle and Aquinas, Gough organizes his chapters around fourteen pithy axioms about character; he vividly and simply explains and illustrates one per chapter. "Character is what you are in the dark," The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands," and "Example is not the main thing in life--it is the only thing" are a few of the axioms Gough uses as chapter titles. No philosophical jargon here! Gough writes for the average person. But make no mistake, his content is searching and practical. For me, the chapter entitled, "Character is higher than intellect," in which Gough takes to task the mistaken notion (inherited from Socrates) that "knowledge is virtue" is worth the price of the whole book. If you're looking for a book that offers solid advice on building good character without being preachy, Gough's book is the ticket.

This short book takes a good look at the value of trying to be good. It's a subject that doesn't lend itself well to easy reading, but Gough has been able to write a book worth reading that is also enjoyable to read. I felt enriched when I was done with the book. Enriched, lifted up, and I find it easier to be my best self. I'm the author of Self-Help Stuff That Works, and I am an expert on what works. This book works. It causes a positive and lasting effect in the reader.