Customer Reviews

The Book of Virtues

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I bought the hardcover edition of Bennett's "Book of Virtues" after sorting through the many editions available. If it helps you choose, here's the deal. This 1993 reprint of the original edition is the full book, 800+ pages. It is intended for an adult audience, but in reality can be read with your children. There is a paperback version, but this book is pretty thick, and I imagine it would be difficult to read from that edition.

The Children's Book of Virtues is only 112 pages and intended for children ages 4-8. The stories are chosen for their appropriateness for this audience (many reviewers mention their dislike of some of the stories in the adult version) and include many familiar childhood stories, like George Washington and the Cherry Tree and The Tortoise and the Hare.

The Book of Virtues for Young People: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories is intended for an older audience of children 9-12 and is 384 pages long. It contains familiar childhood stories such as The Fox and The Crow, but also selections by beloved writers such as Walt Whitman, Tolstoy and Emily Dickinson. The Book of Virtues for Boys and Girls: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories is also intended for children ages 9-12, but it is an abbreviated version of only 208 pages.

I thought I was going to buy the one for Boys and Girls, because the cover shows children playing baseball and the introduction is by Doug Flutie and would appeal to my sports-mad son. But in the end, I wanted more choice of stories, and that version just didn't have enough variety. As in all the books, the stories are grouped by theme (Honesty, Loyalty, Faith, Responsibility, etc.), and the Boys and Girls book has only five themes to choose from, half as many as this adult version.

If you want just inspiring stories of real and fictional heroes, Bennett has also collected such stories in The Children's Book of Heroes, which is a brief book as well, just 112 pages and containing 18 stories. And, The Children's Treasury of Virtues combines three of Bennett's books, The Children's Book of America (American stories, poems and songs), The Children's Book of Virtues and The Children's Book of Heroes.

Hope this helps!

After a long week of bike riding practice without the training wheels which culminated in a solo trip down the street, my 6 year old daughter made a proud, smiling request on the way up to bed. "Can we read 'Try try again' in the big green book?" She asked. The big green book is of course the Book of Virtues, and "Try try again" is one of the many poems and short stories that we read from it before bed each night. This book is full of life stories that kids can remember and apply as they grow. On several other occasions those stories have come into conversation as a reference point with my kids when facing life's experiences. Highly recommended.

10 years ago, when I was 18, my father gave me this book as a gift the day my parents took me to college. Although I thought it was "uncool", I also understood the meaning behind the gift. He felt that this book could act as a moral guide when my parents could no longer be with me on a daily basis to be that moral compass. And through the years, it has served as a source of inspiration, strength and comfort. As an adult, I am more partial to the poetry and historical writings rather than the stories. But as an expectant first time mother, I am looking forward to sharing the children's stories with my son when he's born, and throughout his life. I think this book should be incorporated into children's lives from an early age, along with other children's stories. This is a book children can grow with and enjoy even as adults...the writings take on new meaning as we age. I highly recommend this book, despite Bill Bennett's personal mistakes. There is too much value in this compilation of writings to deny our children the benefit to spite Mr. Bennett.

As a special education teacher, I work with students who have issues with social skills (getting along with each other, etc.) as well as below-grade-level reading skills. I plan on purchasing copies of the book and using selected stories as part of my reading program.

I had to make a decision: I could have my kids read stories such as "The Lost and Found" where three kids fall inside the Lost and Found Box and explore a hidden world, learning nothing that can be applied to their personal lives. Or, I could have them read stories dealing with issues of character.

I chose the latter. To test my theory, I found a version of "Stone Soup" on the Web and created a weeklong unit around the story with vocabulary, writing, and comprehension lessons. They loved it!

This tells me that they will enjoy this book. Are some of the stories simplistic? Perhaps. Are they edited? Other people seem to think so. All I know is that my special-needs kids need the "Basics" and "black-and-white" moral issues are exactly what is required.

I've had this book for over 5 years and wanted to let people know that it's still the one and only book that I turn to when I need a source of pure inspiration. I have read stories to many of my guests and both parents and children have found this book enjoyable.

The book contains hundreds of short stories that send moral messages associated with the virtues of Self-discipline, Compassion, Responsibility, Friendship, Work, Courage, Perseverance, Honesty, Loyalty, and Faith. You'll find a mix of fairy tales, Aesop's fables, Biblical stories, Aristotle, Plato. One of my very favorites is "Yudisthira at Heaven's Gate" - a story from the Mahabharata.

I was hospitalized 4 times this year due to a recurring health issue (I'm 39 yrs old) and this book didn't fail me as each time I went in, I had the pleasure of reading stories each night that filled my heart and mind with good moral reminders. I purchased it today for my cousin who is a 6th grade teacher and became attached to the book when he visited us one weekend. I plan to continue purchasing this book when I need to get a "family" gift as it truly is something that the whole family will enjoy. I have also ordered the "Children's Book of Virtues" and the "Book of Virtues for Young People" so that I can read with my teenager and toddler. Although I haven't read either book, I am delighted with anticipation.

which discuss the value of this collection of inspirational, character-building memories from our past. For years I refused to open this book, fearing subjection to dogmatic and pedantic musings from the right (which my advancing age has brought me closer to anyway), however, I have now learned that for years I deprived myself of the opportunity to read a phenomenal gathering of short stories, fables, psalms, poems, biblical passages and insightful reflection, that transcends the narrow constraints of political ideology. This is a fantastic contribution to anyone's personal library and it provides a roadmap to a better way of life. I highly recommend it.

It's a compilation of all the stories you want your children to hear. The stories, essays, and poems are simple yet rich in teachings. It's a collection of lessons both children and adults can learn from. If you want to nourish that seed of joy and kindness in your heart, you better get hold of this wonderful book of Mr. Bennett

A book on virtue is quite important in an age that has little time for it. Indeed, both public and private, is becoming a rarity today. Indeed, vice, not virtue, seems to be in the ascendancy. Old fashioned virtues like faithfulness, loyalty and purity are scoffed at today, while vices like selfishness and greed seem to be promoted at every turn.

One commentator noted recently that we have taken Aquinas' seven deadly sins and turned them into virtues. You know the old list: sloth, gluttony, envy, etc. For example, modern advertising has institutionalised the sin of covetousness.

As T.S. Elliot once said, "In the twentieth century we are obsessed with turning roses into weeds."

Thus it is extremely refreshing to find a book that actually, unashamedly, promotes virtue. Bill Bennett has brought together a host of stories, poems, and adages that promote virtue. Many of the stories that over-40s would have grown up on, but which many young people today would never have heard of, are brought together in this unique collection.

Ten virtues are covered: self-discipline; compassion; responsibility; friendship; work; courage; perseverance; honesty; loyalty; and faith. For each virtue there are a number of stories, poems and essays included, bringing home the moral of that particular virtue. For example, in the section on courage, one finds such classics as Jack and the Beanstock, David and Goliath, Chicken Little, Hansel and Gretel, Ulysses and the Cyclops, William Tell, and Patrick Henry's "Liberty or Death" speech.

This book serves not only as a guide to the great works of moral education, but to the great works of literature as well. The range of great authors and sources is most impressive: Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Plato, the Brothers Grimm, The Bible, Hilaire Belloc, Robert Frost, C.S. Lewis, Longfellow, Abraham Lincoln, etc.

In reading these great stories, we both improve our cultural literacy and refine our moral senses. Indeed, being exposed to great literature, to great writers, and to great moral truths is a powerful combination. Young people and old will be inspired and motivated to live a more virtuous life after reading (or re-reading) these great moral stories. In an age which promotes vice and mocks virtue, this anthology serves as a much needed corrective.

Anyone who has spent time observing children and their behavior, in or out of school, understands the importance of what Mr. Bennett has done in writing this book. As a jr. high teacher it is saddening to see so many young people emulating the values which our media has taught them. As a father of two small children I thought this book would be a good tool to help my wife and I teach values to our children, however it has served as a wonderful collection of important cultural reminders to use in our daily life.

This is a great book, I read the print version years ago and liked it so I bought the kindle edition. I was rather disappointed with this edition due to the fact that it lacks a proper table of contents. The table of contents contained only the broad section overviews and not a link to each story. I found this rather annoying as trying to find specific stories in a large anthology such as this is quite difficult. Quite frankly, I was expecting more considering the price.