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On CHARACTER/ Essays by James Q. Wilson (Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought)

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I can't say enough about how important this book is for understanding the importance of social and family structures in the United States of yesterday and today. Wilson astutely points out the ways that social norms for behavior lowered crime rates in 19th century New York (despite what many might think) and even affect such small details as whether a car is left untouched in a crime zone (according to Wilson, studies show that many people will not touch a car until someone else vandalizes it first; then it creates a free-for-all in which the car will be stripped, showing that "group think" is a dangerous trend if left unchecked). On the other hand, group think can also be used for the good if moral voices in society can harness the tool of "peer persuasion" for the greater good (as was the case with the some of the more positive movements in U.S. history). This book is a must for anyone who wants to understand the basic psychology of society as a organism, or who wants to evaluate ways to make a positive difference in our nation. Outstanding!

Political Scientist James Q. Wilson is undeniable a brilliant cultural commentator. Unfortunately, most of the essays in this collection move at a snail's pace and failed to fully engage me. I would have found it more beneficial if he had employed more anecdotal vignettes rather than utilize a broad, abstract approach in addressing social problems.

Most of this collection was previously released in other publications or delivered as speeches, and from what I have read of his work in the past, this selection is far from the cream of his crop.

Still the crepuscular presentation does not fully obliterate the smart insights conveyed among the included passages. At times it may require that readers dig deeply to hit pay dirt, but there are some scintillating nuggets buried within these pages.