Choosing the Right Thing to Do, In Life, at Work, in Relationships, and for the Planet [Paperback]

David A Shapiro (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

This enlightening tome helps readers internalize the process by which they make decisions and, ultimately, consider the moral example they set. Choosing the Right Thing to Do is different because it stresses practice over theory and doesn't lecture on morality; rather, it provides tools for learning how to do the right thing -- a matter that is different for everyone. The author introduces a moral "spectrum" through which readers can view the decisions they face every day.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Anybody who's not ready for some truly powerful old and new thoughts, ideas, and perspectives on how to make better choices in this upside-down world of ours is snoozin' not choosin'. Buy this book. Read it, pass it around. It'll be one of the best choices you've ever made." -- Larry Wilson, author of The One Minute Salesperson, Changing the Game, and Play to Win! Choosing Growth Over Fear in Work and Life

"Choosing the Right Thing to Do makes the study of ethics come alive.... It is required reading for any person or organization that wants to think about ethics as more than a means for looking good without necessarily having to be good." -- Jacob Needleman, author of Money and the Meaning of Life, Time and the Soul, and A Little Book on Love

About the Author

David A. Shapiro is a writer, consultant, and curriculum designer who specializes in progressive business and personal development programs. He is Education Director of the Northwest Center for Philosophy for Children and coauthor of the bestselling Repacking Your Bags: Lighten Your Load for the Rest of Your Life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576750574
• ISBN-13: 978-1576750575
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,685,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Philosophy for people without letters after their names, December 3, 1999

By 

Chris Westphal (So. California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Choosing the Right Thing to Do, In Life, at Work, in Relationships, and for the Planet (Paperback)

How many books about philosophy begin with a fiery car crash worthy of a Sylvester Stallone movie? This unlikely scene, taken from the childhood of author David A. Shapiro, opens Choosing the Right Thing to Do, and Shapiro uses it as a launching pad for his wide-ranging exploration of philosophy in everyday life. Throughout the book, Shapiro uses stories from his own life, as well as other real-life examples, to illuminate dilemmas that everyone faces. With them, Shapiro demonstrates the various "moral prisms" through which these dilemmas can be viewed and evaluated. After reading this book, you'll be able to amaze and impress your friends by correctly using words such as deontological and communitarian, and you'll know what core question an existentialist asks when viewing a given situation: "What course of action will set people most free?" Shapiro also explores time-honored moral tenets such as The Golden Rule, and even discusses the usefulness of modern oracles without once invoking the phrase "New Age." He does make the mistake of disparaging the superior Sunshine Hydrox cookie, calling it inferior to the venerable (and far too sweet) Oreo, but compensates for this glaring error by pointing out the central illogic in the concept of ethical relativism. In an era when values, virtue and morality are seemingly up for grabs, Choosing the Right Thing to Do offers important tools--Shapiro's "moral prisms"--with which to evaluate and understand the complex world around us and to indeed choose the right thing to do. Above all, Shapiro makes a compelling case for virtuous behavior based upon our moral legacy, "in which the choices we make represent an authentic expression of our deepest values; in which our moral legacy really reflects how we would most like to be remembered." Though accessible and often amusing, many of Shapiro's anecdotes offer poignant insights into the importance of making right moral choices. In the end, the explosive opening is revisited, and Shapiro shares the impact that this event had on his life and on his relationship with his father. Choosing the Right Thing to Do is philosophy for people who want to learn what is right, even if they don't have any letters after their names.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful!, February 16, 2001

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Choosing the Right Thing to Do, In Life, at Work, in Relationships, and for the Planet (Paperback)

Discerning right from wrong can present difficult choices, but author David A. Shapiro tries to cut through the ethical fog to clarify your moral decisions. His thought-provoking, conversational guide to moral choices offers multiple insights. While he acknowledges how difficult ethical decisions can be, he also clearly sets down many ways to understand them and make them, whether they involve personal or professional considerations. The book is readable, not self-righteous or preachy. It simply shines a light on the processes involved in selecting your actions from across a broad right-to-wrong spectrum, and gives a number of real-life examples. We... recommend this book to everyone, because everyday decisions can be more complicated than they look.

0 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars David is a great guy and a yogi to boot, January 3, 2004

By 

Robert A. Schulman "rschumd" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Choosing the Right Thing to Do, In Life, at Work, in Relationships, and for the Planet (Paperback)

Dave is a real great guy, and so are his lovely wife and daughter. Dave is a true seeker, and anyone who is also seeking will get quite a bit out of reading his book. Dave is also a wonderful yogi, and after long and arduous practive is now able to twist himself up into a pretzle.

Buy this book, and you will enjoy it.