Reclaiming Virtue: How We Can Develop the Moral Intelligence to Do the Right Thing at the Right Time for the Right Reason (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bestselling recovery expert and motivational speaker Bradshaw (Family Secrets), presents an in-depth survey of human behavior from many angles in a probing exploration of our inner guidance system. Beginning with magnificent moral moments (a black girl integrating a school smiles at a woman who spat at her), he interweaves his own tangled life experiences: he obtained advanced degrees in theology and philosophy, yet lost jobs after alcoholic binges even after a 12-step recovery program; he still felt like he was on the outside of life looking in and set out to change the direction of his life. Inviting the reader to join him on his personal journey to make sense out of the complexities and ambiguities of the moral/ethical order, Bradshaw divides his book into three potent and compelling sections: part one defines the nature of moral intelligence; the second section examines how to develop that intelligence. In the final pages, he outlines family goals and offers ways for readers to develop their children's moral intelligence. Bradshaw followers and many first-time readers will find this an extremely effective and valuable guide. (Apr. 28)
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From Booklist

Bradshaw, best-selling author and creator of the PBS series Bradshaw on the Family, explores the individual capacity to develop the moral intelligence to navigate life’s challenges and achieve virtue. He begins by defining moral intelligence, looking to philosophers from Aristotle to Thomas Aquinas for ideals of human behavior. Bradshaw follows with advice on how to develop and nurture moral intelligence, outlining the preparatory work to be done and ways to develop moral character and instill it in children. To illustrate virtue, Bradshaw offers profiles of people—historic and contemporary—who stepped up to challenges of national or personal significance: Abraham Lincoln; Henry David Thoreau; Ruby Bridges, the black girl who braved rabid prejudice to integrate public schools in New Orleans; Morrie Schwartz, former teacher and subject of the book and film Tuesdays with Morrie. Bradshaw intertwines his own life history, with extremes from virtue and piety to alcoholism and wanton licentiousness, as he looks beyond religious dogma for a deeper sense of morality. He draws on religion, psychology, and philosophy to offer a broad and nuanced perspective on virtue. --Vanessa Bush

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553095927
• ISBN-13: 978-0553095920
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,498 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reclaiming Our Guardian Angles of Virtue, May 26, 2009

By	Allen Flock - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Reclaiming Virtue will go down in history as the most important book of the 21st century. John Bradshaw begins with 10 captivating moral moments that crystallize moral intelligence in a compelling way. He writes this book for all of us who are discouraged by the frightening absence of integrity in our social institutions and lack of humility in our leadership.

John helps us realize how dynamic we all become when claiming our internal authority for making right decisions. He validates ancient wisdom that we are vessels with an inborn moral compass- that we can call on our innate voice of conscience in these most troubling times.

John's book gives an eye widening account that our natural emotional intelligence has been scuttled by cultural rules of obedience. When our feelings have been shamed through perfectionism we can't know what moves us to make good decisions. His assertion that moral decisions are made from "affective inclination" is a ground shaking challenge to our assumption that logic, and intellectual rules constitute the foundation of moral action. He bravely goes against the grain of totalistic systems created "for our own good" that fail to account for the diversity and uniqueness that must be accepted in all of us for the human race to prevail.

John inspires us to connect through the "guardian angel" within us. He shows how to help our children develop moral intelligence by using non-shaming, strength based communication styles for building skills in emotional competence. He shares wisdom from his own most vulnerable moments that we can't make sense of our lives without awareness of our feelings. In revealing his personal suffering and journey towards virtue John Bradshaw's book stands apart. By starting with emotion Reclaiming Virtue constitutes a radical change in moral education.

Kip Flock

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reclaiming Virtue - Timely and Inspiring, June 20, 2009

By	J. Dalpe "John Dalpe" (Anaheim, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

John Bradshaw illuminates a subject that is lost in our contemporary world of complicity and personal aggrandizement - virtue.

A magnificent work - scholarly, deeply personal and intriguing. The author pulls from many fields, in addition to his own personal experiences both as a therapist and a man in recovery, to reveal the compelling necessity of personal virtue.

A fine book, well worth reading.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reclaiming Virtue, June 15, 2009

By	J. Francis (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The depth and commitment of this writters exploration of the human condition is humbling, in this particular work as well as other topics he has explored and argued in the past. John Bradshaw, good to hear from you again, and again,