James Q. Wilson is the former president of the American Political Science Association and adviser to four presidents on issues related to crime, drug abuse, education, and other crises of American cutlure. In this book, he has produced a provocative series of essays related to character development and character policy that sets this important area in perspective. He brings his argument into clear focus by negating that public discussion of character is a conservative pasttime. Rather, the development of character is our collective responsibility. The public interest depends on private virtue. Wilson argues throughout these essays that to have good character one needs to have at least developed a sense of empathy and self control. In various chapters he writes about crime, families, communities and schooling with those two traits empathy and self-control as a basis. He presents the current crises of our community in clear perspective: how much can society tolerate? what is the role of the police? the family? what is a moral virtue? Wilson concludes with an argument that all humans have an inborn "moral sense." We are, after all, social beings, dependent on each other and we have an obligation to each other to develop that moral sense if we care about each other. This is a well written, reasoned book by a wise and experienced expert.
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I am a slow study. Read the first page
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great look into the importance of American social structures and norms.
15 Nov 2008
By Jonathan Sharpe
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
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!
3 of 11 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Slow Moving but Sagacios
6 Jun 2000
By Steven Fantina
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
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.
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