The Moral Compass: Stories for a Life's Journey

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Like Bennett's bestselling Book of Virtues, this volume gathers hundreds of stories, poems and essays that defend or illustrate virtue and family values. Quoting Flannery O'Connor, Bennett states the book's purpose: ``You have to push as hard as the age that pushes against you.'' Compass, just as portly as its predecessor, is arranged by seven life stages and challenges: the child at home and at school; the adult in need of perseverance, compassion, family fidelity, community, responsibility and faith in God. Selections, ranging in length from just a few lines to over 15 pages, come mostly from times when masculine virtue was considered the norm and men took center stage. Most are from European or Western culture, but a not inconsiderable number are drawn from African, Asian and Latin American traditions. (Oct.)

Library Journal

In this companion volume to The Book of Virtues (LJ 11/1/93), former Secretary of Education Bennett hopes to keep the needle of America's moral compass pointing always to the straight and narrow. Believing that learning to be virtuous is a lifelong journey, Bennett has provided a kind of moral travel guide and map through each territory-childhood, adolescence, adulthood-along the way. Selections range from Eudora Welty's touching story "A Worn Path" (childhood) to the Cinderella-like East European folk tale "The Twelve Months" (adolescence) to the overwrought tale of Monica, the mother of St. Augustine (adulthood). Bennett's certainty about the principles of right and wrong allow no room for the complexities inherent in the struggle to be virtuous. Even so, his books have been popular precisely because of this moral nostalgia and simplicity, so demand for this title is likely to be high. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/95.]- Henry L. Carrigan Jr., Westerville P.L., Ohio

From Barnes & Noble

This companion to THE BOOK OF VIRTUES traces life's lessons from those first taught in the home to the countless choices that call virtues into play as we grow older. Offers many moral examples from great works of literature and exemplary stories from history, ranging from tales of Washington Irving to the folklore of Africa.