Re: E1s, Virtues and Principles

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: When you are trying to convey some principles in a good format you'll have to have that STJ attached to your numbers I guess. I find Covey pleasant to read. He is very clear and to the point in the presentation of his ideas. He does not seem judgemental or self-righteous to me. I use his ideas in several places when I talk about effectiveness to groups of people. : : When presenting the same things alive to a group some other traits are necessary. Being an extravert would certainly help. : What do you think? : Gigi : : : Saw this book in a store window and thought it would possibly make a good present for a friend and his wife to read to their kids – if the author wasn’t too preachy and self-righteously E1. I was in too much hurry to stop and check it out, so I thought I’d look up the reviews at Amazon.com. Guess I’ll be choosing some other present. : : The Book of Virtues : A Treasury of Great Moral Stories : : by William J. Bennett (Editor) : : You Save: $9.00 (30%) : : Hardcover - (November 1993) 831 pages : : Chapter headings: - : : 1. Self-discipline : : 2. Compassion : : 3. Responsibility : : 4. Friendship : : 5. Work : : 6. Courage : : 7. Perseverance : : 8. Honesty : : 9. Loyalty : : 10. Faith : : Here’s a reasonably representative selection of the 30 or so reviews: - : : Reviewer: A reader from USA July 14, 1998 : : This had the potential to be a great book - a collection of classic tales that teach a lesson. Unfortunately in the hands of William Bennett they become little more than a tool of self-righteous sanctimony in the thin guise of a political agenda. Bennett's role as self- appointed guardian of the nation's morals might be more credible were his preachiness directed at both the left and the right. For me I will look elsewhere other than Bennett for my "moral" guidance. : : Reviewer: A reader from Berkeley, California September 21, 1997 : : This is an interesting mix of classic stories and pieces from the Western canon. Despite the prologue's half-hearted attempt to make the reader believe that what is being read is by no means politically slanted, a quick read tells a different story. In the chapter entitled, "Responsibility," there is a "Respecting the flag" excerpt. This is not entirely strange out of context, but placed within this book, whose first chapter is "Self-Discipline," it becomes a moral rule for children concerning blind allegiance to not only the flag, but the country as well. In "Self-Discipline," the moral learned is that children are meant to do exactly as their parents tell them without any thought of their own. One poem written in deceptively sweet and simple rhyme recounts the story of a little girl who slams doors, and is eventually killed by this thoroughly offensive act. This poem's "moral" is that if you slam doors, you'll get slammed too, and get buried with a sermon that "(dwells) upon her Vices too." "The Book of Virtues" is good for a few dark laughs and the occasional guffaw at the editor's audacity (also quite humorous is the understated and often silly commentary that precedes most of the pieces). It is rather telling that I found this book in a certain bookstore's Sociology section. But unfortunately, I don't believe that this was the intention of the author, nor is this how the vast majority of parents who purchase "The Book of Virtues" will view it. This book should come with a warning: "Only buy this book if you are not planning on reading it to children." : : Some other, less sanctimonious or self-righteous E1-ish authors to choose ‘self-development’ books by: - : : M. Scott Peck (INFJ) “The Road Less Traveled”, etc. : : Stephen R. Covey (INTJ) “The 7 Effectiveness Habits”, “Principle Centered Leadership”, etc. : : John Bradshaw (ENFJ) “Homecoming”, “Family Secrets”, etc. : : Slim

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