Character is Destiny

Book excerpt: "Russ Gough has accomplished something very rare: A college philosopher has written a book in real English for real people on the most important subject of all-character. I congratulate him. This is the proverbial required reading book for high school and college students, and their parents; in other words, for everyone." -DENNIS PRAGER, radio talk-show host and author of Think a Second Time An inescapable truth lies at the heart of this simple yet profound book: The quality of our lives is not determined by the happenstance of genetics or by the influence of environment; it is not measured in material possessions or in the trappings of youth; it is not dependent on personality or social acclaim. On the contrary, the intrinsic value of the lives we lead reflects the strength of a single trait: our personal character. Character is Destiny, a sort of self-help guide for the soul, shows how we can lead richer lives simply by being better people. Russell W. Gough, a nationally prominent writer and speaker, describes the steps to personal growth-from examining our lives to taking responsibility for our actions, from discarding selfishness to embracing the greater good, from becoming a better role model for our loved ones to finding the courage to do the right thing naturally and consistently. By cultivating the habits of virtue, we will strengthen not only ourselves but, more important, our families and our world. This book shows how to overcome the most formidable obstacle to an ethical life: ourselves. Each and every day we are faced with scores of choices that, in subtle yet discernible ways, can either enrich or impoverish our personal character. The choices we make, and the manner in which we make them, illuminate the paths our lives will take. Character is Destiny can be our compass. RUSSELL W. GOUGH is a professor of ethics and philosophy at Pepperdine University. He had lectured across the country and was a chairman for the annual White House Conference on Character Building. His articles on ethics and character have appeared in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and elsewhere. In addition, he is the author of the book Character is Everything: Promoting Ethical Excellence in Sports."