About the book
David Brooks argues that modern culture prizes what he calls resume virtues, the qualities behind wealth, fame and status, over eulogy virtues such as kindness, honesty and courage. He frames the contrast with Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik's Adam I, the ambitious outer self, and Adam II, the humble inner one. Eight chapters of portraits make up most of the book, showing how people built character by struggling with their own weaknesses: Dwight Eisenhower, Frances Perkins, George Marshall, Dorothy Day, Bayard Rustin with A. Philip Randolph, George Eliot, Augustine, and Samuel Johnson with Montaigne. Brooks taught a Yale undergraduate course on humility, the book's subject, and ends with fifteen numbered points.
Bill Gates named it among the best books he read in 2015, and Peter Attia said it reached him at the hardest moment of his life. Andrew Huberman listened to it on his yearly solo wilderness trip and called it important for everyone.
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This book has 7 recommendations
Recommended by Ryan Holiday (Founder/Brass Check)
Indra Nooyi (CEO/PepsiCo)
Beyond provoking valuable self-reflection and introspection, it sparked a wonderful discussion with my two daughters about why building inner character is just as important as building a career. In fact, the two go hand in hand—the moral compass of our lives must also be the moral compass of our livelihoods.
Jim Stengel (Former CMO/P&G)
A married couple in their 80s, whom I have known for 32 years and dearly love and respect, gave the book to me this year for my birthday. They demanded I read it and then join them for dinner to discuss it. It opened my mind and made me think about how I live my life. David’s book elaborates on the concept of “Adam I” and “Adam II.” Adam I wants high status and external achievement, Adam II wants to do good and also be good. Our culture today is all Adam I. I left P&G seven years ago, after a 25-year career, to start a small business to help people in business discover their purpose and grow. David’s book helped me see more clearly why I did that, and inspired me with wonderful stories that set a thoughtful standard for a life of character.
Bill Gates (CEO/Microsoft)
The insightful New York Times columnist examines the contrasting values that motivate all of us. He argues that American society does a good job of cultivating the “résumé virtues” (the traits that lead to external success) but not our “eulogy virtues” (the traits that lead to internal peace of mind). Brooks profiles various historical figures who were paragons of character. I thought his portrait of World War II General George Marshall was especially enlightening. Even if the distinction between the two types of virtues is not always crystal clear, The Road to Character gave me a lot to think about. It is a thought-provoking look at what it means to live life well.
Gunhee Park (Co-Founder/Populum)
The author, David Brooks, examines the lives and habits of historical figures to observe how they tamed their egos, built character, and strived to perfect their vocation.
You recommended "The Road to Character" to me. I do an annual solo wilderness trip, and I listen to it during the drive to that trip and on that trip, and I would just say it's a truly important book for everyone to listen to.
Peter Attia (Founder/Attia Medical)
His book, The Road to Character, spoke to me at the most difficult moment of my life, and I can already appreciate, only halfway through it, that, The Second Mountain, will have a lasting impact on me.
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Ryan Holiday, Indra Nooyi, Jim Stengel, Bill Gates, Gunhee Park, Andrew Huberman, Peter Attia
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