The Character Gap

How Good Are We?

By: Christian B. Miller

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

We like to think of ourselves, our friends, and our families as decent people. We may not be saints, but we are still honest, relatively kind, and mostly trustworthy. Miller argues here that we are badly mistaken in thinking this. Hundreds of recent studies in psychology tell a different story: that we all have serious character flaws that prevent us from being as good as we think we are - and that we do not even recognize that these flaws exist.

But neither are most of us cruel or dishonest. Instead, Miller argues, we are a mixed bag. On the one hand, most of us in a group of bystanders will do nothing as someone cries out for help in an emergency. Yet it is also true that there will be many times when we will selflessly come to the aid of a complete stranger - and resist the urge to lie, cheat, or steal even if we could get away with it. Much depends on cues in our social environment. Miller uses this recent psychological literature to explain what the notion of "character" really means today, and how we can use this new understanding to develop a character better in sync with the kind of people we want to be.

©2018 Oxford University Press (P)2018 Tantor

Overall very good

The basis of character assessment is well covered in this book. Although the author says he has no religious bias, and emphasizes Christianity occasionally simply because it is commonplace, his description of The Holy Ghost in Christianity being a unique help compared to other religions suggests a particular bias. Ignoring that, however, it was overall quite interesting and I would still recommend this book.

Thesis is clear, but advices need further development

I appreciated the background and connections to other literary works. Nests nicely into other contemporary authors as well as tying in historical connotations. The chapters on more useful courses of action could have used more development, I felt, so as to point the reader toward action. I, however, always have a proclivity to seek out ways to operationalize ideas. The book seems to me as Part 1. I await Part 2, or perhaps it’s already written. Cheers and happy reading/listening.