The Road to Character

by

David Brooks

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Road to Character makes teaching easy.

The Road to Character Terms

Character

Throughout The Road to Character, David Brooks asserts that character is not something a person is born with, but something a person builds. A person builds character through struggling against adversity and their personal weaknesses… read analysis of Character

Meritocracy

Simply put, a meritocracy is a form of government in which people with skills and merits hold power. In The Road to Character, David Brooks calls present-day society a “meritocracy” because it subscribes to moralread analysis of Meritocracy

Moral Realism

Moral realism is David Brooks’s term for the belief that human nature is both good and evil. This view of human nature contrasts with that of the moral romanticists who believe that human nature… read analysis of Moral Realism

Moral Romanticism

Moral romanticism is the view of morality that overtook moral realism after the Great Depression and World War II. Eager for positivity and hope after decades of hardship, society adopted a line of positive thinking… read analysis of Moral Romanticism

Vocation

A vocation is a strong sense of calling that propels a person toward a certain job or occupation. In The Road to Character, David Brooks contrasts vocation with career. A career is something a person… read analysis of Vocation
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