The Book of Virtues: 30th Anniversary Edition
William J. Bennett · Elayne Glover Bennett
Nov 2022 · Simon and Schuster · Narrated by William J. Bennett, Elayne Glover Bennett, Ed Asner, Jenn Bennett, Claire Bloom, Barbara Bush, Janina Edwards, Dorian Hairwood, Charlton Heston, Kirby Heyborne, Dana Ivey, David Mccallum, Andrea Martin, Joe Morton, Leon Nixon, Kate Nelligan, Timothy Andrés Pabon, Robert Petkoff, Tonya Pinkins, Faith Prince, Tom Selleck, Matt Stango, Richard Thomas, Harriet Walter, Fritz Weaver, Eunice Wong, and Michael York
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Help your children develop moral character with this updated, 30th anniversary edition of the perennial classic The Book of Virtues.
Almost 3 million copies of the Book of Virtues have been sold since it was published in 1993. It is one of the most popular moral primers ever written, an inspiring anthology that helps children understand and develop character—and helps parents teach it to them. Thirty years ago, readers thought that the times were right for a book about moral literacy. Back then, Americans worried that schools were no longer parents’ allies in teaching good character. As the book’s original introduction noted, “moral anchors and moorings have never been more necessary.” If that was true in the 1990s, it is even more true today. The explosion of information with the Internet has left many unsure of what is valuable and what is not.
Responsibility. Courage. Compassion. Loyalty. Honesty. Friendship. Persistence. Hard work. Self-discipline. Faith. These remain the essentials of good character. The Book of Virtues contains hundreds of exemplary stories offering children examples of good and bad, right and wrong. Drawing on the Bible, American history, Greek mythology, English poetry, fairy tales, and modern fiction, William J. and Elayne Bennett show children the many virtuous paths they can follow—and the ones they ought to avoid. For the 30th anniversary edition, the Bennetts have slimmed down the book’s contents, while also finding room to introduce such figures as Mother Teresa, Colin Powell, and heroes of 9/11 and the War in Afghanistan. Here is a rich mine of moral literacy to teach a new generation of children about American culture, history, and traditions—ultimately, the ideals by which we wish to live our lives. The updated edition of The Book of Virtues will continue a legacy of raising moral children far into a new century.
Almost 3 million copies of the Book of Virtues have been sold since it was published in 1993. It is one of the most popular moral primers ever written, an inspiring anthology that helps children understand and develop character—and helps parents teach it to them. Thirty years ago, readers thought that the times were right for a book about moral literacy. Back then, Americans worried that schools were no longer parents’ allies in teaching good character. As the book’s original introduction noted, “moral anchors and moorings have never been more necessary.” If that was true in the 1990s, it is even more true today. The explosion of information with the Internet has left many unsure of what is valuable and what is not.
Responsibility. Courage. Compassion. Loyalty. Honesty. Friendship. Persistence. Hard work. Self-discipline. Faith. These remain the essentials of good character. The Book of Virtues contains hundreds of exemplary stories offering children examples of good and bad, right and wrong. Drawing on the Bible, American history, Greek mythology, English poetry, fairy tales, and modern fiction, William J. and Elayne Bennett show children the many virtuous paths they can follow—and the ones they ought to avoid. For the 30th anniversary edition, the Bennetts have slimmed down the book’s contents, while also finding room to introduce such figures as Mother Teresa, Colin Powell, and heroes of 9/11 and the War in Afghanistan. Here is a rich mine of moral literacy to teach a new generation of children about American culture, history, and traditions—ultimately, the ideals by which we wish to live our lives. The updated edition of The Book of Virtues will continue a legacy of raising moral children far into a new century.
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About the author
Dr. William J. Bennett is one of America’s most influential and respected voices on cultural, political, and educational issues. Host of The Bill Bennett Show podcast, he is also the Washington Fellow of the American Strategy Group. He is the author and editor of more than twenty-five books. Dr. Bennett served as the secretary of education and chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities under President Ronald Reagan and as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President George Herbert Walker Bush.
Elayne Glover Bennett is the founder and president of the Best Friends Foundation and the author of a model curriculum that tar-gets bullying, drug abuse, and violence prevention through a model character development curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school students. She is currently in her thirty-fifth year of teaching this curriculum, which has been delivered to thousands of public school students in Washington, DC, and across the nation. She is the author of Daughters in Danger: Helping Girls Thrive in Today’s Culture.
Jenn Bennett is the author of over a dozen books, including the young adult titles Alex, Approximately; Serious Moonlight; Starry Eyes; and The Lady Rogue. She also writes romance and fantasy for adults. Her books have earned multiple starred reviews, been Goodreads Choice Award Nominees, and have been included on annual Best Books lists from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly. In addition to being a writer, she’s also an artist with a BFA in painting. She was born in Germany, has lived all over the US, and has traveled extensively throughout Europe, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. She currently lives near Atlanta with one husband and two dogs.
Barbara Bush (1925—2018) was born in Rye, New York, and married George H.W. Bush in 1945. She served as First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. She has five children, including President George W. Bush and Florida Governor Jeb Bush, seventeen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. She founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. She lived in Houston, Texas, and Kennebunkport, Maine.
Charlton Heston was an actor, political activist, and Hollywood star. He is known for his role as Moses in The Ten Commandments. Following this part, he was nominated the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama. He joined the military in 1944 and served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II. He is the author of multiple books, including The Actors Life: Journals 1956-1976 and To Be a Man: Letters to My Grandson.
Kate Nelligan received Tony nominations for her performances in Spoils of War, Serious Money, A Moon for the Misbegotten, and Plenty, for which she also received the Olivier Award in London. Her films include How to Make an American Quilt, The Prince of Tides (Oscar nom), Frankie and Johnny (DW Griffith & British Academy Awards), Fatal Instinct, Eye of the Needle, Eleni, and White Room. She received an Emmy nomination for her performance on the television series The Road to Avonlea.
Elayne Glover Bennett is the founder and president of the Best Friends Foundation and the author of a model curriculum that tar-gets bullying, drug abuse, and violence prevention through a model character development curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school students. She is currently in her thirty-fifth year of teaching this curriculum, which has been delivered to thousands of public school students in Washington, DC, and across the nation. She is the author of Daughters in Danger: Helping Girls Thrive in Today’s Culture.
Jenn Bennett is the author of over a dozen books, including the young adult titles Alex, Approximately; Serious Moonlight; Starry Eyes; and The Lady Rogue. She also writes romance and fantasy for adults. Her books have earned multiple starred reviews, been Goodreads Choice Award Nominees, and have been included on annual Best Books lists from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly. In addition to being a writer, she’s also an artist with a BFA in painting. She was born in Germany, has lived all over the US, and has traveled extensively throughout Europe, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. She currently lives near Atlanta with one husband and two dogs.
Barbara Bush (1925—2018) was born in Rye, New York, and married George H.W. Bush in 1945. She served as First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. She has five children, including President George W. Bush and Florida Governor Jeb Bush, seventeen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. She founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. She lived in Houston, Texas, and Kennebunkport, Maine.
Charlton Heston was an actor, political activist, and Hollywood star. He is known for his role as Moses in The Ten Commandments. Following this part, he was nominated the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama. He joined the military in 1944 and served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II. He is the author of multiple books, including The Actors Life: Journals 1956-1976 and To Be a Man: Letters to My Grandson.
Kate Nelligan received Tony nominations for her performances in Spoils of War, Serious Money, A Moon for the Misbegotten, and Plenty, for which she also received the Olivier Award in London. Her films include How to Make an American Quilt, The Prince of Tides (Oscar nom), Frankie and Johnny (DW Griffith & British Academy Awards), Fatal Instinct, Eye of the Needle, Eleni, and White Room. She received an Emmy nomination for her performance on the television series The Road to Avonlea.
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