The Road to Character

David Brooks’ The Road to Character, published in 2015, is a philosophical treatise and self-help book hybrid. Brooks believes that in an ego-obsessed, achievement-focused society, our focus is constantly on self-promotion and desire-fulfillment rather than on spiritual enrichment, strength of character, and moral compass. Brooks contrasts the outward-facing, more shallowly motivated self with the inward-facing, more introspectively driven self. After a significant amount of time spent reflecting on his own life experiences as a high-achieving newspaper columnist and political pundit, Brooks has concluded that the latter is ultimately more desirable than the former, and that we should strive to cultivate the inner self more diligently than the outward one.

Brooks refers to the “résumé virtues” of the external self and the “eulogy virtues” of the inner self. With the former, we pursue success and self-promotion in the world; with the latter, we ensure that others will remember us for who we truly are behind the façade. Brooks posits that it is unfortunate how résumé virtues are viewed as more laudable than eulogy ones, leading us to pursue day-to-day rewards and praise at the expense of developing longer-lasting beneficial virtues.

By examining several individuals whose inner qualities he views as laudable, Brooks develops a road map for developing the self that others in our lives will speak of when they remember our “eulogy virtues.” Religion is not always at the forefront of these exemplary character explorations, but moral concerns and codes of ethics, largely through the lens of philosophy, are present.

Brooks argues that challenges and hardship can offer us more opportunities for growth than constant success and promotion. If we have seen to the development and nurturing of our inner character and our regard for others, true happiness and success will usually follow without much effort. Brooks has developed what he calls a Humility Code for self-reflection and improvement.

Perhaps most crucially of all, Brooks emphasizes the importance of swallowing our pride and adhering to humility. Asking for help is not considered a noble action in many cultures, as it has been portrayed as a flaw and even a weakness. He contends that there is strength in knowing our limitations, and that to ask for help when we need it—and, by extension, help each other—is the noblest thing we can do.