The Book of Virtues

My 7 yo daughter and I have been reading a few pages each night and it has been wonderful. We usually read a few poems and a story and we talk about each one as we read them together. Some I read to her and some she can read just fine. She's learning so many new words and the lessons are great. We went to her annual check up last week. The doc asked her if she reads and she started telling her about the book and retold one of the short stories. The doc was so impressed she asked me to send her the link to order the book for her children! It's a nice change to read stories with her and have want to hear or read another versus the same 3 books she's asked me to read over and over. :-) I ended up buying another for my sister and her kids to read together and they love it too. Definitely recommend!

The collection of stories compiled and presented is a reasonable collection of very moral, long held historically representative, and significant teachings. The collection is a cross section from many incoming cultures to the Western World and the eventual melting-pot called america, but there are deep lessons and salient central truths upheld in all. A veritable strong hold in the field of "Self-Help" and also the basis for relationship between individuals, individual to groups, almost every role and responsibility receives representation and guidance. Refer to the table of contents: Self-Discipline; Compassion; Responsibility; Friendship; Work; Courage; etc...Who, upon any reasonable self-encounter or introspection could not use a shot in the arm with such fundamental characteristics. This compilation by Mr. Bennett is a gem made of gems, indeed a treasury overflowing and edited with careful considerations. Knowledge Worth far beyond the price. Sit down and have a fulfilling read, share with your best friends. Practice on some who are not so close today and see what great culminates from an exercise of good knowledge, and experience. Daniel Grise -Dickinson, TX

This is an incredible book! My son and daughter (11 and 9yrs) are always picking it up to read a random selection from this thick collection of short stories and poems. All have a good moral or message. All are entertaining and quality literature. Excellent for bedtime read-out-louds by Mom or Dad. Our 4 kids (ages 4-11) snuggle up attentively every night after prayers, to hear a couple of the selections; and there are so many, it'll last all year! Thanks to the grade 8 teacher who had it on her desk for spontaneous read alouds! Otherwise, I would have never known about this treasure.

I love this book! My husband gave it to me several years ago and I read many of the stories over and over to my children. I just asked my son today if he remembered a particular story that I read and he did. I purchased it again so I could read it on my iPad and I am glad I did. I love to read the poems and stories from this book and now I read them to my grandchildren. This book is great for all ages.

“Moral education—the training of heart and mind toward the good—involves many things. It involves rules and precepts—the do’s and don’ts of life with others—as well as explicit instruction, exhortation, and training. Moral education must provide training in good habits. Aristotle wrote that good habits formed at youth make all the difference.” William J. Bennett, author of The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories The premise of Bennett’s books is quite simple: “The purpose of this book is to show parents, teachers, students, and children what the virtues look like, what they are in practice, how to recognize them, and how they work.” (1) To provide a moral compass for the young, Bennett utilizes stories from the Bible, American history, poems, fables, Greek myths, philosophy, fiction, and fairy tales to teach the virtues of self-discipline, compassion, responsibility, friendship, work, courage, perseverance, honesty, loyalty, and faith.

This book was recomended to me by a friend and colleague. As a high school English teacher, I am always on the hunt for supplemental materials to add to my lesson plans in order to help my students engage in more meaningful ways. I would highly recommend this book to other teachers, as it has wide a variety of stories, poems, etc that would be appropriate for all grade levels. This book is fabulous for non teachers as well due to the wide variety of material in the book.

I am a big reader, and this is one of the most delightful books I have read! I love it! It would make a wonderful coffee-table book. I will be getting more of these for gifts.

Another book of wisdom my parents could have compiled from their life. Highly recommend as a road map to a good life.