Parent/Teacher Bibliography
Adler, Mortimer, Geraldine Van Doren. Reforming Education: The Opening of the American Mind. Macmillan Publishing Co., 1988.
Not much of value has been said about education in the past decade that Mortimer Adler did not say 40 years ago. Of particular interest is Part Four in this book: Thinking About Moral Values and his essays: “Virtue and Happiness,” “A Sound Moral Philosophy,” and “Ethics: Fourth century BC and Twentieth Century AD.”
Arthur, James. The Formation of Character in Education. From Aristotle to the 21st Century. Routledge, 2020.
British researcher Arthur provides the best recent summary of the foundations, practices, and public policy implications of character education. Professor Arthur heads the Jubilee Center for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham.
Arthur, James, Kristjan Kristjansson, Tom Harrison, Wouter Sanderse, and Dniel Wright. Teaching Character and Virtue in Schools. Routledge, 2017.
The U.K. Jubilee Center scholars provide in-depth reflection on the importance and efficacy of character education, and specific reflections on the importance of faculty and staff who model such virtues.
Baehr, Jason. Deep in Thought: A Practical Guide to Teaching the Intellectual Virtues. Harvard, 2021.
Loyola University Professor Baehr delivers a first-rate practical book about one of the most important goals of education, and ways to develop intellectual virtue in students.
Bennett, William J., and John T.E. Cribb. The American Patriot’s Almanac. Thomas Nelson, 2008.
This book is a treasure trove for teachers and older students—a daily compendium of inspiring people, landmark events, and not-to-be-missed stories in American history. Each date features a main entry with a three- to four-paragraph explanation. February, for example, spotlights not just George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, but the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, woman’s rights advocate Susan B. Anthony, Wild West popularizer Buffalo Bill Cody, novelist Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Actor-Turned-President Ronald Reagan. It offers a chance to recall “Godspeed, John Glenn,” the day the Ohio astronaut became the first American to orbit the earth. Recognizing that we learn not just from our successes, but from our mistakes, February 19 marks FDR’s Executive Order 9066, clearing the way in 1942 for the internment of Japanese-Americans—one of our nation’s darkest chapters. February 24 celebrates John Quincy Adams winning release of the enslaved crew of Amistad, when he argued before the Supreme Court. A riveting read and a must-have teacher reference.
Bennett, William J., Chester E. Finn, Jr. and John T.E. Cribb, Jr. The Educated Child: A Parent’s Guide from Preschool Through Eighth Grade. The Free Press, 1999.
An excellent, if chunky, overview of what comprises a first-rate elementary school education. Contains sections on character education both for pre-school parents and parents of elementary school children. (See Chapter 13 “Along with Academics”).
Brooks, Arthur C. Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt. (Broadside Books, 2019)
If you're weary of the toxic anger and "the outrage industrial complex" that is making big bucks by turning us against each other, read this calm, wise, refreshing book. It is winning accolades from thoughtful people on both sides of the political aisle, and from leaders of the major faith traditions. Policy analyst Brooks focuses on our relatively new habit of seeing those with a different opinion from ours as fundamentally flawed and worthy of eye-rolling contempt. He points out that this is a break with our past, and promotes an ever-more-toxic downward spiral. Disagreement, he reminds us, is necessary and helpful in attaining excellence. Drawing on recent studies about leadership, he offers a path to disagreeing agreeably and forging new paths with shared purpose.
Coles, Robert. The Moral Intelligence of Children: How to Raise a Moral Child.
Random House, 1997.
In this most recent of his many fine books (The Moral Life of Children, The Call of Stories, The Spiritual Life of Children), Harvard psychiatrist Coles explores how character develops in children, specifically how moral conduct or behavior comes into being. How do we explain disparities between character and intellect?
Damon, William. Greater Expectations: Overcoming the Culture of Indulgence in America’s Homes and Schools. Free Press, 1995.
An incisive analysis of moral decline in the past thiry years, and of the misconceptions in parenting and education that have fostered the decline. Damon, professor of Education at Brown University, tackles ways in which parents, schools and communities can help change the tide and channel a child’s natural desire for responsibility and challenges into moral growth.
Dow, Philip E. Virtuous Minds. Intellectual Character Development. IVP Academic, 2013.
An assessment of intellectual virtue and how to cultivate it by a Christian scholar who asks “what does it mean to love God with our whole minds?” Though Dow is a person of faith, his conclusions about intellectual development are applicable in many different school settings.
Duckworth, Angela. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner, 2018.
Psychologist Angela Duckworth reminds parents, teachers, and students alike that success in life(flourishing) is not so much about innate talent, intelligence, or social condition, as “grit” – a quality of passion united to perseverance. Some of the book’s findings seem just plain common sense: tenacious, doggedl persistent people who work hard, keep their eye on the prize, have hope, and learn from mistakes, go further in life than spectacularly talented or well-connected individuals who don’t put in the effort, fail to prioritize goals, or have an attitude of indifference. It’s nice to be reminded that this “common sense” is grounded in strong empirical evidence. Inspiring examples of gritty individuals abound in this book. Duckworth contends that one can cultivate grit from a young age and that this key quality of character is one that parents and schools should purposely nurture. Good chapters on “Parenting for Grit” and “A Culture of Grit.”
Emmons, Robert Ph.D. Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier. Mariner Books, 2008.
Ancient virtue gets a thumbs-up from modern psychology. More than a self-help book, this volume by psychologist Robert Emmons (University of California, Davis) showcases “the new science of gratitude.” This focus in Positive Psychology has yielded extraordinary results, showing that people who practice gratitude (who intentionally cultivate thankfulness) live measurably happier lives – psychological, emotional, spiritual, and physical. His more practical self-help book for adults is Gratitude Works! A 21-Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity.
Glendon, Mary Ann and David Blankenhorn. Seedbeds of Virtue: Sources of Competence, Character, and Citizenship in American Society. Madison Books, 1995.
The best single anthology of articles on a topic not frequently explored: what in American history and society are the resources for cultivating virtue, character and citizenship? Articles from scholars in law, public policy, sociology, and theology. An excellent introduction to the topic of what in our national infrastructure supports virtue; told from various disciplinary perspectives.
Gurioan, Vigan. Tending the Heart of Virtue. How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination. Oxford University Press, 2002.
The title says it all. Gurioan shows how fairy tales and classic works of children's literature (from The Velveteen Rabbit to Charlotte's Web to Narnia) awaken children to the beacon light of the heroic, and inspire the love of virtue, affect as well as reason.
Himmelfarb, Gertrude. The Demoralization of Society: From Victorian Virtues to Modern Values. Alfred A. Knopf, 1995.
The intellectual historian’s assessment of a shift one hundred years in the making—a superb look at the historical roots of our contemporary predicament.
Kilpatrick, William. Why Johnny Can’t Tell Right from Wrong: The Case for Moral Literacy.
Simon and Schuster, 1992.
The most trenchant analysis of the crisis in moral education as it has evolved in the past 30 years. Kilpatrick makes a compelling case for literature-based character education.
Lewis, C.S. The Abolition of Man. HarperOne, 2000.
Lewis describes traditional morality in terms of Confucius’s account of the Tao. His appendix shows the cross-cultural correspondences in morality among Jewish, Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, Roman, Christian, Chinese, and Hindu traditions.
Lickona, Thomas. Educating for Character: How Our Schools Can Teach Respect and Responsibility. Bantam, 1991.
Path-breaking at the time of its publication, this book mixes strong practical tips for teachers and schools with a solid understanding of the larger issues in character education.
Lickona, Thomas. How to Raise Kind Kids: And Get Respect, Gratitude, and a Happier Family in the Bargain. Penguin, 2018.
Invaluable resource for parents and teachers. Developmental psychologist Tom Lickona brings his decades of parenting, grandparenting, research, and teaching to this rich and practical book. Dive in at the chapter that makes sense for you. For how to give and get respect from your kids (our September theme) go straight to Chapter 6. For tips on creating a positive family culture, turn to Chapter 5. For Discipline, Chapter 7 and for Screen-Time, Chapter 9. Each chapter is a stand-alone treasure trove of hands-on wisdom combined with refreshing humility.
Meilaender, Gilbert C. The Theory and Practice of Virtue.
University of Notre Dame Press, 1984.
An incisive primer on virtue by one of the country’s leading moral philosophers. Chapters ranging from “Thinking About Virtue” to “Instructing the Conscience: Some Contemporary Views of Moral Education.” One of the most accessible presentations of Plato for laymen.
Nelson, Daniel Mark. The Priority of Prudence: Virtue and Natural Law in Thomas Aquinas and the Implications for Modern Ethics. Pennsylvania State University Press, 1992.
A serious work of moral philosophy, arguing for the revival of an ethics of virtue (courage, temperance, justice, prudence) centered on prudence. Nelson makes the case that “the vocabulary of the virtues provides an especially useful way of dealing with specific moral problems and that its emphasis on the relation between character and community productively challenges our contemporary moral situation.”
Nucci, Larry, Darcia Narvaez, and Tobias Krettenauer, eds. Handbook of Moral and Character Education, Second Edition,Routledge, 2014.
A chunky anthology of articles by numerous scholars in the field of moral education, exploring the history, theory, and school-based practice of character education, along with the meaning of moral education outside the classroom (civic and community engagement).
Peterson, Christopher and Martin E.P. Seligman. Character Strengths and Virtues. A Handbook and Classification. Oxford, 2004.
A rich overview of the traits and virtues that conduce to human flourishing. Psychologists Peterson and Seligman review the professional literature and systematically classify character strengths and virtues, which have universal significance.
Pritchard, Ivor. Good Education: The Virtues of Learning.
Council for Basic Education, 1998.
Beginning with the assumption that it’s not whether we undertake moral education but how, Pritchard makes the case for an approach to moral education on the elementary school level that focuses on four moral virtues: friendship, honesty, courage, and justice.
Ryan, Kevin and Karen E. Bohlin. Building Character in Schools: Practical Ways to Bring Moral Instruction to Life. Jossey-Bass, 1999.
A gem of a book! This is a primer on the meaning of character education, the need to build communities of virtue in our schools, and the practical ways to instill in children love and knowledge of the good, as well as foment the habits of virtuous behavior.
Santi, Jenny. The Giving Way to Happiness. Stories and Science Behind the Life-Changing Power of Giving. Tarcher Perigee, 2016.
"It is in giving that we receive," we are often told, and now science is showing us that is correct. Philanthropy adviser Jenny Santi looks at the many ways people are "transformed by joy" when they turn outward, seeking to ameliorate the needs of others Her empirical focus is on how empathy and action restore the human spirit. The book is chock full of marvelous examples.
Seligman, Martin E.P. Flourish: A Visionary new Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being. Free Press, 2011.
Seligman’s landmark work that describes a path to human flourishing through positive emotion, engagement, relationship, meaning and accomplishment. Virtue and service are integral parts of his prescription.
Tutu, Desmond and Mpho Tutu. The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World. Harper, 2014.
South Africa’s Anglican Archbishop, Desmond Tutu chaired the South African commission that investigated human rights abuses under the apartheid regime. The Commission was unique in its emphasis on healing the wounds of the past through truth-telling followed by amnesty and forgiveness rather than punishment or retributive justice. In this book, written with his sister, Archbishop Tutu prescribes a path of Telling the Story, Naming the Hurt, Granting Forgiveness, and Renewing or Releasing the Relationship.
Wilson, James Q. On Character. AEI Press, 1995.
Insightful essays by one of America’s leading political scientists on the necessity and manner of reviving public and private virtue.
Not much of value has been said about education in the past decade that Mortimer Adler did not say 40 years ago. Of particular interest is Part Four in this book: Thinking About Moral Values and his essays: “Virtue and Happiness,” “A Sound Moral Philosophy,” and “Ethics: Fourth century BC and Twentieth Century AD.”
Arthur, James. The Formation of Character in Education. From Aristotle to the 21st Century. Routledge, 2020.
British researcher Arthur provides the best recent summary of the foundations, practices, and public policy implications of character education. Professor Arthur heads the Jubilee Center for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham.
Arthur, James, Kristjan Kristjansson, Tom Harrison, Wouter Sanderse, and Dniel Wright. Teaching Character and Virtue in Schools. Routledge, 2017.
The U.K. Jubilee Center scholars provide in-depth reflection on the importance and efficacy of character education, and specific reflections on the importance of faculty and staff who model such virtues.
Baehr, Jason. Deep in Thought: A Practical Guide to Teaching the Intellectual Virtues. Harvard, 2021.
Loyola University Professor Baehr delivers a first-rate practical book about one of the most important goals of education, and ways to develop intellectual virtue in students.
Bennett, William J., and John T.E. Cribb. The American Patriot’s Almanac. Thomas Nelson, 2008.
This book is a treasure trove for teachers and older students—a daily compendium of inspiring people, landmark events, and not-to-be-missed stories in American history. Each date features a main entry with a three- to four-paragraph explanation. February, for example, spotlights not just George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, but the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, woman’s rights advocate Susan B. Anthony, Wild West popularizer Buffalo Bill Cody, novelist Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Actor-Turned-President Ronald Reagan. It offers a chance to recall “Godspeed, John Glenn,” the day the Ohio astronaut became the first American to orbit the earth. Recognizing that we learn not just from our successes, but from our mistakes, February 19 marks FDR’s Executive Order 9066, clearing the way in 1942 for the internment of Japanese-Americans—one of our nation’s darkest chapters. February 24 celebrates John Quincy Adams winning release of the enslaved crew of Amistad, when he argued before the Supreme Court. A riveting read and a must-have teacher reference.
Bennett, William J., Chester E. Finn, Jr. and John T.E. Cribb, Jr. The Educated Child: A Parent’s Guide from Preschool Through Eighth Grade. The Free Press, 1999.
An excellent, if chunky, overview of what comprises a first-rate elementary school education. Contains sections on character education both for pre-school parents and parents of elementary school children. (See Chapter 13 “Along with Academics”).
Brooks, Arthur C. Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt. (Broadside Books, 2019)
If you're weary of the toxic anger and "the outrage industrial complex" that is making big bucks by turning us against each other, read this calm, wise, refreshing book. It is winning accolades from thoughtful people on both sides of the political aisle, and from leaders of the major faith traditions. Policy analyst Brooks focuses on our relatively new habit of seeing those with a different opinion from ours as fundamentally flawed and worthy of eye-rolling contempt. He points out that this is a break with our past, and promotes an ever-more-toxic downward spiral. Disagreement, he reminds us, is necessary and helpful in attaining excellence. Drawing on recent studies about leadership, he offers a path to disagreeing agreeably and forging new paths with shared purpose.
Coles, Robert. The Moral Intelligence of Children: How to Raise a Moral Child.
Random House, 1997.
In this most recent of his many fine books (The Moral Life of Children, The Call of Stories, The Spiritual Life of Children), Harvard psychiatrist Coles explores how character develops in children, specifically how moral conduct or behavior comes into being. How do we explain disparities between character and intellect?
Damon, William. Greater Expectations: Overcoming the Culture of Indulgence in America’s Homes and Schools. Free Press, 1995.
An incisive analysis of moral decline in the past thiry years, and of the misconceptions in parenting and education that have fostered the decline. Damon, professor of Education at Brown University, tackles ways in which parents, schools and communities can help change the tide and channel a child’s natural desire for responsibility and challenges into moral growth.
Dow, Philip E. Virtuous Minds. Intellectual Character Development. IVP Academic, 2013.
An assessment of intellectual virtue and how to cultivate it by a Christian scholar who asks “what does it mean to love God with our whole minds?” Though Dow is a person of faith, his conclusions about intellectual development are applicable in many different school settings.
Duckworth, Angela. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner, 2018.
Psychologist Angela Duckworth reminds parents, teachers, and students alike that success in life(flourishing) is not so much about innate talent, intelligence, or social condition, as “grit” – a quality of passion united to perseverance. Some of the book’s findings seem just plain common sense: tenacious, doggedl persistent people who work hard, keep their eye on the prize, have hope, and learn from mistakes, go further in life than spectacularly talented or well-connected individuals who don’t put in the effort, fail to prioritize goals, or have an attitude of indifference. It’s nice to be reminded that this “common sense” is grounded in strong empirical evidence. Inspiring examples of gritty individuals abound in this book. Duckworth contends that one can cultivate grit from a young age and that this key quality of character is one that parents and schools should purposely nurture. Good chapters on “Parenting for Grit” and “A Culture of Grit.”
Emmons, Robert Ph.D. Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier. Mariner Books, 2008.
Ancient virtue gets a thumbs-up from modern psychology. More than a self-help book, this volume by psychologist Robert Emmons (University of California, Davis) showcases “the new science of gratitude.” This focus in Positive Psychology has yielded extraordinary results, showing that people who practice gratitude (who intentionally cultivate thankfulness) live measurably happier lives – psychological, emotional, spiritual, and physical. His more practical self-help book for adults is Gratitude Works! A 21-Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity.
Glendon, Mary Ann and David Blankenhorn. Seedbeds of Virtue: Sources of Competence, Character, and Citizenship in American Society. Madison Books, 1995.
The best single anthology of articles on a topic not frequently explored: what in American history and society are the resources for cultivating virtue, character and citizenship? Articles from scholars in law, public policy, sociology, and theology. An excellent introduction to the topic of what in our national infrastructure supports virtue; told from various disciplinary perspectives.
Gurioan, Vigan. Tending the Heart of Virtue. How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination. Oxford University Press, 2002.
The title says it all. Gurioan shows how fairy tales and classic works of children's literature (from The Velveteen Rabbit to Charlotte's Web to Narnia) awaken children to the beacon light of the heroic, and inspire the love of virtue, affect as well as reason.
Himmelfarb, Gertrude. The Demoralization of Society: From Victorian Virtues to Modern Values. Alfred A. Knopf, 1995.
The intellectual historian’s assessment of a shift one hundred years in the making—a superb look at the historical roots of our contemporary predicament.
Kilpatrick, William. Why Johnny Can’t Tell Right from Wrong: The Case for Moral Literacy.
Simon and Schuster, 1992.
The most trenchant analysis of the crisis in moral education as it has evolved in the past 30 years. Kilpatrick makes a compelling case for literature-based character education.
Lewis, C.S. The Abolition of Man. HarperOne, 2000.
Lewis describes traditional morality in terms of Confucius’s account of the Tao. His appendix shows the cross-cultural correspondences in morality among Jewish, Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, Roman, Christian, Chinese, and Hindu traditions.
Lickona, Thomas. Educating for Character: How Our Schools Can Teach Respect and Responsibility. Bantam, 1991.
Path-breaking at the time of its publication, this book mixes strong practical tips for teachers and schools with a solid understanding of the larger issues in character education.
Lickona, Thomas. How to Raise Kind Kids: And Get Respect, Gratitude, and a Happier Family in the Bargain. Penguin, 2018.
Invaluable resource for parents and teachers. Developmental psychologist Tom Lickona brings his decades of parenting, grandparenting, research, and teaching to this rich and practical book. Dive in at the chapter that makes sense for you. For how to give and get respect from your kids (our September theme) go straight to Chapter 6. For tips on creating a positive family culture, turn to Chapter 5. For Discipline, Chapter 7 and for Screen-Time, Chapter 9. Each chapter is a stand-alone treasure trove of hands-on wisdom combined with refreshing humility.
Meilaender, Gilbert C. The Theory and Practice of Virtue.
University of Notre Dame Press, 1984.
An incisive primer on virtue by one of the country’s leading moral philosophers. Chapters ranging from “Thinking About Virtue” to “Instructing the Conscience: Some Contemporary Views of Moral Education.” One of the most accessible presentations of Plato for laymen.
Nelson, Daniel Mark. The Priority of Prudence: Virtue and Natural Law in Thomas Aquinas and the Implications for Modern Ethics. Pennsylvania State University Press, 1992.
A serious work of moral philosophy, arguing for the revival of an ethics of virtue (courage, temperance, justice, prudence) centered on prudence. Nelson makes the case that “the vocabulary of the virtues provides an especially useful way of dealing with specific moral problems and that its emphasis on the relation between character and community productively challenges our contemporary moral situation.”
Nucci, Larry, Darcia Narvaez, and Tobias Krettenauer, eds. Handbook of Moral and Character Education, Second Edition,Routledge, 2014.
A chunky anthology of articles by numerous scholars in the field of moral education, exploring the history, theory, and school-based practice of character education, along with the meaning of moral education outside the classroom (civic and community engagement).
Peterson, Christopher and Martin E.P. Seligman. Character Strengths and Virtues. A Handbook and Classification. Oxford, 2004.
A rich overview of the traits and virtues that conduce to human flourishing. Psychologists Peterson and Seligman review the professional literature and systematically classify character strengths and virtues, which have universal significance.
Pritchard, Ivor. Good Education: The Virtues of Learning.
Council for Basic Education, 1998.
Beginning with the assumption that it’s not whether we undertake moral education but how, Pritchard makes the case for an approach to moral education on the elementary school level that focuses on four moral virtues: friendship, honesty, courage, and justice.
Ryan, Kevin and Karen E. Bohlin. Building Character in Schools: Practical Ways to Bring Moral Instruction to Life. Jossey-Bass, 1999.
A gem of a book! This is a primer on the meaning of character education, the need to build communities of virtue in our schools, and the practical ways to instill in children love and knowledge of the good, as well as foment the habits of virtuous behavior.
Santi, Jenny. The Giving Way to Happiness. Stories and Science Behind the Life-Changing Power of Giving. Tarcher Perigee, 2016.
"It is in giving that we receive," we are often told, and now science is showing us that is correct. Philanthropy adviser Jenny Santi looks at the many ways people are "transformed by joy" when they turn outward, seeking to ameliorate the needs of others Her empirical focus is on how empathy and action restore the human spirit. The book is chock full of marvelous examples.
Seligman, Martin E.P. Flourish: A Visionary new Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being. Free Press, 2011.
Seligman’s landmark work that describes a path to human flourishing through positive emotion, engagement, relationship, meaning and accomplishment. Virtue and service are integral parts of his prescription.
Tutu, Desmond and Mpho Tutu. The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World. Harper, 2014.
South Africa’s Anglican Archbishop, Desmond Tutu chaired the South African commission that investigated human rights abuses under the apartheid regime. The Commission was unique in its emphasis on healing the wounds of the past through truth-telling followed by amnesty and forgiveness rather than punishment or retributive justice. In this book, written with his sister, Archbishop Tutu prescribes a path of Telling the Story, Naming the Hurt, Granting Forgiveness, and Renewing or Releasing the Relationship.
Wilson, James Q. On Character. AEI Press, 1995.
Insightful essays by one of America’s leading political scientists on the necessity and manner of reviving public and private virtue.