DOC The Heart of Virtue: Lessons from Life and Literature Illustrating the Beauty and Value of Moral Character by Donald DeMarco in History

Review

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Buy Two CopiesBy Benjamin IsaacThis book is worth owning; and I've given two or three copies to friends.Each chapter deals with a specific virtue; like honesty or graciousness. Each chapter is divided into a story and a commentary on the virtue. The pace of the writing is brisk and the reading is easy.The "story" part of each chapter is a biography. Some are about well-known figures from literature; like Victor Hugo; others are less popularly known artists and intellectuals; like Jacques and Raissa Maritain; still others are unsung heroes of virtue. DeMarco is a steady defender of the unborn and of the mentally handicapped; and there are a number of stories that relate to these people.This book is from a Roman Catholic publisher and the contents of the book are clearly Catholic. For any who might be dissuaded from buying this book because of that; buy it anyway and give it to your friends. Give this book to your teenage moral theologian. Give it to your pastor who enjoys telling stories over the pulpit (I've squirted tears over more than a couple of them.) Give it as a token of peace to a friend who stands on the other side of a moral question from you. The book is inoffensive; uplifting and welcome.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. wonderfulBy Cindy JenningsMy wife and I are raising 4 small boys. I think we can all recognize people with good character. That's what we want for our children as they get older. This book breaks that 'character' down into all of the components of virtues and examples of the many people who have exemplified these. Well written. Enjoyable read.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I keep going back a rereading chapters...By RitaIt's wonderful! I thought it might be kind of dry; but it turned out to be very readable and inspiring. Demarco used lots of stories about people you might not think would be in the book to illustrate his points. I bought it because I'm going to speak to sophomores about chastity and modesty. I thought I could use all the help I could get...