In Search of Ethics: Conversations with Men and Women of Character

by Len Marrella

Book Overview

American society seems to be in a constant state of recovery from a series of attacks on our social and economic morals and ethics. From the never-ending embarassment of the Clinton sex scandals to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932021116
• ISBN13: 9781932021110
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: DC Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness

The Other Kind of Smart: Simple Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence for Greater Personal Effectiveness and Success Recently we have witnessed what appears to be a major meltdown of ethics and morality in North American society. It is very easy to become cynical and wonder if cases of fraud, corporate malfeasance, greed, corruption are signs of decay of society as we know it. During this time it takes courage and a belief in the ultimate goodness of human nature to write a book like this. Len Marrella seems to have a healthly dose of both and his book is sorely needed in these times. He brings to life for the reader, stories of men and women from a variety of walks of life that have managed to strive for higher ideals. Many of these individuals did not come from society's prviledged elite, which makes their stories even more compelling. The author offers a strong message of hope in the realization that there have always been and will continue to be men and women that will take the more difficult path and do the right thing, going far beyond their own self interest. As their stories are often not seen as sexy or newsworthy as those of the rogues and con artists in the world, their stories are often unknown and ignored. Thank you Len Marrella, for shining some light on these well deserving individuals and giving us a powerful message of hope in these difficult times.

A philosophical yet valuable and much-needed resource in troubled modern times

Now in an updated second edition, In Search Of Ethics is an anthology of testimonials from businessmen and women who successfully balanced honor with the demands of earning a living, in an era when lying, cheating, and fraud seem to be at an all time high. Each interviewed subject was required to meet interviewer Len Marrella's stringent procedural process, and while they come from vastly diverse walks of life, each offers crucial insights to keeping one's balance amid greed and corruption. Chapters firmly address how to develop solutions to ethical problems, and means of instructing the next generation to keep to tenets of honesty and fairness. A philosophical yet valuable and much-needed resource in troubled modern times.

This country needs a shot of ethics right now...

It is obvious that our country is sorely in need of an "ethical time out." One doesn't have to look to far to see the scandals that are hitting out largest corporations, to see to what low levels our political campagins have stooped, and to view the politicized circus that the 9/11 Commission hearings have become. This book affirms one's belief that good people do exist in our society and they don't have to be famous to get our respect. We don't have to idolize movie, recording or sports stars -- nor direct our lives by theirs. There are sufficient heroes for our society to look up to -- and they are "us." Ethics and character are elements of a strong cultural backbone that our nation needs at this time more than it ever has. Reading this book can give you a perspective that you won't find on the front page of your daily newspaper or see on the evening news -- although that perspective should be there. Thanks for a great read!

Excellent!

Thank you so much to the author of this book. It's easy to read, fascinating, and so needed. Success does go hand in hand with high ethical standards (even if it doesn't always seem that way). And that doesn't just mean "playing by the rules"; that means living up to our own values and personal standards. I found myself re-reading sections and writing down quotes to share with others. I've also found myself being a better person as my actions are motivated by that higher standard. The stories shared and the "how-to" information about how we can each make a difference was wonderful. This is one of the very few books I would recommend to virtually everyone I know.

"Our Character is our Destiny"

Based on our developmental experiences, we have adopted a set of values that guide our decision-making and actions. Interestingly, our actions and our espoused values are often out of sync -- it's as though we don't really believe that virtuous behavior is really the right way for us to achieve our goals. This motivational and inspiring work offers compelling testimony that "success" in this life (as represented by: peace, justice, productivity, teamwork, contribution, etc) is best achieved through ethical conduct -- Good people, organizations, institutions, finish first.