Morale

By John William Gardner and John W. Gardner

Book Overview

John W. Gardner, founder of Common Cause, has served his country in many roles ranging from that of Marine Corps officer to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. He has been a professor, a foundation president, and in 1974 was awarded the presidential medal of freedom, the nation's highest civilian award. "The task of the moment," Mr. Gardner says," is to recreate a motivated society." How are we to combat widespread apathy? How are we to release the spirit and zest and enthusiasm that drives civilizations forward? Now, after a dozen years wholly devoted to action and conflict in public life, Mr. Gardner steps back and looks at the beliefs and values that must underlie human striving. He says of this book, "It's about the attitudes and values at the core of your being." He confronts hard questions and offers powerful, thought-provoking answers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393009777
• ISBN13: 9780393009774
• Release Date: March 1980
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.1" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Enthusiasm

The most inspiring quote I've ever read on the subject of politics comes out of this book. It goes like this: "The longer I live, the more I respect enthusiasm. There is no perfection of technique that will substitute for the lift of spirit that enthusiasm produces. Some people keep their zest until the day they die. They keep their sense of curiosity. They reach out. They enjoy. They risk failure. They may even allow themselves some moderately cheerful expectations for the time ahead. Such expectations may be greeted with skepticism in the current climate, but we should welcome the buoyance from which they spring. Otherwise, in our world weary wisdom, we shall be unresponsive to the challenges that keep societies alive and moving." This little book is packed full of good reasons why we ought to care about what is going on around us. It will make a believer out of you!