# Power of Ideals: The Real Story of Moral Choice - Hardcover

by **William Damon** (Author), **Anne Colby** (Author)

Cynicism often seems a smarter choice than idealism. There are reasons for this. Politicians have disappointed us time and again; trusted institutions have proven to be self-serving and corrupt; hopes for lasting world peace repeatedly have been dashed; and social inequities persist and increase, unabated by even the grandest of charitable efforts. It is now considered foolish to think that people can be counted on to rise above their narrow self-interests to serve the broader good, or to tell the truth if it does not reflect well on the self. Supporting this bleak view of the human condition is a moral psychology that has taken increasingly cynical turns in recent years. Famous studies have shown that we have an almost unlimited potential for cruelty when placed in the wrong situations.

_The Power of Ideals_ presents a different vision, supported by a different kind of evidence. It examines the lives and work of six 20th century moral leaders who pursued moral causes ranging from world peace to social justice and human rights. Using these six cases to illustrate how people can make choices guided by their moral convictions, rather than by base emotion or social pressures, authors William Damon and Anne Colby explore the workings of three virtues: inner truthfulness, humility, and faith. Through their portrayal of the noble lives of moral leaders, the authors argue that all of us--with ordinary lives--can exercise control over important life decisions and pursue ideals that we believe in.  

### Author Biography

  
**William Damon** is Professor of Education at Stanford University and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace. He is an author of eighteen books, including _Greater Expectations_, which won the Parents' Choice Book Award. Damon's research has been covered in many national publications, including the _Boston Globe_, the _New York Times_, _USA Today_, the _Wall Street Journal_, and the _Washington Post_. His national talk show appearances include _The Diane Rehm Show_, _Oprah!_, _The O'Reilly Factor_, and _Talk of the Nation_.

**Anne Colby** is Consulting Professor at Stanford University. Previously, she was Senior Scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and director of the Murray Research Center at Harvard University. Colby received the Kuhmerker Award from the Association of Moral Education for lifetime achievement in the field of moral development. She is an author of nine books, including _Rethinking Undergraduate Business Education_, which won the Frederick Ness award from the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Colby's research has been covered in national publications such as the _Chronicle of Higher Education_, the _New York Times_, and the _Wall Street Journal_.  

**Number of Pages:** 240

**Dimensions:** 0.7 x 9.1 x 6.1 IN

**Publication Date:** May 01, 2015

## Details

- **Price:** 43.99 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 43.99 USD | In stock |

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- Power of Ideals: The Real Story of Moral Choice - Hardcover

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