Why It's Hard To Be Good

by Al Gini

In a series of brief chapters, Al Gini lays out ideas for 'stepping out of the shadow of the self' - an argument for stopping thinking of yourself as the centre of the universe. It's hard to be good, he explains, until we realize that being good only has meaning in relation to other people. Ideas of justice, fairness, and ethical behavior are just that - abstract ideas - until they are put into action with regard to people outside ourselves.

We may worry too much about good versus evil - big concepts that give us plenty of room to sit on the right side of the equation, he argues. Instead, we need to be thinking about how being good involves an active relationship toward others. Being good all by yourself may not be good enough. This warm and generous book is for anyone who wants to know how to use ethical thinking as way to live, work, and be with others.

Genres: Philosophy

252 pages, Hardcover

First published December 12, 2005

Reviews

[Sarbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://sarbook.com/product/351741
چرا خوب بودن دشوار است؟ نام اثری است از ال جینی که سپیده معتمدی آن را به زبان فارسی برگردانده است، این اثر در سال 1396 توسط انتشارات آسمان خیال در کشور به چاپ رسیده است.
درستکار بودن برای انسان­ها کاری است دشوار، چرا که در جریان سعی و تلاش برای درستکار بودن به این نقطه خواهند رسید که باید برای درستکار شدن از سایه خود بیرون بیایند، به بیان دیگر یعنی در تعامل و رابطه با دیگران باید از مصالح، منافع شخصی و خصوصی خود کمی دور شوند و به منافع دیگران نیز توجه بیشتری داشته باشند.

[Nicholas Kulesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read this for master's, but it's an excellent reminder that we can't coop ourselves up in our comfort zone with our little echo chambers of social media and expect to remain cultured, socially aware, and kind. It's all too easy to fall down the slippery slope of hatred and manipulation when you forget that others exist and their frames of references and experiences are just as valid and important as your own. Nothing revolutionary, just good to be reminded.

[Johnathon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps the author has written good books on these topics before, but this was a short collection of essays that haven't even aged well. Lots of stats from the 1990s, for example, and little vision as to how ethics would influence the world going forward. Perhaps this was a faculty requirement for the guy. Despite the great title and cover...avoid.

[Jacqueline Manchester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Business Ethics Bk 5 - interesting content, more deep with the philosophy and at times was a lot to digest/understand from topic to topic.

[Rohit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author's explanations, examples and references are very simple but profound. He covered many things including Ethics, Narcissism, Bystander, Culture, Media, Workplace, Play, Power, Sex, Death etc. Till the books end we think we are looking at these all different topics but at the end he has cleverly tried to unify them. Author started book with something different for layman but the topics covered in book are pretty common in philosophy. Nevertheless, he tried to explain many different things considering vast audience and that is an achievement.

[Christopher Hurtado]

Why It's Hard to be Good by Al Gini (2007)