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Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought
Can wisdom be understood, developed, and improved?
Does wisdom really underlie success, fulfillment, and happiness?
What are the characteristics and skills of wise individuals?
Can one be happier and more fulfilled by "loving wisdom"?
"Philos sophia" is ancient Greek for the love of wisdom, and is the precursor of modern philosophy and psychology. As a "lover of wisdom," author Jason Merchey brings a refreshing array of insightful and interesting quotations (and personal reflections) to this deep and wide investigation into the nature of wisdom.
WISDOM is a fascinating research-based yet personal take on that place where philosophy, psychology, well-being, personal growth, spirituality, politics, and American culture come together. It communicates: "This is what wisdom is; here is how it is useful for the author; within there is inspiration for how wisdom can be useful for the reader—and the United States as an ailing society." In 15 chapters many aspects, hallmarks, and components of wisdom are delved into. Well over fifteen-hundred quotations from an array of wise thinkers throughout history are brought to the fore. Examples of topics include: "Wisdom As Vision," "Open-Mindedness and Mental Flexibility," and "Developing Greater Wisdom." Certainly values such as free will, kindness, strength, critical thinking, and tolerance are discussed. The optimal end result is a unique, probing, and broad-minded look at what amounts to a somewhat complex, rather under-appreciated virtue. There is also some incisive commentary on the state of politics, attitudes, values, ethics, and wisdom in modern America, as well. WISDOM is for any open-minded reader who has an interest in self-improvement on an individual level, and in progressivism at a societal level. It tends to come across to a reader as secular, integrative, humanistic, humane, and philosophical/psychological in nature.
Does wisdom really underlie success, fulfillment, and happiness?
What are the characteristics and skills of wise individuals?
Can one be happier and more fulfilled by "loving wisdom"?
"Philos sophia" is ancient Greek for the love of wisdom, and is the precursor of modern philosophy and psychology. As a "lover of wisdom," author Jason Merchey brings a refreshing array of insightful and interesting quotations (and personal reflections) to this deep and wide investigation into the nature of wisdom.
WISDOM is a fascinating research-based yet personal take on that place where philosophy, psychology, well-being, personal growth, spirituality, politics, and American culture come together. It communicates: "This is what wisdom is; here is how it is useful for the author; within there is inspiration for how wisdom can be useful for the reader—and the United States as an ailing society." In 15 chapters many aspects, hallmarks, and components of wisdom are delved into. Well over fifteen-hundred quotations from an array of wise thinkers throughout history are brought to the fore. Examples of topics include: "Wisdom As Vision," "Open-Mindedness and Mental Flexibility," and "Developing Greater Wisdom." Certainly values such as free will, kindness, strength, critical thinking, and tolerance are discussed. The optimal end result is a unique, probing, and broad-minded look at what amounts to a somewhat complex, rather under-appreciated virtue. There is also some incisive commentary on the state of politics, attitudes, values, ethics, and wisdom in modern America, as well. WISDOM is for any open-minded reader who has an interest in self-improvement on an individual level, and in progressivism at a societal level. It tends to come across to a reader as secular, integrative, humanistic, humane, and philosophical/psychological in nature.
- GenresNonfiction
389 pages, Paperback
Published February 9, 2022
19 people are currently reading
2406 people want to read
About the author
Jason A. Merchey
3 books25 followersJason Merchey is a philosophical thinker and independent scholar as well as founder of Values of the Wise. Growing up Jewish in a suburb of Los Angeles, he grappled with sociocultural, familial, religious, and psychological issues that led to much of the insight he has today. After junior college, he earned a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in psychology and social behavior from the University of California Irvine, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa for excellence in liberal scholarship. Jason went on to earn a master’s degree in clinical psychology from California State University Fullerton. Having moved to San Diego, he obtained thousands hours of experience counseling clients of all types. It was in that capacity that Jason became intrigued by and began to study wisdom, values, and ethics. The Values of the Wise™ website (www.ValuesoftheWise.com) and book series were born as ways to lead not only himself but also his clients to find the insight, consolation, and wisdom from great quotations representing our intellectual heritage.
Jason is now primarily an investor of real estate, equities and the like. He publishes books in the area of wisdom, ethics, personal growth, philosophy, and psychology because he feels it can be helpful to people and to society, not because he is any good at making money from it!
Say hi at www.ValuesoftheWise.com where you will find many free tools to help you live a life of value.
Jason is now primarily an investor of real estate, equities and the like. He publishes books in the area of wisdom, ethics, personal growth, philosophy, and psychology because he feels it can be helpful to people and to society, not because he is any good at making money from it!
Say hi at www.ValuesoftheWise.com where you will find many free tools to help you live a life of value.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 28, 2022
Wisdom is a virtue that many wish to live by. To be described as wise gives you an advantage over others, as people appreciate your persona and thinking capabilities. In his book Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought, author Jason A. Merchey digs deep into the topic, discussing insights from neuroscience and individual traits in detail. Jason Merchey combines notes about philosophy, astuteness, and human nature. The author is well-read and gives historical references when discussing various matters.
Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought is an excellent book for readers that yearn to improve their intelligence quotient. There are gems in the book that will benefit you as a reader to make better decisions and approach issues logically. I enjoyed how the author paired subjects in relation to wisdom in each chapter. The book has fifteen chapters, with each chapter having discussions from different perspectives. You get to read and understand interesting topics like loving wisdom, living a life of value, intellectual humility, self-awareness, and self-discipline, among others.
This well-written book will also teach you about modesty and open-mindedness. Jason A. Merchey tackles the aspect of human behavior in relation to the vastly different characteristics human beings possess. The historical tales and comparisons between modern man vs. ancient man and modern philosophy vs. ancient philosophy were enlightening. The lessons in the book are valuable and will have you view life in a different light. They will guide readers in finding a life of value.
Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought has the end goal of guiding people to be better humans and build a society where everyone is free and lives comfortably. With eye-opening discussions, readers of philosophy and social sciences will appreciate the perspective the author brings. As the author says, you can not buy wisdom, but you can invest in yourself to gain wisdom.
Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought is an excellent book for readers that yearn to improve their intelligence quotient. There are gems in the book that will benefit you as a reader to make better decisions and approach issues logically. I enjoyed how the author paired subjects in relation to wisdom in each chapter. The book has fifteen chapters, with each chapter having discussions from different perspectives. You get to read and understand interesting topics like loving wisdom, living a life of value, intellectual humility, self-awareness, and self-discipline, among others.
This well-written book will also teach you about modesty and open-mindedness. Jason A. Merchey tackles the aspect of human behavior in relation to the vastly different characteristics human beings possess. The historical tales and comparisons between modern man vs. ancient man and modern philosophy vs. ancient philosophy were enlightening. The lessons in the book are valuable and will have you view life in a different light. They will guide readers in finding a life of value.
Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought has the end goal of guiding people to be better humans and build a society where everyone is free and lives comfortably. With eye-opening discussions, readers of philosophy and social sciences will appreciate the perspective the author brings. As the author says, you can not buy wisdom, but you can invest in yourself to gain wisdom.
March 9, 2022
Jason A. Merchey's Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue that Cannot Be Bought is an attempt to simplify a widely ignored and misunderstood concept. Wisdom is frequently dismissed as too philosophical and inaccessible to the average person. But isn’t it that difficult? Not at all. Jason Merchey is proving it to be otherwise. With devotion, it can be understood and internalized.
Wisdom is the skill that helps us to regulate our behaviors towards ourselves, others, and geopolitical issues in the world. The twenty-first-century generation particularly lacks this skill. They have made enormous improvements in terms of technology and science. But they are socially isolated, ignorant and unwise. This encourages the inherently destructive nature of humans and their toxic traits. Ignorant communities led by unwise leaders will surely lead to the misuse of power. Someone who doesn’t know when to show power and mercy will ultimately lead us to catastrophe. Hence, wisdom should be learnt and applied to our own existence.
What I liked most about this book is its clarity. The author used his rational and just views of the world to explain the concepts. This is a well-structured book that essentially shows the author's knowledge of this subject. Because writing on a topic that is difficult to define but necessary for survival necessitates a high level of comprehension. For a better understanding of the concepts, we can divide the book into two parts. In the first part, the author talks about wise qualities such as generosity, kindness, love, emotional regulation, intelligence, empathy, compassion, and modesty. This part is a treasure of knowledge. It clearly draws the line between what is wrong and what is right. The next part is about the applicability of wisdom. Gaining knowledge is one part. But how can we apply these lessons to our lives and achieve the most from our mere 100 years of existence? Life cannot be lived without patience, delayed gratification, self-awareness, and self-discipline. All these qualities stem from wisdom. It can be nurtured and practiced. Only this can lead us to fulfilment in our lives.
Wisdom gives a realistic perspective on all the things happening around us. It helps to articulate our decisions and actions. It creates a sense of responsibility and humility towards our actions. With these qualities, one can anticipate problems and act accordingly. This book should be approached with an open mind to learn and an unbiased view for understanding. With this attitude, we can easily assimilate the wisdom of ancient Greek philosophers to 21st-century thinkers. This vast knowledge is intimidating. But disregarding this opportunity will be the greatest regret of one’s life.
Wisdom is the skill that helps us to regulate our behaviors towards ourselves, others, and geopolitical issues in the world. The twenty-first-century generation particularly lacks this skill. They have made enormous improvements in terms of technology and science. But they are socially isolated, ignorant and unwise. This encourages the inherently destructive nature of humans and their toxic traits. Ignorant communities led by unwise leaders will surely lead to the misuse of power. Someone who doesn’t know when to show power and mercy will ultimately lead us to catastrophe. Hence, wisdom should be learnt and applied to our own existence.
What I liked most about this book is its clarity. The author used his rational and just views of the world to explain the concepts. This is a well-structured book that essentially shows the author's knowledge of this subject. Because writing on a topic that is difficult to define but necessary for survival necessitates a high level of comprehension. For a better understanding of the concepts, we can divide the book into two parts. In the first part, the author talks about wise qualities such as generosity, kindness, love, emotional regulation, intelligence, empathy, compassion, and modesty. This part is a treasure of knowledge. It clearly draws the line between what is wrong and what is right. The next part is about the applicability of wisdom. Gaining knowledge is one part. But how can we apply these lessons to our lives and achieve the most from our mere 100 years of existence? Life cannot be lived without patience, delayed gratification, self-awareness, and self-discipline. All these qualities stem from wisdom. It can be nurtured and practiced. Only this can lead us to fulfilment in our lives.
Wisdom gives a realistic perspective on all the things happening around us. It helps to articulate our decisions and actions. It creates a sense of responsibility and humility towards our actions. With these qualities, one can anticipate problems and act accordingly. This book should be approached with an open mind to learn and an unbiased view for understanding. With this attitude, we can easily assimilate the wisdom of ancient Greek philosophers to 21st-century thinkers. This vast knowledge is intimidating. But disregarding this opportunity will be the greatest regret of one’s life.
February 23, 2022
As a former librarian with a bachelor's degree in psychology (and who took philosophy classes for fun!), I found Jason Merchey's new book to be quite fascinating!
However, you don't need a degree in psychology or be a philosopher to receive the wealth this book has to offer. I would describe it as being at the crossroads between philosophy, psychology, and social commentary. It also possesses a twinge of self-help. The book tends to be more socially-politically liberal, which aligns with my belief system.
My favorite topics the book delves into are: insight and intuition, empathy, open-mindedness, and mental flexibility. I like how the book incorporated quotes from both contemporary and past thinkers, and described some interesting psychological research.
Wisdom is a subject we can all benefit from, and this is not a book to hoard but to pass on!
However, you don't need a degree in psychology or be a philosopher to receive the wealth this book has to offer. I would describe it as being at the crossroads between philosophy, psychology, and social commentary. It also possesses a twinge of self-help. The book tends to be more socially-politically liberal, which aligns with my belief system.
My favorite topics the book delves into are: insight and intuition, empathy, open-mindedness, and mental flexibility. I like how the book incorporated quotes from both contemporary and past thinkers, and described some interesting psychological research.
Wisdom is a subject we can all benefit from, and this is not a book to hoard but to pass on!
April 2, 2022
I appreciated the intellectual nature of this book, evidenced by the clear connections to psychological and ethical theories. I also enjoyed the explanations of biological contributors to wisdom through heredity and the influence of the dopaminergic pathways. The book successfully captured the multifaceted nature of wisdom and contextualized it to an American setting. Furthermore, I do truly believe this author attempted to portray open-mindedness in this book, but in this endeavor, he failed significantly.
The author’s underlying condescension was clear during his references to religion, as well as when he called a specific political party a cult and referred to various public figures as fools or creeps. Ironically, many of these references occurred in the chapter condemning immodesty and arrogance. Despite trying to frame this condescension as social criticism, and no matter how well-intentioned the comments were, the blatantly politically-fueled remarks distracted from the true purpose of the book. Additionally, the book didn’t feel very unique or creative. While the synopsis did mention that quotes would be included, there were so many quotes that the book felt more like a collection of work written by others rather than original material.
Overall, this book had promise but ultimately failed to provide an insightful, cohesive narrative of the nature of wisdom. I don’t recommend it.
*I received an ARC of this book. This is my complete and honest review.*
The author’s underlying condescension was clear during his references to religion, as well as when he called a specific political party a cult and referred to various public figures as fools or creeps. Ironically, many of these references occurred in the chapter condemning immodesty and arrogance. Despite trying to frame this condescension as social criticism, and no matter how well-intentioned the comments were, the blatantly politically-fueled remarks distracted from the true purpose of the book. Additionally, the book didn’t feel very unique or creative. While the synopsis did mention that quotes would be included, there were so many quotes that the book felt more like a collection of work written by others rather than original material.
Overall, this book had promise but ultimately failed to provide an insightful, cohesive narrative of the nature of wisdom. I don’t recommend it.
*I received an ARC of this book. This is my complete and honest review.*
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March 7, 2022A wide-ranging overview of the topic of Wisdom: Where does it come from? How does it impact daily lives of individuals and societies? What is the connection to other closely-related concepts (empathy, insight...)? The author cares a lot about what he sees as the current downfalls of society: politics, pandemic response, isolation, and the like. And he makes connections back into the wisdom conversation. The author also makes use of many quotes from thinkers across the ages. My assumption is that he's been collecting these quotes for years.
[I received a copy of the book from the publisher]
[I received a copy of the book from the publisher]
May 24, 2022
Wisdom by Jason Merchey asks some pivotal questions that encourage deep reflection of the reader in order to help them understand the world around them. The author posts some impressive credentials and certainly knows his stuff. I don’t think it is pitched at the average reader but is certainly something people should give a go.
Merchey asks some very interesting questions about what wisdom is, how it can be obtained, what its characteristics are, and how prevalent it is in society. It is laid out in a sensible manner and the flow from each subject shows a lot of care and detail. The author offers some valuable tips and practical advice to help each individual, some of which I will certainly take away and practice. It is human at its core and I liked how it made me think about self-awareness and self-discipline, and other traits I identified in myself that I can improve on. It is as much self-help as it is a deconstruction of the society we live in.
The subject is a little lofty for me, and although a lot of the examples were rooted in reality and had tangible subjects, I did find myself lost on occasion. This is by no means a criticism of the writing, which is clear and concise and conveys the message well, but is more a criticism of my inaccessibility to fully grasp the arguments presented to me. I think another swing at this book may help, however it is quite a large read and I don’t have the stomach for it just yet. I will aim to reread parts of it in the future, especially seeing how it changed my views on many political, economical, and social subjects that have arisen in recent years.
Merchey asks some very interesting questions about what wisdom is, how it can be obtained, what its characteristics are, and how prevalent it is in society. It is laid out in a sensible manner and the flow from each subject shows a lot of care and detail. The author offers some valuable tips and practical advice to help each individual, some of which I will certainly take away and practice. It is human at its core and I liked how it made me think about self-awareness and self-discipline, and other traits I identified in myself that I can improve on. It is as much self-help as it is a deconstruction of the society we live in.
The subject is a little lofty for me, and although a lot of the examples were rooted in reality and had tangible subjects, I did find myself lost on occasion. This is by no means a criticism of the writing, which is clear and concise and conveys the message well, but is more a criticism of my inaccessibility to fully grasp the arguments presented to me. I think another swing at this book may help, however it is quite a large read and I don’t have the stomach for it just yet. I will aim to reread parts of it in the future, especially seeing how it changed my views on many political, economical, and social subjects that have arisen in recent years.
June 14, 2022
Jason A. Merchey's Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought makes for a mostly interesting read.
It's style can be rather (as he himself puts it at one point) meandering, and largely consists of a conversational tour of many many quotes on wisdom and related studies somewhat loosely woven together into chapters with somewhat loose foci. This can be interesting in the attempts to interpret and apply some of these quotes, and there are some overall good ideas about wisdom and its value in both an individual life and in a society.
OTOH, while Merchey's examples and explorations lean into many different subjects, they tend to show some significant bias when dipping toward anything remotely political. (Especially when ranting on Republicans, vaccine dissensions, a misrepresentative strawmanning of libertarianism, and the odd spectacle that is Trump.) Some of these examples are certainly fair, and he does show some degree of balance at times, but too often these sorts of political references seem to dissolve much of his purported understanding of wisdom into the very tribalistic biases he recognizes wisdom should transcend.
On the whole, though, an interesting read, with some good (if meandering) perspective on what wisdom is and why we should value and pursue it.
It's style can be rather (as he himself puts it at one point) meandering, and largely consists of a conversational tour of many many quotes on wisdom and related studies somewhat loosely woven together into chapters with somewhat loose foci. This can be interesting in the attempts to interpret and apply some of these quotes, and there are some overall good ideas about wisdom and its value in both an individual life and in a society.
OTOH, while Merchey's examples and explorations lean into many different subjects, they tend to show some significant bias when dipping toward anything remotely political. (Especially when ranting on Republicans, vaccine dissensions, a misrepresentative strawmanning of libertarianism, and the odd spectacle that is Trump.) Some of these examples are certainly fair, and he does show some degree of balance at times, but too often these sorts of political references seem to dissolve much of his purported understanding of wisdom into the very tribalistic biases he recognizes wisdom should transcend.
On the whole, though, an interesting read, with some good (if meandering) perspective on what wisdom is and why we should value and pursue it.
May 2, 2022
"To know what you know and know what you don’t know is the characteristic of one who knows"--Confucius (courtesy of Jason Mercy)
A handful of the quotations shared in this volume would be worth the price of admission, and yet there are dozens and dozens of them . . . all in some way relating to the importance of thinking, reflecting, truth seeking, and living by worthy values. At his best, the author is simply a collector of and a guide to these quotations. Merchey is clearly well read and yet not one single time to you get the feeling he is flaunting his knowledge. Rather, he is so very genuine in his enthusiasm and his desire to share what he has learned with anyone who might bend an ear. He is perhaps less successful when he goes off on his own tangents, and even with the quotations themselves, it seems like on a number of occasions, five similar quotations are chosen when one—the strongest—might well have done the trick. But just because more is less here doesn’t mean that’s it’s not worthwhile to do a little mining for the gems Merchey has been generous enough to provide.
A handful of the quotations shared in this volume would be worth the price of admission, and yet there are dozens and dozens of them . . . all in some way relating to the importance of thinking, reflecting, truth seeking, and living by worthy values. At his best, the author is simply a collector of and a guide to these quotations. Merchey is clearly well read and yet not one single time to you get the feeling he is flaunting his knowledge. Rather, he is so very genuine in his enthusiasm and his desire to share what he has learned with anyone who might bend an ear. He is perhaps less successful when he goes off on his own tangents, and even with the quotations themselves, it seems like on a number of occasions, five similar quotations are chosen when one—the strongest—might well have done the trick. But just because more is less here doesn’t mean that’s it’s not worthwhile to do a little mining for the gems Merchey has been generous enough to provide.
August 13, 2022
The people in today's world do need more wisdom. I am aiming to find more wisdom that will eventually lead to more truth in this life. Too often we listen to the opinions of others and don't validate the wisdom in life that we need for ourselves. This book has some great quotes within it - if you used it only for the quotes it would be worth its weight in gold. While I don't subscribe to anyone political party, the author does draw some party lines within the context of this book. He points to both sides and the quarrelsome ways of todays hyper polarizing political climate. Despite the authors disdain for some a recent political figure and some of the news channel that often sung his praises, I enjoyed all aspects of this book. Because I look past party lines these days, I would encourage the reader to do the same, no matter what side of the aisle they sit on. The author certainly points to both sides in this great book. Definitely worth a read!
June 27, 2022
I was given a free copy of the book, Wisdom, by Jason Merchey via LibraryThing. This book is very thoroughly researched. While the supported facts were important to the book, I much preferred the section where the author wrote. Jason Merchey is a talented writer and I enjoyed reading his insight on the subject of wisdom. I also enjoyed the quotes that he included at the end of the chapters. They were very interesting. This book takes a little longer to read because of the subject matter and the references used. It was worth the time. It gave me a better understanding of wisdom. The quotes by various people are an added bonus.
May 27, 2022
I won this book through the Library Things early review program.
With that said I normally enjoy books of this genre and style; however, this book is written much like a college-level research essay with no limits on quotations. It is my best guess that 50 to 60 percent of the book is a quote or paraphrase. The little substance that is written wholly by the author seems very biased rather than neutral to the topic. Personally, I did not enjoy this book but I am sure there is an audience for it.
With that said I normally enjoy books of this genre and style; however, this book is written much like a college-level research essay with no limits on quotations. It is my best guess that 50 to 60 percent of the book is a quote or paraphrase. The little substance that is written wholly by the author seems very biased rather than neutral to the topic. Personally, I did not enjoy this book but I am sure there is an audience for it.
August 5, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. This is a thoroughly researched volume that defines and examines the concept of wisdom from multiple sides: philosophy, psychology, politics, American culture, etc. I enjoyed the in-depth look at wisdom through the eyes of the author, Jason Merchey, as well as the multiple, thoughtful quotes from various people (great thinkers, politicians, philosophers, etc) at the end of each chapter. Overall, it is a great read for anyone in pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement.
August 22, 2022
Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought is like reading a series of lessons that grandpa just never got around to telling me. It challenged the traditional ways of thinking and forces the reader to think outside of their box. I really liked all the quotes the author took the time to create. I also appreciated the time they took in sharing quotes from others. Very motivating and insightful overall.
March 20, 2022
I found this book out of my comfort zone and really hard to read.
This ARC was certainly not what I expected but the book was about wisdom and it was enlightening.
I was given this ARC & asked for my honest opinion.
I wasn't sure what rating to give this book before but have decided now
I recommend everyone read this book.
This ARC was certainly not what I expected but the book was about wisdom and it was enlightening.
I was given this ARC & asked for my honest opinion.
I wasn't sure what rating to give this book before but have decided now
I recommend everyone read this book.
March 29, 2022
I consider myself a lifelong learner and this book definitely supports my pursuit of that venture.
Jason Merchey has carefully thought out the approach to this book and the content shared in its pages.
I love the use and breadth of quotations throughout the book.
Merchey uses psychology, philosophy, and personal growth to touch on a variety of topics in great detail to challenge and encourage the reader's pursuit of wisdom.
I appreciate the depth of research that must have gone into writing this book and cannot recommend it enough - if you're a student of personal growth, this book is a must-read.
Jason Merchey has carefully thought out the approach to this book and the content shared in its pages.
I love the use and breadth of quotations throughout the book.
Merchey uses psychology, philosophy, and personal growth to touch on a variety of topics in great detail to challenge and encourage the reader's pursuit of wisdom.
I appreciate the depth of research that must have gone into writing this book and cannot recommend it enough - if you're a student of personal growth, this book is a must-read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews