summary ofThe Road to CharacterBook by David Brooks

second KEY POINT

Why humility is so powerful

In the earlier days of people like George W. Bush, humility was well-practiced and adopted as a way of life. Throughout his presidential campaign, Bush consciously avoided excessive use of the word “I” because he believed it led to undue self-praise. But, things have changed, and there’s been a cultural shift veering away from humility and toward ego.When World War II ended in 1945, a special team took to the radio to spread humility. They accepted that their victory resulted not because they were better but because they were brave. In those days, the prevailing mindset was that even though they took pride in their accomplishments, they did not consider themselves superior to others. This mentality starkly contrasts with our contemporary world. A football player, for example, who makes a two-yard block on the pitch would roar in self-appraisal, beating his chest to say he’s the best. We are more concerned about showing off than embracing humility in the modern world.The quest for fame is the driving force propelling most of our everyday actions. When researchers asked a group of teenage girls if they would prefer to be Justin Bieber’s PA or the President of Harvard, 80% chose the first option. We have become obsessed with the paparazzi and the glamor of fame, often overlooking the bigger picture and seeing humility as a sign of weakness.The more we focus on ourselves and how other people see us, the more self-centered we can become. While narcissism might look bold on the outside, it often reveals that egoistic people are often fragile and conflicted within. In contrast, humble people are generally more confident in themselves because they see an extraordinary situation as ordinary.

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