Standing for Something : 10 Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes

Rating:
Summary: A book or an author?
Review: It is interesting to find that those who didn't like the book, were in fact criticizing the author--with whom I'm sure they do not have a personal relationship. Those who disagree with the teachings of the church Hinckley belongs to will stop at nothing convince others of their own feelings--even review a harmless book by the church's leader. I find it petty and even arrogant.

The book itself is an easy read. I find it refreshing to read a book that espouses "old-fashioned" values that society seems to so casually discard. Indeed, if more people were to "Stand For Something"--anything at all, instead of blowing wherever the wind takes them, we would enjoy a much more responsible and respectful society. I applaud the author for sharing his stories and ideas with mainstream America.

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your money
Review: The sequel to this book will be by Osama bin Ladin titled "How I won the nobel peace prize." Standing for something is not what Mr. Hinckley has ever done in his life. He is all about his organization and what benefits it. "Lying for the lard" and careful ommisions of truth make this man a poor author for a book of this sort.

Ironically, I view favorably every single virtue listed in this book. But knowing where the author comes from gives him little credibility. On the bright side, with millions of zealots hanging on every word, perhaps the members of his church will actually heed his words and do what they always do, and ignore his actions.

Rating:
Summary: A SWEET, SIMPLE PLAN
Review: WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THIS BOOK? WHAT IS THERE TO ARGUE ABOUT OR TO CRITICIZE? IT ACTUALLY GOES TO THE VERY HEART OF THE MATTER. THIS IS NOT A DIFFICULT, COMPLEX ISSUE THAT PRESIDENT HINCKLEY IS LAYING OUT. TO MAKE IT SO WOULD VEER FROM THE TRUTH. I THINK THAT BY WRITING THIS BOOK PRESIDENT HINCKLEY IS ILLUSTRATING THE SIMPLICITY OF IT; MAKING PEOPLE READ AND FOCUS ON "CUTTING TO THE CHASE". THIS IS WHAT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO IN THE END AND I APPRECIATE HIS DIRECTION AND HIS REMINDER TO THE WORLD THAT IT'S AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, NOT JUST THE THEOLOGICAL SCHOLARS THAT ARE IN A PERPETUAL STATE OF CONFUSION AND DISBELIEF.

Rating:
Summary: The sheer audacity of this title is ironic
Review: The virtues listed in this book are indeed important, and the book's discussion of them is worthwhile (if mostly vapid). More on the content shortly, but first a brief aside...

The irony of the title is in the author's lack of credentials in practicing what he preaches. Would you read a book on marital fidelity authored by Jimmy Swaggert or Jim Bakker?

On various occasions when Mr. Hinckley was asked straightforward questions about basic Mormon doctrines (and history) by media reporters, instead of Standing For Them boldly and unambiguously, Hinckley stammered with embarassment, danced around the question and avoided giving a straight answer - trying to sweep those unsightly Mormon beliefs under the carpet... And then in General Conference (after the interviews had aired on TV, making him appear clueless), with a sly wink and a joke of "please don't think that I don't know our doctrines", Hinckley urged his followers to excuse his public cowardice & dissembling.

Stand for Something, indeed.

Combine that dishonesty with his continuing (but unsuccessful) attempts to censor and conceal embarrassing historical information, and his documented obstruction of justice in the notorious Hofmann-Salamander forgeries/murder case, and you wonder how this forked-tongue snake can sleep at night after having the audacity to include a chapter on Honesty (chapter 2).

Nevertheless, the subject matter of this book IS very worthy of promotion. If only the content therein could do it justice.

This book's puerile approach to examining virtues will likely disappoint any reader who has familiarity with philosophical ethics (Hinckley is soundbite fluff, compared to Kant). And the inspirational factor is far below what you'll find in books by spiritual leaders such as William Sloane Coffin or Thomas Merton or F. Forrester Church or the Dalai Lama.

But in fairness, the sort of puerile religion exemplified by Hinckley's book has always been the main thrust of Mormonism: "milk-before-meat" for the undiscriminating ethicist who never wishes to be weaned from shallow platitudes, black-white oversimplifications, and Pharisaic style purity codes that lack moral purpose but serve to achieve cultural separateness as a peculiar people. (Admittedly, Mormonism makes promises of doctrinal "meat" to come in the temple -- amounting to a few stolen Masonic rituals, secret handshakes and passwords to get into heaven, playing dress-up, insipid ceremonial symbolism, etc.)

So if a primer on superficial kindergarten-level morality is all you want from religion, then this book offers you plenty of straight lactose. But check it out at the library instead of buying it; neither the dishonest author nor his cult deserve your cash, until he finds the courage to 'Stand For Something' with straight answers when media reporters ask him simple doctrinal questions.

However, if you want a living example of a *real* Christian whose life embodies Standing For Something, then read John Shelby Spong's book 'Here I Stand', or a biography of William Sloane Coffin -- Hinckley could benefit greatly by learning from their courageous examples.

Rating:
Summary: Focusing on what what is important in a complex world
Review: This book makes its points clearly and concisely. Mr. Hinckley illustrates his points with many stories from his own experience and some borrowed anecdotes. He has organized the chapters into two parts. Each of the 10 virtues he discusses is given its own chapter in the first part. The second part has two essays: one on marriage and the other on the family. He has an epilogue that discusses the lonely position of moral leadership.

It is in this epilogue that the seemingly simple virtues discussed in the book are revealed for the difficult principles they actually are. People who say this book is simplistic or naïve can make that point somewhat persuasively until they understand that the author is fully aware of the massive difficulties we frail humans have in living up to these ideals in a complex and constantly changing world. We are so easily dissuaded from persisting in virtue and adopting an easier go-with-the-flow approach to life. We need the kind of reminder this book offers and I am glad to have read it and to refer to it in order to clear my vision and to refocus myself on doing what I should rather than what is easy.

The book has some notes that supply references for some of the information in the book and a helpful index.

Rating:
Summary: COMMON SENSE!!
Review: In our high-tech,highly sexualized society that seeks to constantly sell you something you don't need, it does take a very down to earth simple reminder sometimes. Many critics who blast Hinckley and this book would nay-say no matter what kind of book it was except maybe something like "I Admit It, The Whole Thing's a Lie" but don't expect that one any time soon! One of my favourite things about Hinckley is his statement to the effect of "either this church is true(critics worst fear)or it's the biggest lie ever pulled on humanity" (and boy is it growing!). Well believers and non-beleivers aside the morals expressed in this book are written for a lay audience in a way that everyone with a 6th grade education (most of the world hasn't gone to college) can understand. I think this is exactly what one should expect from a man who honestly wants to help human kind. Highly educated, self important liberal types who would like to see all of human kind dependent on centralized government, run by those same liberals, hate anything that seeks to empower and make poeple self relaint. Leaders who truly love those they serve want them to be accountable for the choices they make (it's what makes us stronger) and Hinckley is just demonstrating timeless priciples, which if society continues to ignore are going to be our fall (see Roman history). No one has a monopoly true priciples but, a man representing an organization full of them is really just doing his job. I hope my obviously biased (who isn't?) statements ruffle many feathers. I'm tired of seeing the same tired arguments and negative tripe from anti-mormons and religious biggots for every single book written in a good light about the church, or by an LDS author, ecspecialy Hinckely. Yes this book is not written about the church or in defence of it but these same principles are alot of the meat of LDS life. I'm sure I'm venting for alot of us.....