Creating The Good Life

In this Great Books approach to self-help, business writer and researcher James O`Toole applies Aristotle`s basic principles to the conduct of everyday life, finding the ancient Greek philosopher still relevant--indeed more relevant than many of the self-help gurus who sell books and tapes and make appearances in today`s agora, the television talk-show stage. O`Toole first provides a basic intro to Aristotle, identifying key processes (such as questioning) and topics. He develops his argument using examples from modern life: Larry Ellison of Oracle, Rudolph Giuliani, Michael Jordan, and others. He identifies areas where Aristotle can be helpful, acknowledging possible difficulties but showing how even the difficulties are instructive. The American pursuit of happiness, says O`Toole, falls within Aristotle`s philosophy, if phrased properly--not as the selfish happiness of today`s self-help industry, but the deeper happiness that comes from first becoming aware of others. But it is in the second section, where he looks at another aspect of Aristotle, that O`Toole takes off. O`Toole draws on his special area of expertise: leadership. He describes what the Aristotelian workplace would look like, as he makes a distinction between developing employees and merely training them. He considers the issue of just compensation, using the golden mean as his guide. And he deals with social responsibility and the commitment to the community, using the examples of the Rockefellers and Carnegies. Looking at the issue of the aging workforce, he argues the need for continual renewal as a way to live a good, and long, life. Ultimately, O`Toole sees Aristotle as modern, relevant, personally useful, and socially responsible. The issues of today are the issues of yesterday, and the classics speak truths beyond their own time. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.