It is hard for anyone to deny these days that the church and frankly the world (especially the west) is suffering from a crisis of character. It is into this circumstance that Wright presents his very timely book which is focused on defining what character is and how it is achieved. There is much to value in this text from a secular (non-churched) perspective but it is rooted firmly in a solid interpretation of the Bible.
If you are looking for a book along the lines of "the 10 steps to becoming a virtuous person" then you will be disappointed because Wright spends a significant amount of space disavowing the idea that one simply needs to "follow a set of rules" to be a virtuous person (when he speaks of character he means virtue and uses the terms interchangeably). The reverse of this is also true – anyone looking for something to justify a life lived according to intuition or gut-feeling will also be disappointed.
Ultimately Wright presents a Biblical roadmap for discipleship and sanctification. He stresses the importance of recognizing that character/virtue is developed as a discipline. It takes work but that work should be motivated by a life lived in anticipation of the coming together of Heaven and Earth and our roles as Kings and Priests (see Surprised By Hope for a deeper exposition on this theme).
There is much to be admired in this book and Wrigt provides many relevant examples to guide the reader to understanding what virtue is and how it is developed. I highly recommend the text for anyone who wants to learn what it means to be truly human and toward what goal we are designed for.
The book is an excellent pastoral resource and can be used as a foundation or significant part of a discipleship program. Wright produced the book with the secular world in mind as well…educators, employers and others who have a role in character development would do well to read this book and would certainly benefit.
Harnessing Chaos 