Back to Virtue by Peter Kreeft Summary
Overview of Back to Virtue
In "Back to Virtue," philosopher Peter Kreeft challenges our post-virtue culture with timeless wisdom. Where did we lose our moral compass? This compelling exploration reconnects ancient virtues with modern dilemmas, offering a revolutionary path forward that both religious and secular thinkers find surprisingly relevant.
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Key takeaways
When the Moral Compass Spins: Why We've Forgotten What Goodness Means
Here's a startling thought: What's worse than a pastor who abandons his family? A church that rewrites its own scriptures to say family abandonment is acceptable. The first is age-old hypocrisy-failing to live up to what you know is right. The second is something far more dangerous: losing the very concept of right and wrong. We're not just struggling to be good anymore; we've forgotten what "good" even means. This isn't melodrama. For the first time in human history, we've developed weapons capable of annihilating our species while simultaneously abandoning the moral framework that might prevent us from using them. Previous generations argued about how to interpret moral laws; we argue about whether moral laws exist at all. Ancient philosophers debated the path to virtue; we debate whether virtue is just a social construct. As poet W.H. Auden put it with chilling clarity: "We must love one another or die." The nuclear age has made virtue not just admirable but necessary for survival.
The Diagnosis: A Civilization That's Lost Its Soul
The Four Pillars: Virtues That Built Civilizations
Faith, Hope, and Love: The Life Beyond Human Reach
The Beatitudes: God's Roadmap to Unexpected Joy
Mercy and Peace: The Only Way Forward
The Choice Before Us: Survival Through Virtue
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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