A great introduction to the cardinal and theological virtues. I really appreciated the way that Arbo explores the similarities and distinctions between how the cardinal virtues were viewed by classical thinkers and how they were and are viewed by the Church.

This book feels like a much needed antidote to this modern shallow 'self-help', 'life hacks' culture. Instead of offering another set of shallow life hacks or leaning into the cultural obsession with hyper-individualism that tells us we can curate our own identities, Arbo invites us back to something much older and deeper.

He structures the book around a recovery of seven core virtues: the four cardinal virtues (prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice) and the three theological ones (faith, hope, and love) What makes his approach work so well is how effortlessly he weaves ancient classical philosophers like Aristotle and the Stoics together with Christian theology from heavyweights like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.

But he isn't just giving a dry history lesson. He argues that virtues aren't outdated relics, but "excellences of soul" that we desperately need to live a flourishing, meaningful life. One of the best aspects of the book is that Arbo strips away the idea that virtue is only about grand, heroic, or unattainable acts, Instead, he focuses on "ordinary virtue"—the quiet, daily habits that slowly shape our character.

Whether it's practicing intermittent fasting to build temperance or simply choosing not to interrupt someone in conversation to practice justice. He gives you practical, grounded starting points. He reminds us that we aren't just driven by pure rationality; our desires and appetites are incredibly powerful, and without intentional habits to tame them, we end up enslaved by them

This book is a beautiful reminder that the pursuit of character isn't a lonely, self-help project, but a communal journey rooted in God's grace that fundamentally repairs our social bonds.

if you're tired by the shallow end of modern advice and want a thoughtful, historically rooted guide to actually becoming a whole person, you should definitely pick this up.

I love how richly this book marries together orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Delving into the cardinal virtues of wisdom, temperance, fortitude, and justice and then caping them off with the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love, Matthew Arbo does a spectacular job in emphasizing the need for a right ordering of life. Imbued with prayers to open each chapter, readers are invited to consider how the God of order provides the ability to live a life that is in keeping with His character. This is a timeless volume that all Christians can benefit from, drawing inspiration from philosophical truths, classical teachings, and most importantly, the Bible.

In examining the origin of the cardinal and theological virtues and providing the case to Christians that this is the proper course of life, this book moves readers beyond sheer willpower to a grander calling and purpose. It pleads for believers to take the time and effort to exercise discipline when it comes to character formation. The Pursuit of Character will not only have you pondering what it means to exhibit the fruit of self-control and to exercise self-denial as part of the Christian walk, it will motivate you to pass this content on to the next generation. If you are looking for a thoughtful treatise on ordered and godly pursuits while expounding the value of a virtuous life, this is a book that should be on your bookshelf and in your hands.