Last year, I read Sam Harris's "The Moral Landscape," which advanced a utilitarian definition of morality and argued that morality could be determined scientifically. Haidt takes a quite different approach, and it is one that makes quite a bit more sense.

This is a synthesis of behavioral psychology, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, and political science. I knew I was in for an interesting journey when, in an early chapter, he persuasively rejects my world view as "rationalist delusion."

No matter the reader's persuasion, liberal, conservative, or libertarian, Haidt will challenge your view and, if he is read carefully and with an open mind, will enable readers of all persuasions to understand that those at the opposite extreme are people of good will.

One of this book's great strengths is the clarity of the writing. Every important point is introduced in outline form, detailed in well written and easy to understand subparts, and summarized at the end of each chapter. The main points are introduced in the very beginning and recapped at the very end. And, there are catchy metaphors to assist in understanding and retaining each concept. T his is a very accessible book considering its subject matter, although I think that my appreciation of this was enhanced by my familiarity with many of the referenced works. A lot of this stuff has been "out there" in many books and articles that I have previously read, but it was put together very well.

This book will cause me to examine and re-examine many of my own beliefs for a long time to come. Not to worry, though. I'll still vote for Obama. But, I'm not going to think poorly of those who don't. And, I hope that many of them will read this book and not think as poorly of me.