The Soul of Civility

"Hudson’s willingness to take a profound idea and trace its application back for millennia is refreshing at a time of presentism, small thinking and spectacle . . . engaging and well-presented . . . We need more of this at the margin: both more civility and more books like this one."—Discourse

"A Humanist Manifesto of Our Times . . . thoughtful and morally serious."—Front Porch Republic

“Alexandra Hudson has written a remarkable book. The Soul of Civility unpacks the critical concept of civility, distinguishing it from mere politeness and explaining how it is as the core of our social life. It provides insight into writers and civilizations across time and space, and the ways that they are linked through this single idea. A worthwhile read.”—Francis Fukuyama, Stanford University

"Civility has become one of the most underrated ideas in contemporary America. Alexandra Hudson, in her elegant and articulate The Soul of Civility, is here to push it over the top once again."—Tyler Cowen, public intellectual, bestselling author, and founder of Marginal Revolution

"I need this book. And you do too."—Joel Stein, Los Angeles Times contributor and former Time columnist

"The world needs this book!”—Kim Scott, New York Times bestselling author of Radical Candor

"Alexandra Hudson's The Soul of Civility offers pearls of philosophical wisdom and engaging historical anecdotes all woven into a compelling argument for rediscovering the virtue of civility. Her exploration of the distinction between mere politeness and genuine civility, and the centrality of civility to human flourishing, couldn't be more timely or needed."—Donald Robertson, author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor

"In The Soul of Civility, Lexi Hudson, one of the most original thought-leaders of her generation, plumbs the depths of American and classical thought on the centrality of a robust civic community in nurturing the habits of pluralistic democracy. This book should be at the top of the reading list for anyone who is eager to reconnect with a vital part of our heritage, and to rediscover a proven path to renewing America's social institutions."—Don Eberly, author of Restoring the Good Society and America's Promise

"[The Soul of Civility] is a book that needs to be written, at a moment in American history marked by deepening rancor and polarization, and by growing challenges to traditional norms of decency and civility . . . [Hudson's] has the potential to influence public understanding of the compelling need for civil society in America."—George H. Nash, Ph.D., author of The Conservative Intellectual Movement Since 1945

"[Hudson] is a welcome voice of sanity and civility in an era of partisanship, panic, and pandemic. While most commentators are seeking to sow division during this time of cultural crisis, [Hudson] provides a hopeful vision for America’s future rooted in solidarity, neighborliness, and faith in our best traditions."—John A. Burtka, Executive Director & Acting Editor, The American Conservative

"We live in a divided moment where reasonable and clear thinking is urgently needed. Knowing that Alexandra Hudson is a leading voice in our public discourse and of her generation, I have hope for the future of our country."—Lee Hamilton, Democratic congressman from Indiana, founding board member of the National Institute for Civil Discourse

"Alexandra Hudson is a force of nature. Graceful in her prose and gracious in her spirit, she is the perfect author to tackle the topic of manners and civil society in our frequently ill-mannered and uncivil moment. She is a talented writer, an effective representative that will satisfy readers and play a vital role in a public conversation that is too often petty and mean."—Jim Antle, Editor, The Washington Examiner

“I love, love, love this book! It’s sure to be a classic in our time. Deeply researched, historically astute, and up to the minute in its relevance to the biggest challenges of our day."—Tom Morris, public philosopher and author of If Aristotle Ran General Motors

“An insightful and inspiring call to civility in our private and public lives, and an amazing tour of what the great thinkers of history have said on the topic. This history of civility is both cautionary and comforting—as is this powerful book!"—William J. Doherty, Ph.D., professor of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota, and co-founder of Braver Angels

"As face to face interactions have been replaced by digital interactions, incivility has exploded, with dire consequences for democracies. In this beautifully written and meditative book, Hudson shows us the treasure we are losing in civility, and how to regain it. She reaches back into history and up to a vision of human potential. Along the way, she touches your soul and inspires you to do better."—Jonathan Haidt, New York Times bestselling author and Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership, New York University

“Our dangerously divided times make civility easy to forget. But Alexandra Hudson's brilliant book—rich with wisdom, stories, and unrehearsed intellectual adventures—is here to make sure we remember."—Mónica Guzmán, author of I Never Thought of It That Way and Senior Fellow, Braver Angels

“This book should be widely read, widely understood—and its message taken to heart.”—Mitch Daniels, former Governor of Indiana

"Journalist Hudson debuts with an illuminating ode to civility . . . Hudson mines a wide range of sources, from Socrates to the epic of Gilgamesh to explore civility’s nuances and then calls for its revival in modern society . . . an enlightening reexamination of an often-overlooked virtue.”—Publishers Weekly