A message for the Early Readers of Glenn Martin’s ethics book

19 Feb 2020

I am ready to give you an update. In September/October 2019, I wrote the draft of a new book on ethics. I wanted to offer a fresh perspective on the subject and help people to see how they could understand ethics and apply it practically in their lives, despite all the obstacles and confusion that surround ethics today. And then I asked a number of people, including you, to read it and give me some feedback.

I thought the nature of the book deserved this kind of approach. In response, I received a great deal of feedback. It was very encouraging. For a start, it confirmed my conviction that the book would offer something of value to readers. But also, many of the comments caused me to do a lot of rethinking. There were some things I needed to make clearer, there were a few things that didn’t need to be there, and the flow of the argument could be improved.

Rewriting the book

I ended up substantially rewriting the book. It even has a new title: “A Foundation for Living Ethically”. I liked the original title, “The Bigger Picture”, but it didn’t capture the purpose of the book strongly enough. The new title says exactly what I want people to understand the book to be, an unapologetic statement of how you can live ethically. In saying that, it is likewise a call to people to take up the challenge – to live ethically in a world that may be the most cynical that has ever been known!

I want to thank you all for the feedback I received. I didn’t receive feedback from everyone, but even then I understood that you were at least saying that what I was attempting to do was a worthwhile project. I recognise that it’s a tall order to read a non-fiction book about ethics. Personally, I have thought about ethics in times of crisis, and what I have written about ethics has had its origins in crisis situations. It’s easier to read about ethics then – it answers an immediate need. From the comments many people made, I know I have articulated a foundation for ethics that would serve in times of crisis.

I especially want to thank the people who gave me substantial feedback. As I’ve said, that fuelled a deep rethink of the book. I very much appreciated your comments – you see, it is no accident that the core of the five human values is appreciation! I hope that the new version of the book is clearer and stronger. I think it is.

Particular changes

There are particular things that came out of the comments, for example, I have now included endnotes with references. I have produced an index. I did away with the images at the beginning of each session – they were more problematic than they were worth. I gave names to G and P – Glenn (obviously) and Prudence. Prudence is a value, so it seemed very appropriate. I removed some material I considered to be difficult and unnecessary. I added some blunt, topical material, for example, a reference to the Royal Commission on Banking – the travesty of “fees for no service”.

Despite the reference to banks, I have reduced the emphasis on ethics in organisations; the real work of this book is to establish a personal basis for ethics that the reader can then apply to various contexts and issues. I have also shifted the language from ‘rules’ to ‘principles’ and ‘values’.

Current status

Where am I up to now? I have finished the revised book. I have reworked the content to the point where I am satisfied. I have proofread it multiple times. I have polished the commas and the sentences and I have added some new diagrams. I have ordered copies of the paperback version, and I have created an ebook version.

There is an Acknowledgments section in the book, and I have mentioned you in there. At a later stage, after you have had a chance to read the revised book, it would be good if I could get a comment from you about the book that I could use in promoting it.

I have started to think about a book launch in Sydney. I also recognise that this is a book that needs me to talk about it publicly. These ideas about ethics are fundamental to thinking about anything, for example, anything to do with doing business or working in an organisation, or thinking about climate change, relationships or caring for the natural world. And they give you a foundation for living with integrity, peace and strength.

So, just to let you know, I am available to speak about the ideas in the book.

A copy of the book

I said that I would give you a copy of the book in whichever format you wanted – paperback or ebook (epub file). So that I can make good on that promise, please let me know which format you would prefer, and I will send it to you. Let me know by email.

I still have to envisage and organise a book launch. I will let you know the details about that.

In the meantime, I invite you to peruse my (new) website: www.glennmartin.com.au

Book description

This is the description of the revised book:

A Foundation for Living Ethically presents a distinctive approach to ethics for use as a practical companion for living, in personal, social, professional and business contexts. It provides a perspective on the nature of persons that leads to a foundation of five core human values. This is combined with a definition of ethics from Albert Schweitzer, couched in terms of consideration for the well-being of others and the natural world.

The book is presented as a series of conversations between two people, in which they discuss the fundamental questions about ethics, such as why people behave unethically, and why they behave ethically. What is the relationship between ethics and success? Between ethics and happiness?

The author is not out to prove that this approach is true; rather, his framework is intended to be both plausible and helpful. He maintains that, in a difficult world, it is worthwhile to seek to live ethically.

Thank you. Enjoy.

Reply to Glenn at glennpmartin@optusnet.com.au