Book Reviews
"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed." Francis Bacon (d. 1626)
Reviewed by
Darold Morgan
The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead
By David Callahan
Book Harcourt, Orlando: 2004, $14.
Frankly, here is a book guaranteed to make the reader profoundly depressed because it proposes that most Americans either cheat or take cheating very lightly. For students of Christian Ethics one must note quickly and forcefully that a major weakness of the book is the absence of any spiritual or biblical solutions, a position which ultimately is a major weakness for producing any positive solution in these sad behavioral patterns.
Spiritual renewal is urgently needed in many venues of American life. Here is a well-written and excellently researched book which reveals an engrained and disturbing practice of lying and cheating far more widespread than many believe it to be.
The author shares multiple current examples of cheating, which he defines as "the breaking of the rules to get ahead academically, professionally or financially" (14). The book is quite readable and enormously convincing, supporting the thesis that cheating is a huge problem in America (and elsewhere). You will find it in the corporate office, in public school classrooms, and all the way through graduate schools. In addition, cheating is prevalent in all levels of medicine, law offices, auto-repair shops, and Little League baseball. You will sadly find it in the multiple scandals related to professional athletics. One cannot ignore recent highly publicized stories about pharmaceutical company deceptions and lobbyists in state and national politics-sadly, these are simply the tip of the iceberg!
Illustrations abound in the "cooked books" at Enron, Xerox, World-Com, Tyco, Arthur Andersen, KPMG, and other corporations. The author also includes the prevalent problem of cheating on taxes, the prevailing epidemic of cheating in academia, the practice of down-loading music and films illegally, and the world wide problem of pirated DVDs.
Numerous reputable surveys are noted which confirm the enormity of our cheating culture. The author commends particularly the federal government for attempting to publicize, correct, and penalize violations, including insider-trading on Wall Street. A number of well-known and immensely wealthy members of the cheating corporate elite have been sent to prison, hopefully serving as a deterrent. Yet, in spite of these highly publicized responses, the trend seems to continue.
All of this evidence confirms what the author labels as "a profound moral crisis that reflects deep economic and social problems in American society" (13). Many Americans have rejected moral absolutes and are increasingly "inventing their own morality" (169), which adds to the belief that breaking the rules is no longer the problem it once was. The new rule is simply and tragically-"Cheat, but don`t get caught!"
The result from this tidal wave of cheating in all these levels of American life is a massive "fall of trust" (91). The author notes: "Sixty per cent of Americans now say that `you can`t be too careful in dealing with people.`" The old American handshake concluding an agreement went out decades ago. It is tragically sad that a person`s word is not enough anymore
This thought-provoking book ends with an appeal from the author for a rebirth of integrity and honesty. Though the practice of cheating is not new, the nation`s future stability depends upon a return to basic values of personal integrity and honesty. The author hopes that his writing and research will trigger a serious debate about these ominous trends. Left unchecked, increasing dishonesty plants the "seeds of destruction." The author dares to suggest that a dishonest and cheating culture will turn the United States into the chequered and controversial cultures of Brazil and Mexico.
Where does the recapturing of personal integrity and applied honesty begin? David Callahan wisely states that it must start with "teaching integrity to the young" (293). It includes honor codes in schools and businesses. Business schools must get serious about teaching ethics. Politicians from the president downward must resist the cheating mentality typified in the practices of lobbyists and the mesmerizing pressure of political contributions. All of this points to the absolute necessity of a new social contract which ultimately outlaws cheating.
Yet, the conclusions of the author are anything but optimistic. Sadly, the author does not propose religious faith or spiritual renewal as a basis for this new social contract. However, Callahan does propose a contract which spotlights an ancient but valued commandment-"Thou shalt not bear false witness."
