When the Good Life Goes Bad

Stacey M. Floyd-Thomas is the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University and has served as the executive director of both the Society of Christian Ethics, the Black Religious Scholars Group and is co-founder of the Society of Race, Ethnicity, and Religion. She has published ten books including Religion, Race, and COVID-19: Confronting White Supremacy in the Pandemic and The Altars Where We Worship: The Religious Significance of Popular Culture.

• Foreword by Michael Eric DysonPreface Introduction: "Oh Say Can You See?" The Good Life in Contemporary America 1. Experience of the Good Life: Lust as Pleasure without Conscience 2. Institution of the Good Life: Greed as Commerce without Morality 3. Myth of the Good Life: Sloth as Wealth without Work 4. Doctrine of the Good Life: Pride as Knowledge without Character 5. Material of the Good Life: Envy as Science without Humanity 6. Ritual of the Good Life: Gluttony as Worship without Sacrifice 7. Legality of the Good Life: Wrath as Politics without Principles Conclusion: Making Americans Better, If Not Good; Reconciling Ourselves to Virtue