Vainglory

Picture an actress strolling the Oscars red carpet, a pop star performing "Applause" for devoted fans at a sold-out concert, and a churchgoer dressed up and seated in the front pew on Sunday. Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung argues that these scenes share a root in vainglory, the craving for notice and approval, and that most of us carry some of it.

Modern culture has mostly lost track of this vice, even though it appeared on the original list of seven capital vices. DeYoung contends that it may be more dangerous now than it has ever been. The book follows vainglory from its ancient roots to the forms it takes today.

DeYoung offers a definition, illustrates it with examples from popular culture, and examines what drives it. She also looks at closely related failings, including hypocrisy and boasting, and shows how the vice can surface in many disguises.

Having shown how it operates, the book turns to remedies. It covers personal spiritual practices that help resist the pull toward self-display, along with communal practices that teach people how to receive recognition well.