Do the Right Thing

“Life is about decisions; a good life is about ethical decisions. This book is how to achieve the good life.”
—LEON PANETTA ’60, J.D. ’63, COMMENTING ON THOMAS G. PLANTE’S BOOK DO THE RIGHT THING

In his book, Do the Right Thing: Living Ethically in an Unethical World (New Harbinger, 2004, $14.95) Thomas G. Plante, professor of psychology and director of the Center for Professional Development at SCU, explores how we make decisions and offers suggestions on how to do the right thing. Plante urges readers to use a system that considers integrity, competence, responsibility, respect, and concern when establishing a rationale for a decision. Plante also includes many anecdotes, exercises, and strategies to help readers better understand the approach.

“Life is about decisions; a good life is about ethical decisions. This book is how to achieve the good life,” said Leon Panetta ’60, J.D. ’63, former White House chief of staff and director of the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy.

Plante, who is a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Menlo Park, has taught classes in ethics at SCU and Stanford and conducts workshops in ethics for psychologists. He is the author of numerous books and professional articles, and he conducts research concerning religious faith and health outcomes, the psychological benefits of exercise, and psychological issues among Catholic clergy. Plante has been featured on CNN, PBS’s “News Hour With Jim Lehrer,” National Public Radio, and local television news shows as well as in national magazines and newspapers including Time, U.S. News and World Report, USA Today, and Newsweek.