Author Dwight Johnson, with his book The Ethical Coach
Leader, presents the common point that ethics are an increasing concern in many
sectors of America, such as business and education, whose values have been
criticized. He questions whether textbooks and classes are necessary to
understand ethics, and promises this book to be easy to read, being fiction
with hypothetical universal application. The chief storyline centers on a
college coach whose star player has flunked a steroid test, which puts him into
an ethical dilemma, and has several supernatural encounters during a few
restless nights of slumber.
The primary inspiration for Johnson’s novel comes from
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, where the coach receives visits from five
specters: the Ghost of Example, who reminds the coach of his many past mentors;
the Ghost of Education, who brings the coach back to his university days where
he had an opportunity to help a friend in need, but failed; the Ghost of
Experience, who brings the coach back to his school days when he had a chance
to help a fellow student with alcohol problems; the Ghost of E-information, who
provides the coach an opportunity to spiritually Google a solution of what to
do with his star athlete; and the Ghost of Environment, who tells of the
cultural and social forces in the coach’s life.
A sixth apparition known as the Ghost of Introspection
oversees the coach’s ghostly visitations, and provides occasional asides at the
beginning of a few of the latter chapters. Throughout the text there are also
occasional illustrations and diagrams visualizing ethics. Overall, this is an
enjoyable parable that makes good points about ethics, even if it derives its
supernatural aspect from the work of Charles Dickens. It is very much
recommended to those who face various ethical dilemmas, and is enjoyable by
both youths and adults, both who will likely gain something from the literary
experience.
Dwight Johnson resides in Colorado Springs where he works at the United States Air Force Academy. He is a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel who was a Squadron Commander three times and a Division Chief twice. He also served as the Department Head of Services at the Air Force Institute of Technology, where he taught Customer Service and Total Quality Service.
In 2012, Dwight was awarded the General Billy J Boles Mentorship Award for the Air Force Academy for mentoring cadets.
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