In this stimulating and constructive book, the author argues that just as biologists are concerned with conditions under which creatures flour- ish, moral philosophers must be concerned with the conditions under which human beings flourish. James Wallace views human character as a complex in which virtues (such as courage) and vices (such as cowardice) are primary functioning elements. He sees virtues as those character traits that promote human flourishing, vices as traits that de- tract from it. He is especially concerned with three types of virtues- those affecting practical reasoning (restraint), commitment to social behavior (conscientiousness), and interpersonal relations (benevo- lence). Drawing effectively on a wide range of recent as well as clas- sical works of philosophy, Wallace also includes pertinent examples from literature. His book is essential reading for anyone who seeks to understand the Aristotelian turn in contemporary moral philosophy.