These essays provide richer set of writings on the philosophical, empirical and practical issues raised by a focus on character, and in particular its relationship to questions of opportunity. Each one is an intellectual pemmican: sharp and to the point. Two scholars draw attention to the gendered nature of character formation (Segal and Lexmond); others stress the importance of culture (Butler), social norms (Sawhill), and the impact of chronic stress in the early years (Thompson). Construction of a policy agenda for the cultivation of character poses a stark challenge to the partisan culture of contemporary politics (Erickson Hatalsky), but may also alleviate it, by reinvigorating community life (Dunkelman). The collection begins with an Introduction (Richard V. Reeves) and the following essays: (1) Skills and Scaffolding (James Heckman); (2) Character is Experience (Joseph Fishkin); (3) Free Will: The Missing Link Between Character and Opportunity (Martin E.P. Seligman); (4) Conscientiousness: A Primer (Brent Roberts); (5) Chronic Adversity Shapes Character (Ross Thompson); (6) Responsible Parenting: A Test of Character? (Isabel Sawhill); (7) Gendered Character (Jen Lexmond); (8) Women, Character and Competition (Carmit Segal); (9) Cultures Build Character (Stuart Butler); (10) Grit and Community (Mark Dunkelman); (11) Schools of Character (Dominic Randolph); (12) Morality Before Performance (Marvin Berkowitz); (13) Authority and Morality Build Character (Lawrence M. Mead); (14) We Need Empathy, Too (Amitai Etzioni); (15) Character Education: A Cautionary Note (Mike Rose); and (16) The Thorny Politics of Mobility (Lanae Erickson Hatalsky). [These essays were collected as part of the Character and Opportunity Project at the Center on Children and Families at Brookings.]