Canadian Philosophical Reviews: August 1995, reviewed by Timo Airaksinen

“[T]he merits of this book are many.  [Boonin’s] arguments are always very clear, he refers to all of Hobbes’s writings (including the scientific texts), he discusses and convincingly criticizes a large number of well-known interpretations, and presents his own, challenging thesis.”

Ethics: July 1996, reviewed by Rosamond Rhodes

“The truly illuminating feature of [Boonin’s] argument is his demonstration of the importance of virtue in Hobbes’s theory. . . .  For all who have read Hobbes and overlooked his emphasis on virtue, and even for those who have noticed it to some extent . . . or recognized the related importance of education in his theory . . . [Boonin] has rendered us an important service by presenting an extended, detailed, and well-supported argument for acknowledging the importance of virtue in Hobbes’s theory.”

Philosophical Quarterly: October, 1996, reviewed by Andrew Alexandra

“The picture of Hobbes’ philosophy suggested by [Boonin’s] interpretation seems to me both inherently more plausible and better textually supported than those of his competitors. . . . [He makes] a powerful case for understanding Hobbes as a virtue ethicist who makes human character rather than action the central concern of his moral theory. . . .  [Boonin’s] book itself manifests a variety of philosophical virtues.  It is perspicuously structured and clearly expressed.  It is informed by a broad knowledge of the full sweep of Hobbes’ own writings, and those of his commentators. Most importantly, it is argumentatively strong and philosophically suggestive.  It will be of value to all who are interested in Hobbes; moral and political philosophy.”

Mind: July, 2000, reviewed by Bernard Gert:

“[The book] presents an interpretation of Hobbes’s moral philosophy that is well supported by scholarly evidence even though it is significantly at odds with what has been the prevailing interpretation of Hobbes’s moral philosophy. . . .  Concerning almost all of the issues which [Boonin] does discuss in any detail, he makes his points clearly and forcefully. . . . [T]his book has significant value not only for those interested in Hobbes interpretation, but also for all those with a more general interest in moral theory.”