Choose Wisely: Practical Insights from Spiritual Traditions by Gary J. Boelhower is a handy paperback designed for decision-makers in the home, the classroom, and the boardroom. The author, a professor of theology, has come up with five core principles from major world's religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism). The first one is “Respect all persons.”

Respect: An Exploration by Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot turns this virtue around. Instead of emphasizing it as a debt due to people because of their attained or inherent position, Lawrence-Lightfoot reframes it as a virtue that engenders symmetry, empathy, and connection in human relationships. The author, an education professor, also provides six aspects of respect: empowerment, healing, dialogue, curiosity, self-respect, and attention.

Say Please, Say Thank You: The Respect We Owe One Another by Donald McCullough opens up a wide repertoire of practices that can serve as an antidote to the incivility of the times. These include upholding the standard of punctuality, waiting your turn in line, being generous with tips, respecting elders, valuing the property of others, and paying your debts. All of these practices have their grounding in the respect we owe others -- a value and virtue that is highlighted in all the world’s religions.