‘Ask of Old Paths’ Wins Willard Book Award

The Martin Institute and the Dallas Willard Research Center at Westmont have given Grace Hamman’s “Ask of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Life” (Zondervan, 2025) the Dallas Willard Book Award for 2026.

“Ask of Old Paths” focuses on the ancient tradition of virtue language, called the Seven Capital Virtue Remedies. It uses pairs of medieval virtues and vices to help diagnose and address our need for character formation. For example, humility is the remedy for pride and love is the remedy for envy. 

“In a modern world that has forgotten how to help one another become good, Grace mines the ancient wisdom tradition for much-needed insights on how to put off vice and put on virtue,” says Steve Porter, senior research fellow and executive director of the Martin Institute.  

Hamman, who earned a doctorate in English at Duke University, will speak in Westmont chapel February 2027. She has also written “Jesus through Medieval Eyes” (Zondervan, 2023).

The Martin Institute and Dallas Willard Research Center, established at Westmont in 2011, assist Christian individuals and organizations in pursuing spiritual and moral transformation modeled after Christ. To honor Willard’s intellectual and spiritual legacy, the center also administers an annual book award program recognizing original literature focused on Christian character formation.