Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments: Finding Personal Meaning in a Crazy World

asked by perfectstorm on October 30, 2006 9:07 AM

As the story goes, author Kent M. Keith was a sophomore at Harvard University in the 1960s when he first wrote "The Paradoxical Commandments," a manifesto about doing good in a crazy, ungrateful world. These commandments are the basis of his repackaged and expanded book Anyway. Since his Harvard days, Keith's commandments have taken on a life of their own. They have been quoted by the Boy Scouts of America and written on inspirational office memos, classroom handouts, and Internet sites around the world. They have even been discovered in Mother Teresa's children's home in Calcutta. Now Keith has stepped forward to explain his commandments and speak to his credo for doing "the right thing." Readers will probably recognize the commandments:

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

No doubt about it--these are provocative and encouraging statements, reminding us that there are no guarantees or tangible rewards for doing good in the world. Each commandment gets its own chapter, where Keith elaborates on the theme with personal anecdotes, famous stories, and advice. Though Keith is obviously a gifted and wise leader, the words and explanations surrounding each commandment often feel like overkill. As in Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, these guidelines ultimately make a better poster than a book. Even so, fans of the original "Paradoxical Commandments" will certainly enjoy meeting the voice and integrity of the man behind the words. --Gail Hudson

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Reviews

I heard the poem over twenty years ago. I continue to here it in that context. Have since read the book "Anyways" as an individual and now hear both the writer and me. Reading it again with a small group, along with Scripture and people sharing life experiences and it is like seeing a new wider circle.

reviewed by alec on October 31, 2006 8:33 PM

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This book was first given to me by the widow of the superintendant of the school district that i graduated from. Our superintendant was the most dedicated and gifted educator that you could ever know. At our graduation ceremony he would always read the 10 paradoxical comandments to the graduating class before we received our diplomas. At the time it seemed like just a nice thing to say and offered some inspiring words as we all moved on to the real world. Now that i am a teacher myself the words of this book take on a whole new meaning and i pass these words on to any of my students that are thinking about becoming educators themselves. This book has a lot of personal meaning to me because of the close relationship that i had with my former superintendant, but the book itself goes far beyond that, and i can easily see how these words became the montra for one of the greatest and most dedicated educators that i have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

reviewed by stonefox on November 20, 2006 6:06 AM

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This is the amazing story of "The Paradoxical Commandments", first written by Kent Keith back in college (I just have to say that I admire the soul & mind who could understand such a concept at that young age!!!).

Well, these commandments wound up having a life of their own, and many years later, the author found out that his poem had actually been hung on a wall, on the other side of the earth, by none other than Mother Theresa. However, although this poem was being read by people all over the world, no one knew that Mr. Keith was the author - he found that it had been considered anonymous.

There is much more to this story, but I don't want to ruin it for you - suffice it to say that it's a wonderful, insightful book! I also loved that included within the book is the poem on a frameable card - so you can hang it on your own wall, or keep it with you in your purse. I can't think of any better reminder in these stressful days that regardless of what anyone does, says, thinks, etc... we need to learn to LOVE THEM ANYWAY!

reviewed by miceandmen on November 29, 2006 2:02 AM

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It seemed I almost accidentally stumbled across The Paradoxical Commandments of Keith M. Kent after facing a tough time of unemployment. That was nearly 22 years ago way before he ever dreamed of writing this book. Now I realize why those particular commandments that I read in "Anyway" seemed to jump right off of the page and speak to me. It's because they are full of ancient truths and wisdom that makes our heart talk. Each chapter from the beginning to the end is rich in ideas and content every reader can appreciate. Although you can sense that Keith has a deep spiritual commitment you never feel threatened by his conviction or his passion for things rooted deeply in faith. Keith would be proud to know that I still have my one pager of paradoxical commandments and now having a matching book written by him makes the two inseparable. I highly recommend that you Buy It "Anyway". It's a short read for even a slow reader like me. I read the book in about an hour and 20 minutes and Keith's writing style kept my attention plus my interest. I just really hated to put it down...so I didn't and I'm sure you won't.

reviewed by bulldogs on November 29, 2006 3:16 PM

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It all started for us when we were traveling by train in China. People were huddling late one evening beside an open fire just trying to stay warm - their home, a garbage dump. How could we possibly help? The Paradoxical Commandments became our guide as we work to make a difference. Dr. Keith shares some practical advice on how we can put our thoughts and words into action. The world would be a much better place if we simply followed the princples of "doing it anyway". An easy read? Yes. Will it make a difference in your life and lives of others? Absolutely.

reviewed by jbritt on November 29, 2006 6:48 PM

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add a new book!