University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
Keep Going
Book

Keep Going

The Art of Perseverance

Joseph M. Marshall
Sterling Publishing, 2006
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • For Beginners
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

In this parable, a young man grieving over the death of his father turns to his grandfather, Old Hawk, for answers. Old Hawk attempts to answer his grandson’s questions regarding life’s hardships and challenges through stories culled from the Lakota tradition and his own rich experiences. The book unfolds in his voice as he explains that, without grief and sadness, you cannot truly embrace joy – that is the natural give and take of life. Ultimately, your perseverance and will – the fortitude to take one more step when that step feels overwhelming – will get you through. This simple, spiritual text by Native American Joseph M. Marshall III is rhythmic and soothing in its prose, and inspiring in its content. It is a balm and a comfort. getAbstract suggests it to anyone seeking answers to life’s big questions and the wherewithal to “keep going.”

Summary

“Why is Life So Difficult?”

A young man named Jeremy was in agony over the death of his father. His turmoil caused him to question his beliefs. His search for answers brought him to his grandfather, Old Hawk, a Lakota Native American elder. He respected his grandfather’s wisdom, knowledge and strength. When he joined the old man in the shade of a cottonwood tree, he cried out in grief and confusion, “Grandpa, why is life so difficult?”

Old Hawk carefully considered the question and said, “In life, there is sadness as well as joy, losing as well as winning, falling as well as standing, hunger as well as plenty, badness as well as goodness. I do not say this to make you despair, but to teach you reality.”

If there were no darkness, how could you enjoy the light? If you never experienced sadness, could you truly appreciate times of joy? Without death, would humans have the capacity to embrace and be grateful for life? The key is to find the balance.

Remember that one emotion does not cancel out the other. The reality of joy does not eliminate the possibility of sadness. Although there always will be difficult times, the bad times also offer several gifts: ...

About the Author

Joseph Marshall III grew up on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He was a high school and university teacher, and now writes full-time. He wrote several nonfiction works, including The Lakota Way and The Journey of Crazy Horse, and is a technical adviser and actor.

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