The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council

by Kent M. Keith

This edition of The Silent Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council is a 2003 reprint of the original classic that was first published by Harvard Student Agencies in 1968. This is the book for which Kent Keith wrote the Paradoxical Commandments, which subsequently spread around the world and have been used by millions of people, including Mother Teresa. Keith was 19, a sophomore at Harvard, when he wrote the book as a leadership manual for high school student leaders. Writing during the turbulent sixties, Keith encouraged student leaders to work together, through the system, to achieve positive, lasting change. He said that student councils can, and should, make a difference in their schools. He explained the need to love people and do what is meaningful and satisfying whether you get credit or not. He used hypothetical stories to describe practical leadership skills and dilemmas; argued that the "good guys" can win; and urged students to take action now. "Don't vegetate," he said. "Initiate."

Paperback

Published January 1, 2003

About the author

Kent M. Keith was born in New York and studied at Harvard, Oxford University, Waseda University in Tokyo, the University of Hawaii and the University of Southern California. He is a Rhodes Scholar.

Dr. Keith is known nationally and internationally as the author of the Paradoxical Commandments, which he wrote and published in 1968 in a booklet for student leaders entitled, The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council . His books, "Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments," "Do It Anyway: The Handbook for Finding Personal Meaning and Deep Happiness in a Crazy World" and " Jesus Did It Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments for Christians" discuss these concepts.

Dr. Keith practiced law and worked for the State of Hawaii Department of Planning and Economic Development. For six years he served as President of Chaminade University of Honolulu, and for five and a half years he was Senior Vice President for Development & Communications for the YMCA of Honolulu. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership. He is the author

Reviews

[David Geschke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book. Extremely well written. Only reason I didn’t give it five stars is there’s a lot about student council stuff in there - not super relatable to me, but even in that regard, what he writes about can apply to any group you’re involved with. The first half of the book is pure gold. Short, easy read. Highly recommended.