Humility: The Quiet Virtue

by Everett L. Worthington Jr.

Humility is a virtue that can be difficult to describe because of its paradoxical claiming authority about humility and claiming that one is humble both suggest a lack of humility. In  Humility , Everett L.Worthington Jr. seeks a way around this paradox by looking to people who are considered by others to be humble. He suggests people as Jesus, Siddhartha, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King Jr. He looks, too, at people whom he admires. He examines the characteristics of humility they share, and, in doing so, formulates a working understanding of humility. Science has made few attempts to measure humility,Worthington points out, but those few studies do give a different, but complementary, perspective on humility than the wisdom of the ages. Humility may not be a skill we can learn, but people can be inspired to be humble. "Great people—and ordinary people acting nobly—can inspire us," Worthington writes. "When we catch the spirit, we can transfer that spirit from ourselves to others." Quotations interspersed throughout the book reinforce the message that the unassuming virtue of humility transforms lives.

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Lukas Stock · Rating 1 out of 5]

I literally can’t think of a reason this booklet was produced or an end it fulfills.

[John Kaufmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Decent. Nothing to write home about. A quick read. Some good quotes.

[Nicholas Abraham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief, but helpful reflections on humility.

[Jacob · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a waste of the paper it was printed on.

[Overbooked ✎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars