The Law of Small Things: Creating a Habit of Integrity in a Culture of Mistrust

“Stuart Brody's The Law of Small Things is an engaging study in contradiction. It is easily readable and full of real-life examples of truthfulness and values-driven action—or the lack thereof—and it raises challenging questions that cause us to reconsider our daily and unthinking habits of self-justification and self-deception. It calls us to a higher standard of integrity and consistency in our values and actions while it reassures us that the pursuit of this standard is an ongoing process, a journey, rather than an unwavering status achieved and held without continual effort. On the one hand, the standard for integrity Brody proffers may make us uncomfortable as it strips away our usual self-protective illusions; however, he encourages and supports us with his clear-eyed and pragmatic insistence on the need for practice to move toward integrity rather than simply sorting the wheat from the chaff or the good from the bad for all time. This is a book that inspires, threatens, and enables in equal measure, and for those reasons, it is well worth reading.”—Mary C. Gentile, PhD, author of Giving Voice to Values and Professor of Practice, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia “The idea that integrity can be learned is provocative. We tend to think that it is something you either have or don't. The Law of Small Things not only shows us that good behavior, or integrity, can be learned but gives us instruction on how to learn it. This book should be in the office of every elected official from city councils to the United States Senate. If we all practiced the lessons contained in this book, the political noise surrounding us would become a symphony of good manners, and we would all welcome a return to civility. This book is a step in that direction.”—Gene Terry, former Executive Director, Texas Association of Counties “The Law of Small Things offers an extremely sophisticated yet practical approach to repairing the tear in the social, ethical, and moral fabric of the United States and the world. The prophecy of Isaiah 5:20 says, ‘Woe unto them that call evil good, And good evil; That change darkness into light, And light into darkness; That change bitter into sweet, And sweet into bitter!' A more contemporary translation might be, ‘You are headed for trouble! You say wrong is right, darkness is light, and bitter is sweet.' Stuart discusses a doable, one-step-at-a-time approach that makes every little action count. He shows us how to slowly but surely reclaim spiritual strength to repair our moral, ethical, spiritual connection to the cosmic truth of the great traditions anchored in the Torah's Ten Speakings, the Buddhist Eightfold Path, and the Hindu Yamas and Niyamas. The book's release is perfectly timed to meet society's current needs.” —Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, MD, MD(H), DD“Mr. Brody finds in the ‘practice of small things' a way to ingrain within ourselves the most important values: integrity, authenticity, and good conscience. Recommended reading for anyone who aspires to enter the arena of public life or for those who want to live with a good feeling about the everyday decisions they make.” —Jonathan Rothschild, Mayor of Tucson“Stuart Brody defines integrity as the keeping of promises, clearly stated or implied. He then demonstrates how keeping our commitments is critical even in seemingly inconsequential situations with plenty of examples drawn from his political, personal, and consulting experience. Brody refuses to let readers off the hook, challenging us to keep our promises, both big and small.”—Craig Johnson, author of Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership and Professor Emeritus of Leadership Studies, George Fox University “This book is a must-read for anyone interested in personal transformation, corporate social responsibility, and national change. The reader is invited to become a soul-searching participant in an examination of his or her own moral choices, conveniences, and illusions. But Stu also poses a way through the thicket of self-interest to transform ourselves and our culture. Although most of the examples are drawn from the American experience, it is easy to see how they apply to all cultures. I intend to use it in my own courses in France.”—Paul Clermont, Teacher of Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility, ESCE International Business School, Lyon, France“It's been said that ethics is ‘obedience to the unenforceable.' But in this book, Brody shows us that the world of integrity does not need so much to be enforced as enticed. We need to practice the behaviors he outlines and build the skills of integrity like any other core competency. This book offers us tools to help us navigate the gauntlet of ethical issues and discern what is right for the many unique situations in which we find ourselves. The Law of Small Things helps us accomplish that big task.”—Paul Campbell, Director, Public Sector Group, UnitedHealthcare, and Adjunct Professor, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University Stu Brody's many years in government service and politics have provided him significant insights into the nature of trust in government, or, as we more often experience it, the ‘breakdown of trust' in government. Rather than simply condemning politicians, he has provided a more complex analysis of personal and public integrity and a long-term and p —