Humility By John Wilkinson Summary

From a historic perspective, author, John Dickson offers his readers a straightforward. attempt to describe the importance of humility for contemporary life, love, and leadership and to outline it's real benefits (Dickson,19). He goes on to points us to why he feels it is important to analyze the subject of humility from this historical perspective. He says, " The reader of history is the ultimate pollster, canvassing the opinion of the entire human family" (Dickson, 18). He makes a simple thesis statement: the most influential and inspiring people are often marked by humility (Dickson, 19). He then shares his aim for writing this book, to convince readers of the logic, beauty, and benefits of the ancient virtue of humilitas (Dickson, 29). Next, Dickson issues a

disclaimer, and immediately disqualifies himself as being someone who should even write such a book, saying, " I do not claim to have attained humility." Lastly, he says that he has thought long and about it, and testifies as to the anesthetic qualities and practical benefits. This book unpacks both (Dickson, 14). He begins his description with the two uses of the word humilitas, which is Latin for humility. The first, has negative connotations and was used mostly during the first century, means "low", as in low to the ground. This derogatory usage means to be put low, that is "to be humiliated." This applies to how one is to feel and behave towards those in higher positions than us. While the second interpretation of the word humility has positive overtones and means to lower yourself or to be humble. This applies to not just higher ups, but peers and those in lower positions than us. Throughout the book, the author defines humility as being the noble choice to forgo your status, deploy your resources or use your influence for the good of others before yourself. It's simply a willingness to hold power in service to others (Dickson, 24). The positive assertion of the word gained it's popularity following the advent and example of Jesus Christ, who by way of His execution, changed our perception of what it is to be humble (Dickson, 105). The shameful place now a place of honour, the low point is now the high point (Dickson, 109). Dickson's goes on to cite three key thoughts to this definition. First, humility presupposes your dignity. The humble are not marked by low self esteem. In fact, one cannot be without a healthy sense of your own worth and abilities.

The second is that humility is willing. If humility is not a choice, it's humiliation. Finally, the author says that humility is social, not a private act of self depreciation. It's about redirecting your powers for the sake of others (Dickson, 25). Dickson sets about proving his thesis statement by refining it, and suggested that humility, rightly understood, has often marked the most influential and inspiring people in history's. He personifies humility in our minds by using the lives, words, and acts of history's most prolific religious leaders, like Gandhi, scholars, like Martin Hegelur and Professor Richard Bauckham athletes, such as boxing legend, Joe Louis, and Argentine soccer great, Diego Maradona, social activists, like philosophers, like Aristotle, musicians, that included the rock band, U2. He used his encounter with a group of indigenous aboriginal musicians to explain what he calls, forced humilitas. The author goes on by illustration of the fact that humility is logical, beautiful, and beneficial for life, love, and leadership. Humility is logical because it is common sense. He reminds us of the sensibility of our admitting that what we know weighs so little against what

we don't know. He issues a warning against falling into competency extrapolation. Dickson shows off the beauty of humility in the lives of Sir Edmond Hillary and Albert Schweitzer. The author helps us see that when humility is sincere, it makes the great even greater. Humility adorns them.
Humility leads to new knowledge and methods, it generates learning and growth, fosters knowledge, making it highly beneficial to those who exhibit this virtue. But for the truly humble, this virtue is it's own reward. Dickson concludes his tribute to this most intriguing of all virtues by leaving us steps toward making it possible for us to become more humble. He reminds us that we are shaped by what we love and what we admire, telling us to reflect on the lives of the humble, conduct thought experiment to enhance humility, and to simply act humbly( Dickson, 44-178).