The Way of Integrity Book Summary - The Way of Integrity Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

The Way of Integrity summary

Martha Beck

Finding the Path to Your True Self

4.3 (301 ratings)
21 mins
Table of Contents

    The Way of Integrity
    Summary of 5 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 5

    Integrity means being at one with your deepest, truest self – and it’s the antidote to suffering.

    Think about your life. Maybe you have an OK job, OK relationships, and an OK sense of purpose. So maybe your life isn’t perfect – but whose is? Honestly, you’re fine.

    Now think about how you feel. Does a sense of anxiety, discomfort, or disappointment lurk in your mind? Maybe you tend to dwell on things that didn’t work out or doubt that future dreams will ever come true. Emotionally, you might feel sad, grumpy, or numb; physically, you have no energy; and mentally, you can’t seem to focus. Still, honestly, you’re fine!

    But are you, really? And what if, for that matter, fine isn’t enough? Maybe you suspect there’s more out there – more love, more meaning, more happiness.

    This is where integrity comes in.

    The key message here is: Integrity means being at one with your deepest, truest self – and it’s the antidote to suffering.

    Today’s use of the word integrity has taken on a somewhat judgmental tone, but it just means intact, from the Latin integer. Being “in integrity” means being whole and undivided. When a plane has integrity, its many parts work together to make it glide smoothly through the sky. But if it loses integrity, it could stall or crash. That’s not about judgment – just physics.

    It’s the same in everyday life. To satisfy social standards, you may often ignore or negate your true feelings, becoming unhappy, unproductive, and sick in the process. When you act in ways that don’t resonate at your deepest level, you suffer because you’re out of sync with yourself. In other words, you’re out of integrity.

    Conversely, when your body, mind, heart, and soul are totally aligned, your daily work absorbs you. You love being around your friends, and you experience the most refreshing sleep. Waking up is wonderful because you can’t wait to experience the day ahead. Life, like the intact plane, is smooth sailing.

    Maybe you’re rolling your eyes right now and thinking this is a lot of flapdoodle. But maybe you’re also wondering whether such a fulfilling life could exist – and maybe you’d like to discover these levels of joy and purpose.

    These blinks reveal a way out of suffering that traces Dante’s journey through the stages of The Divine Comedy – a work the author considers a powerful set of instructions for healing psychological wounds and restoring integrity. First up? The Dark Wood of Error.

     

    Want to see all full key ideas from The Way of Integrity?

    Key ideas in The Way of Integrity

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is The Way of Integrity about?

    The Way of Integrity (2021) is a four-stage process to finding integrity – a quality that can alleviate the suffering caused by harmful autopilot actions and beliefs. In reconnecting to what makes you feel whole, you’ll achieve a sense of purpose, emotional healing, and mental well-being.

    Who should read The Way of Integrity?

    • People who feel unhappy but aren’t sure why
    • Disconnected individuals who want to improve their relationships
    • Anyone seeking more joy and purpose in their life

    About the Author

    Martha Beck is a best-selling author, life coach, and speaker whose specialty is helping people attain personal and professional success. She has written numerous books and is a regular contributor to magazine. She has a PhD in sociology from Harvard. 

    Categories with The Way of Integrity

    Books like The Way of Integrity

    People ❤️ Blinkist
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked

    Start growing with Blinkist now
    28 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    91%
    Of Blinkist members create a better reading habit*
    *Based on survey data from Blinkist customers
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial