Keep Going: The Art of Perseverance by Joseph M. Marshall III
In a world that often feels overwhelming, Keep Going: The Art of Perseverance by Joseph M. Marshall III offers a gentle yet powerful reminder: resilience is not just a trait, but a way of life. Drawing from Lakota wisdom and storytelling, Marshall crafts a deeply moving narrative that speaks to anyone who has faced hardship, loss, or uncertainty.
This book isn’t just a motivational read—it’s a spiritual guide rooted in Native American philosophy, offering timeless lessons on how to endure, heal, and grow. Through six poignant chapters, Marshall shares the wisdom of his Lakota grandfather, whose voice echoes throughout the book as a source of comfort and clarity.
Let’s dive into the heart of this remarkable book and explore the key teachings from each chapter.
Chapter 1: The Nature of Perseverance
The book opens with a foundational question: What is perseverance, really?
Marshall begins by distinguishing perseverance from mere persistence. While persistence might imply repetitive action, perseverance, he argues, is a deeper, more intentional commitment. It’s the ability to continue forward despite obstacles, setbacks, and internal resistance. It’s not just about enduring—it’s about evolving through the process.
Using a Lakota story about a young warrior who must cross a vast prairie during a storm, Marshall illustrates how perseverance is tested not by the storm itself, but by the warrior’s ability to keep moving when every instinct tells him to stop. The storm symbolizes life’s inevitable challenges—loss, failure, fear—and the warrior’s journey becomes a metaphor for the human experience.
One of the most powerful ideas in this chapter is that perseverance is not the absence of fear or pain, but the willingness to move forward despite them. Marshall emphasizes that everyone struggles. Even the most admired leaders, warriors, and elders in Lakota history faced moments of doubt and hardship. What set them apart was their refusal to give up.
He also introduces the concept of wóčhekiye—Lakota for prayer or spiritual communication. Perseverance, Marshall suggests, is often sustained not by willpower alone, but by a connection to something greater: community, ancestors, or spiritual beliefs. This spiritual dimension gives perseverance its depth and endurance.
Key Takeaway: Perseverance is not brute force; it’s a blend of courage, faith, and purpose. It’s a conscious choice to continue, even when the path is unclear.
Chapter 2: The Role of Memory and Story
In this chapter, Marshall shifts focus to the power of memory and storytelling in sustaining perseverance. As a historian and storyteller himself, he believes that stories are not just entertainment—they are tools for teaching, healing, and preserving wisdom.
He recounts how, in Lakota culture, elders pass down stories not to glorify the past, but to prepare the young for the future. These stories often feature characters who face great adversity—drought, war, betrayal—and must rely on inner strength to survive. By remembering these stories, individuals find courage in their own struggles.
Marshall shares a personal story about his grandfather, who survived the Wounded Knee Massacre and later walked over 300 miles to return home. This journey wasn’t just physical; it was an act of spiritual and emotional endurance. The story wasn’t told for sympathy, but as a lesson in resilience.
The author explains that memory serves as both anchor and compass. When we remember where we’ve come from—our hardships, our triumphs, our ancestors’ struggles—we gain perspective. We realize that we are not the first to face difficulty, and therefore, we can find strength in shared human experience.
He also warns against the dangers of forgetting. In modern society, Marshall observes, we often disconnect from our roots, our histories, and our communities. This disconnection, he argues, weakens our ability to persevere because we lose the support system that stories and shared memory provide.
Key Takeaway: Stories and memory are not passive relics—they are active sources of strength. By honoring the past, we equip ourselves for the future.
Chapter 3: The Wisdom of Patience
Patience, Marshall argues, is one of the most misunderstood virtues. In a culture obsessed with speed and efficiency, patience is often mistaken for passivity or laziness. But true patience, he says, is an active, disciplined form of endurance.
Using the metaphor of a river cutting through rock, Marshall explains that patience is not about waiting idly—it’s about consistent, persistent effort over time. Just as water doesn’t force its way through stone overnight, meaningful change in our lives rarely happens quickly.
He draws on the Lakota practice of vision quests, where young men and women spend days alone in nature, fasting and praying for guidance. These quests are not about immediate answers but about learning to sit with uncertainty, to listen deeply, and to trust the process.
Marshall shares how, during his own vision quest, he spent three days in silence and hunger, battling loneliness and fear. He didn’t receive a dramatic revelation, but he gained something more valuable: the realization that growth happens slowly, often invisibly. Like a seed beneath the soil, perseverance requires time to take root.
This chapter also addresses the modern epidemic of impatience. We want quick fixes, instant results, and overnight success. But Marshall warns that this mindset leads to burnout, frustration, and giving up too soon. True perseverance, he insists, requires us to slow down, to embrace the journey, and to accept that some things cannot be rushed.
Key Takeaway: Patience is not passive waiting—it’s active trust in the process. It’s the quiet strength that allows us to endure long enough to see results.
Chapter 4: The Strength in Vulnerability
One of the most refreshing aspects of Keep Going is Marshall’s willingness to discuss vulnerability as a source of strength, not weakness.
In Western culture, perseverance is often associated with stoicism—toughing it out, never showing pain, pushing through alone. But Marshall challenges this notion. He argues that true perseverance includes the courage to be vulnerable, to ask for help, and to admit when we’re struggling.
Drawing from Lakota teachings, he explains that strength is not about being invincible, but about being whole. A person who hides their pain is not strong—they are fractured. Healing and growth come not from suppressing emotions, but from acknowledging them.
He shares a story about a young man in his community who attempted suicide after losing his father. Instead of being shamed, he was embraced by elders who shared their own stories of loss. This act of vulnerability created a space for healing and connection.
Marshall emphasizes that perseverance is not a solo journey. It thrives in community. When we allow ourselves to be seen in our struggles, we invite support, wisdom, and solidarity. This, he says, is the essence of true strength.
He also discusses the importance of self-compassion. Many people push themselves relentlessly, believing that self-criticism will drive them forward. But Marshall argues that kindness—toward oneself and others—fuels perseverance more effectively than harshness.
Key Takeaway: Vulnerability is not the opposite of perseverance; it’s a vital part of it. Strength includes the courage to be human.
Chapter 5: The Power of Purpose
In Chapter 5, Marshall explores the role of purpose in sustaining perseverance. Without a clear sense of why we’re enduring hardship, it’s easy to lose motivation and give up.
He begins by distinguishing between goals and purpose. Goals are specific—like getting a promotion or finishing a degree. Purpose is deeper—it’s about meaning, identity, and contribution. Purpose answers the question: Why does this matter?
Using the example of Crazy Horse, the legendary Lakota warrior, Marshall illustrates how purpose can sustain a person through immense suffering. Crazy Horse didn’t fight for glory or power—he fought to protect his people, their land, and their way of life. That sense of purpose gave him the strength to endure imprisonment, betrayal, and ultimately, death.
Marshall shares how, during difficult times in his own life—such as when he struggled with poverty or faced discrimination—he returned to his purpose: to honor his ancestors, to serve his community, and to preserve Lakota culture. This purpose became his compass.
He also warns against losing sight of purpose in the pursuit of success. Many people achieve external markers of success—wealth, status, fame—but feel empty inside because their actions aren’t aligned with deeper values.
The author encourages readers to reflect: What are you enduring for? What legacy do you want to leave? When perseverance is tied to a meaningful purpose, it becomes not just bearable, but noble.
Key Takeaway: Purpose transforms struggle from suffering into sacrifice. It gives us a reason to keep going, even when the path is hard.
Chapter 6: Keep Going—The Final Step
The final chapter brings the book full circle. After exploring memory, patience, vulnerability, and purpose, Marshall returns to the central message: Keep going.
But this time, the phrase carries deeper weight. It’s not just a motivational slogan—it’s a philosophy of life.
Marshall shares a story about an old woman in his community who, despite being blind and frail, walked every morning to a sacred hill to pray. When asked why she still made the journey, she replied, “Because I am still here. As long as I am here, I must keep going.”
This simple statement encapsulates the book’s essence. Perseverance isn’t about reaching a destination; it’s about continuing the journey. It’s about showing up, day after day, even when progress feels invisible.
The author acknowledges that there will be times when “keeping going” means taking a single step. It might mean getting out of bed when you’re depressed, making a difficult phone call, or simply breathing through a moment of pain. These small acts are not insignificant—they are victories.
Marshall also reminds us that perseverance is not linear. There will be setbacks, detours, and moments of doubt. But each time we choose to continue, we reaffirm our commitment to life, to growth, and to meaning.
He closes with a Lakota saying: “A person who keeps going, even when no one is watching, is the one who changes the world.”
Key Takeaway: Perseverance is a daily practice. It’s not about never falling—it’s about always rising.
The Core Message: Perseverance as a Way of Life
At its heart, Keep Going: The Art of Perseverance is not just about overcoming obstacles—it’s about embracing life in all its complexity. Joseph M. Marshall III invites readers to see perseverance not as a temporary effort, but as a lifelong discipline rooted in wisdom, community, and spirit.
His message is especially powerful in today’s fast-paced, achievement-driven world. We’re often taught to measure success by outcomes—how much we earn, how famous we become, how quickly we “make it.” But Marshall flips this script. He teaches that the journey itself is the victory.
By weaving together Lakota philosophy, personal stories, and universal truths, Marshall creates a narrative that transcends culture. His teachings are not exclusive to Native Americans—they are human truths, accessible to anyone willing to listen.
The book also challenges the myth of the “lone hero.” In many stories, the hero triumphs alone. But Marshall shows that true perseverance is often supported by community, guided by ancestors, and sustained by shared values. We are not meant to endure in isolation.
Moreover, the book is a quiet protest against the culture of burnout. In a society that glorifies overwork and constant productivity, Marshall’s call to “keep going” is not about pushing harder—it’s about going deeper. It’s about listening, remembering, and staying connected to what matters.
Why This Book Resonates: A Review
Keep Going is more than a self-help book—it’s a spiritual guide for modern times. What sets it apart is its authenticity. Marshall doesn’t offer quick fixes or empty affirmations. He speaks from a place of deep cultural wisdom and personal experience.
Readers often describe the book as “calming,” “grounding,” and “life-changing.” Many report that it helped them through grief, career transitions, or personal crises. The storytelling format makes complex ideas accessible, while the Lakota perspective offers a refreshing alternative to Western individualism.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its balance. It doesn’t ignore pain or pretend that life is easy. Instead, it acknowledges suffering while offering tools to move through it with dignity and purpose.
Critics might argue that the book is too reflective or lacks actionable steps. But that’s missing the point. Marshall isn’t giving a 7-step program; he’s inviting a shift in mindset. The “action” comes from internal transformation—learning to trust the process, honor your story, and keep walking.
Applying the Lessons: How to Keep Going in Daily Life
So how can we apply Marshall’s teachings in our own lives? Here are a few practical takeaways:
- Tell Your Story – Write down or share your struggles. This act of storytelling builds resilience and connects you to others.
- Practice Patience – Set long-term goals and break them into small, sustainable steps. Celebrate progress, not just results.
- Seek Community – Don’t endure alone. Talk to friends, join support groups, or find mentors who understand your journey.
- Define Your Purpose – Ask yourself: What matters most to me? How can my struggles serve a greater good?
- Embrace Vulnerability – Allow yourself to feel, to grieve, to ask for help. True strength includes emotional honesty.
- Honor Your Ancestors – Learn your family history, cultural traditions, or spiritual roots. This connection can be a source of strength.
- Just Keep Going – On hard days, focus on the next right step. You don’t have to see the whole path—just take the next step.
Final Thoughts
Keep Going: The Art of Perseverance by Joseph M. Marshall III is a masterpiece of wisdom, compassion, and cultural insight. In just over 200 pages, it offers a lifetime of lessons on how to endure, grow, and thrive in the face of life’s inevitable challenges.
It’s a book for anyone who has ever felt like giving up. For the student facing failure, the parent struggling with loss, the professional battling burnout, or the dreamer who feels unseen—this book is a companion, a teacher, and a reminder that you are not alone.
Marshall’s message is simple but profound: Keep going. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s meaningful. Not for glory, but for the quiet dignity of showing up, again and again, as long as you’re here.
In a world that often measures worth by speed and success, Keep Going teaches us to value presence, patience, and perseverance. It’s a book that doesn’t just change your mind—it can change your life.
By weaving cultural insight, personal narrative, and timeless wisdom, Keep Going earns its place as a modern classic on the art of living with courage and grace. Whether you’re facing a personal crisis or simply seeking deeper meaning, this book is a beacon—reminding us all to keep going, one step at a time.
FAQs
- Is Keep Going based on true events?
Not exactly — it’s a fictional conversation, but it’s deeply rooted in real Lakota teachings and life experiences. - Who would benefit most from this book?
Anyone facing loss, uncertainty, or a challenging transition in life. - How long is the book?
It’s a short read, about 160 pages, but rich in meaning. - Does the book offer practical advice?
Yes — though wrapped in storytelling, the lessons are actionable and timeless. - Can non-Native readers connect with it?
Absolutely. While grounded in Lakota culture, its core themes are universal.