Decency

Decency: That which is proper or becoming; the quality of conforming to standards of propriety and morality; the quality of being polite and respectable; seemliness; hence, freedom from obscenity or indecorum; modesty. These are among the dictionary definitions of DECENCY, the subject of Chuck Lauer's latest book. I can't argue with any of these, but somehow they are not enough. Decency is deeper than modesty...or what is polite...or what fits the standards of propriety. And Chuck Lauer understands that. Decency is about doing the right thing and being a good person. There are few people who have a better sense of doing the right thing than Chuck Lauer. In his Publisher's Letters in Modern Healthcare, Chuck has reminded us repeatedly what it means to be a good person. He doesn't talk about complicated theories of morality. Instead, he tells stories that demonstrate the qualities that lead toward a fuller life, stronger relationships, a better society. Chuck Lauer wears his heart on his sleeve. In this book you will see that. With Chuck, what you see is what he really is, day to day, year after year--a man who cares about people, about doing the right thing, about his country and his family and friends, about the healthcare industry where he has spent his career...and about the Cubs. This book weaves stores of these passions together into a quilt of reminders. The technique is the time-honored one of the storyteller. As he spins tales from his experiences and observations, he incorporates a lesson. And each lesson touches on an aspect of DECENCY. Some are the simple basics of decency such as what is polite. Some grow from the basic tenets of the world's great religions. Most will not be new to the reader. But pulled together, they form a pattern that can guide us to do the right thing. by Diane Appleyard, President, Healthcare Research & Development Institute, Pensacola, FL