“12 Simple Words” - John W. Kennedy’s Lifetime of Wisdom Arrives on Manila International Book Fair

John W. Kennedy’s “12 Simple Words” brings the values of the Scout Law into everyday adult life and will be displayed at MIBF 2026.

— Before you read any further, consider these words:
Trustworthy. Loyal. Helpful. Friendly. Courteous. Kind. Obedient. Cheerful. Thrifty. Brave. Clean. Reverent.

They sound incredibly simple, don’t they? Almost nostalgic. But author John W. Kennedy is here to tell us that actually living by them in the real world is anything but simple.

In his thought-provoking book, “12 Simple Words,” Kennedy takes the familiar rhythm of the Scout Law and drops it right into the heavy lifting of our adult lives. He strips away the childhood recitation and asks the tough questions: What do these words actually mean when we are navigating our careers, raising our families, leading teams, or making the hard choices when absolutely no one else is watching?

Let’s be honest—we live in a world packed with constant noisy disagreement and friction. This book is an invitation to do something radical: to start listening again. Kennedy challenges us to speak with people instead of at them. He pushes us to listen before we point fingers, to practice empathy, and to aggressively defend someone else’s right to speak, even when we vehemently disagree with what they are saying.

The spark for this entire project came from Kennedy’s time sitting on more than 250 Eagle Scout Boards of Review. Time and again, he would ask these young candidates which point of the Scout Law mattered most to them. Their wildly different answers led him to a powerful realization: there is no single “correct” choice. Every single one of these twelve words has the power to serve as the bedrock for a successful, caring life.

John W. Kennedy has spent a lifetime practicing. He is a Ph.D., an engineer, a business owner, and an Eagle Scout father who has spent more than fifty years mentoring hundreds of young people. Kirkus Reviews nailed it when they called this book a “cheerful and helpful application of the Scout Law to the challenges of adulthood.”

The Eagle Literary is proud to represent John W. Kennedy to showcase his esteemed quote collection at the Manila International Book Fair. Visitors to the fair are invited to explore his book, which provides an opportunity for a wider audience to discover the strongest wisdom of his “12 simple words.” You can find this book at Booth 2-107 under the exhibit of The Eagle Literary. It is also available on various online retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Alibris.

Stop by and pick the word that speaks to your heart. Discover how twelve words might just change the way you live.

Contact Information

Andrea Morrison

CEO

The Eagle Literary, LLC

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