The Granite Steps is a short book, but very wise. Best of all, it’s a tantalizing parable about a fatherless boy who is trying to earn some extra money selling newspapers to help his mother and sisters. Kempton has the desire to succeed, but he doesn’t have the technical know-how. Fortunately, one day he meets a man, Sir Granite, who takes him under his wing and guides him. Sir Granite doesn’t seem to do much more than sit in the park all day, but Kempton soon learns that his new friend has a fascinating past, has had many adventures, and has even been knighted by a queen; In his travels, Sir Granite has also acquired much wisdom and advice to offer Kempton.
The title of the book refers to the wisdom that Sir Granite imparts to Kempton. The advice begins with tips on salesmanship that help Kempton become the best newsboy in the newspaper. From there, Sir Granite guides Kempton in his career choices as he surpasses newspaper sales and begins to think about his career. Over time, Kempton takes an interest in education and helping children. She also falls in love, goes to college, and begins to make the tough decisions in life that can make or break a person.
While the book starts out as an innocent enough fable, when Kempton reaches adulthood, he begins to think that he knows more than Sir Granite and makes some decisions that cost him dearly. I won’t reveal the ending, but suffice it to say that the book teaches good lessons while keeping the reader interested in the story.
The lessons the book offers are scattered everywhere, each one being a principle of success. The first appears when Kempton enters a contest to win newspaper subscriptions to win the Thanksgiving turkey for his family. Beginning to feel that he will fail, Kempton receives the following advice from Sir Granite when considering knocking on someone’s door:
“Go to the door and ring the bell,” he said. “You will have a moment before he opens the door. While you wait, say these words to yourself: ‘Mom, this sale is for you and my sisters, and I’m going to buy you that turkey for Thanksgiving.’ Repeat this to yourself as many times as you can before the door opens. Then when the door is open, ask the guy to subscribe. Now do it, boy, and then hurry back here. Continue now. “
This passage is a good example of Allen’s comfortable and realistic style. The small town setting, characters, and overall tone of the book reminded me a bit of The Andy Griffith Show. The reader feels that he is being guided by an omniscient narrator who assures us that everything will work out, although the narrator is actually Kempton as an older man looking back on his life.
The book can be enjoyed by readers of all ages, but I think it would actually make the perfect gift for the young reader who first goes into business, perhaps getting their first job, such as a paper route, or a flipping job. hamburgers, as well as the person ready to go to college or make a choice or a major career change. Allen puts a lot of wisdom in a nutshell with each of the principles Sir Granite offers, and the principles are easy to remember so the reader is more likely to apply them. Every reader will find something thoughtful to learn and act on in this book. It is a great granite base to build on.