46 The Journal of College Orientation and Transition

BOOK REVIEW Daniel P. Nadler, Associate Editor

Values in the Key of Life: Making Harmony 
in the Human Community
By Kent L. Koppelman
Amityville, NY: Baywood Publishing Co., Inc., 2000, 185 pages

Reviewed by
Bonita C. Jacobs

Values in the Key of Life: Making Harmony in the Human Community by Kent L.
Koppelman explores values and possible motivations behind those values.  Generously
splashed with witticisms and quotations, the book is an interesting combination of 
stories, logic, and opinion.  Professor Koppelman is a master storyteller when illustrating
a point and a skillful weaver in inviting the reader to participate in self-exploration and
healthy dialogue.

The book is separated into seven chapters entitled “In the Key of A: Altruism,” “In
the Key of B: Benevolence,” “In the Key of C: Collaboration,” “In the Key of D:
Diversity,” “In the Key of E: Empathy,” “In the Key of F: Forgiveness,” and “In the 
Key of G: Grace.”  In each chapter, Koppelman guides the reader through a series of
observations, questions, conclusions, and thoughts.  He tells interesting and elaborate
stories as the basis for value analysis and, on more than one occasion, covers multiple
issues with one narration.  The process serves not only as a catalyst for self-assessment,
but also provides an opportunity for group discussions and debates centered around
ethics, multiculturalism, education, social norms, sexual orientation, and societal 
expectations.  The questions raised would provide numerous bases for discussions with
summer orientation programs, or with presentations on ethics, communication skills, 
volunteerism, education, and community-building.

No topic escapes the wide range of issues the author presents through his stories and
analogies, including religion, families, poverty, ethnicity, stereotypes, homophobia, the
deserving/undeserving poor, individuality, becoming an educated person, justice, 
sympathy, empathy, wealth, and death.  These issues are carefully woven into the A
through G chapter titles.

The book is an easy read; yet, it is a slow one if the reader stops to ponder some of
the issues at hand.  The material would be more meaningful to a group which has had
some basic exposure to the need for appreciation of others and an understanding of 
altruistic motivations, and it would be well-suited to a beginning college-aged audience. 
The most obvious criticism of the book is the occasional lapse, intentional or otherwise,
by the author of logical analysis in favor of a moral opinion.  Perhaps this is to prompt

Bonita C. Jacobs, Ph.D., is Vice President for Student Development and Assistant Professor of Higher
Education at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX.



47Fall 2000  •  Volume 8, Number 1

debate; perhaps it is a soapbox.  Nonetheless, some may consider this to be a liberty
beyond the author’s role in a work of this type.

Koppelman has done an excellent job.  The book is highly recommended for a 
personal library, primarily as a self-exploration guide and secondarily as a handy manual
of ethical, cultural, and social dilemmas to present in group discussions.  The wide range
of quotations and the interesting stories are of themselves worthy of the investment in the
book.