Integrity is another theme in the book. Even as a small boy, Howard senses the value of integrity as he watches his father live a challenging life without complaint. Howard's parents live good lives and care for their children in spite of daunting circumstances, providing an invaluable foundation and behavior model for Howard. Howard's passionate personality is able to take the core of his own integrity and translate it to a very focused business model uncompromising in its principles and code of conduct.