Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

Do you prefer pen and paper writing or a computer?' Do you use any special software or a basic word processor for your rough draft?

I prefer writing on a computer. I have a mild case of carpel tunnel syndrome, and a severe lifelong case of horrible handwriting, so it is very hard for me to write much on paper.

[Olga_Markova]

Scott, I've read that you are working on a new edition of this book. So here come my questions:

1. Why are you considering a new edition and not a sequel? Without meaning to flatter you or the book, it is a complete and popular piece of work, well written, much discussed, and I personally think that a sequel like "In it Together: On Reflection" or "Continuation" could be good success? And without meaning to discourage you from the format of a new edition, I'll share my own experience with this approach. Many years ago I translated some laws and self-published the translations as a book. The problem with that book was that the laws I translated were in a constant state of flux. So to keep the book more or less up to date I had to issue annual supplements, and every few years - new editions. Eventually, I dropped this idea, mostly because of the saturation of the small market. The problem with new editions was how to show the readers the changes compared to the previous edition. Not showing the changes could make the new edition less useful for the audience who had the previous edition. Accentuating the changes from the previous edition could confuse those who did not read the previous edition. Just some thoughts which I hope you will find helpful.

2. And are you considering including life examples or stories to illustrate the key messages in the book? I maybe morphing Mark Victor Hansen's Chicken Soup concept of a collection of stories into your book's concept but maybe the OBC audience would be responsive if you called for examples from their own experience to illustrate how the points in your book are proven by life experience? I think this could liven up the book and make it attractive to a wider, less sophisticated audience who need the wisdom your book offers but lack the sophistication required to understand the concepts without vivid examples.

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

Scott, I've read that you are working on a new edition of this book. So here come my questions:

1. Why are you considering a new edition and not a sequel? Without meaning to flatter you or the book, it is a complete and popular piece of work, well written, much discussed, and I personally think that a sequel like "In it Together: On Reflection" or "Continuation" could be good success? And without meaning to discourage you from the format of a new edition, I'll share my own experience with this approach. Many years ago I translated some laws and self-published the translations as a book. The problem with that book was that the laws I translated were in a constant state of flux. So to keep the book more or less up to date I had to issue annual supplements, and every few years - new editions. Eventually, I dropped this idea, mostly because of the saturation of the small market. The problem with new editions was how to show the readers the changes compared to the previous edition. Not showing the changes could make the new edition less useful for the audience who had the previous edition. Accentuating the changes from the previous edition could confuse those who did not read the previous edition. Just some thoughts which I hope you will find helpful.

I already released then 2nd edition in December, so I'm not really considering a new edition at this time.

However, I do want to release the book as audiobook and release translated versions in other languages. After do that, I could consider a sequel, but overall I am not planning on writing any more books, either a sequel to In It Together nor a completely separate book.

In It Together was my fifth book, and put 5 years into writing In It Together. There's some other projects and creations and life goals on which I would like to work besides writing books.

2. And are you considering including life examples or stories to illustrate the key messages in the book? I maybe morphing Mark Victor Hansen's Chicken Soup concept of a collection of stories into your book's concept but maybe the OBC audience would be responsive if you called for examples from their own experience to illustrate how the points in your book are proven by life experience? I think this could liven up the book and make it attractive to a wider, less sophisticated audience who need the wisdom your book offers but lack the sophistication required to understand the concepts without vivid examples.

I hadn't considered that, but it is a great idea. If I remember, once I get the audiobook released, I will look into having that done.

[Julie Gebrosky]

I’ve seen two guesses about the truths and a lie. I think they’re both wrong. I think the lie is that you’ve never given blood. I’ve read your book, and you believe in love for others, so I believe that you would have given blood and you are also probably a vegetarian. I’ve heard that a lot of leaders are left handed, so that jives with you running the site.

My question is are you going to tell us who is correct with the truths and a lie? My apologies if I missed it!

[Chiwelite Obioma Mgbeoji]

Hi Scott, I am glad to finally interact with you! I found your book philosophical in nature and I am curious to know if you've published any other books yet since this one? Also, thank you for creating OBC, what inspired you to bring a community of book lovers together?

[Cheryl Erickson]

Hi! I hope that you are well. So my question is not book related but a bit of fun if you are up for it - two truths and one lie. Your lovely readers can then guess which statement is a lie. Have an amazing week!

Good idea!

1. I'm left-handed.

2. I've never donated blood.

3. I'm a vegetarian.


Which is the lie?

I am going to guess that the lie is number 2: I've never donated blood.

[Cheryl Erickson]

Hello Scott,
When did you first become passionate about philosophy? Did you take a philosophy class that started the gears turning or have a phenomenal philosophy teacher that inspired you?

[Agbata Trust-]

Hi! I hope that you are well. So my question is not book related but a bit of fun if you are up for it - two truths and one lie. Your lovely readers can then guess which statement is a lie. Have an amazing week!

Good idea!

1. I'm left-handed.

2. I've never donated blood.

3. I'm a vegetarian.


Which is the lie?

I'm a vegetarian

[Nicholas Bush]

As someone who has attained a significant amount of success, i would lobe to know what your greatest challenges was and how you were able to overcome it.

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

I’ve seen two guesses about the truths and a lie. I think they’re both wrong. I think the lie is that you’ve never given blood. I’ve read your book, and you believe in love for others, so I believe that you would have given blood and you are also probably a vegetarian. I’ve heard that a lot of leaders are left handed, so that jives with you running the site.

My question is are you going to tell us who is correct with the truths and a lie? My apologies if I missed it!

The lie is that I'm left-handed.

I hope to donate blood one day, but I get fainty when I have blood drawn, and they only take a little bit compared to donating.

I don't know why exactly. I get bloody at lot when I box, and it doesn't bother me. I think maybe it's because it doesn't hurt at all when they take the blood, so maybe it's the painless blood draining that freaks me out.

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

Hi Scott, I am glad to finally interact with you! I found your book philosophical in nature and I am curious to know if you've published any other books yet since this one? Also, thank you for creating OBC, what inspired you to bring a community of book lovers together?

Yes, this was my fifth book. The previous four were all published under my birth name, "Scott Hughes".

You can see most of my other books on my Amazon Author page.

However, one of my books was banned, and thus you can only get it exclusively from OnlineBookClub:

The Banned Book about Love by Scott Hughes


Regarding your second question, I created OnlineBookClub simply because I wanted a place online I could chat about books I read anytime with people who read the same book without the constraints, stress, and limits of being part of a real life book club, such as having to read a book before a monthly meeting, as opposed to reading it on my own time.

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

Hello Scott,
When did you first become passionate about philosophy? Did you take a philosophy class that started the gears turning or have a phenomenal philosophy teacher that inspired you?

I did not take a philosophy class. My older sisters use to bring me home philosophy books and books about related subjects (e.g. psychology, etc.) from college while I was still in middle school. It's a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem: Did I learn to like philosophy and such because they would give me books about it, or did they give me books about it because they knew I liked it?

Once I had the taste for it, I had all the access I needed in the form of the internet. Even when I was 14, I could spend hours reading Wikipedia articles back-to-back, with one leading to the next.

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

As someone who has attained a significant amount of success, i would lobe to know what your greatest challenges was and how you were able to overcome it.

Thank you for your question!

My answer might depend on what you mean by challenges exactly. I often find myself going out of my way to seek out challenges. I like challenges.

Sometimes the challenge is not having enough challenges, or at least not having one that is big enough or worthy enough.

Sometimes the obstacle is not having enough obstacles, or at least not having obstacles that are big enough or worthy enough.

For example, I love boxing. The biggest obstacle or problem I might have with boxing would be not having an opponent available, or only opponents who are too easy to defeat.

In another example, I love weightlifting. But an obstacle I might occasionally face be not having enough weights to put on the bar to make it heavy enough to be challenging enough. If it's too easy lift, then that's the real problem.

Of course, then another challenge become not getting to addicted to the fun of such outer dispeace. In other words, I take care to remind myself occasionally to also enjoy the more superficially and simplistically calm side of inner peace as well.


Thank you,
Scott

[Kirsten Schuder]

You seem like a single dad from your social media. Is that true? (I was just curious... happily married here.)

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

You seem like a single dad from your social media. Is that true? (I was just curious... happily married here.)

Hi, Kirsten Schuder,

Yes, I am a single dad.

Currently, my kids' mom and I split time with the kids 50/50.

Their mom and I have a great co-parenting relationship. In fact, I often babysit my kids' younger siblings, meaning the kids my ex had with her new husband. So some of the kids you see on social media aren't even mine.

Here is a quite life-like picture my kids' younger sister drew of me last time I was babysitting her. Looks just like me!


Thank you,
Scott