Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Discuss the November 2022 Philosophy Book of the Month, In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes.

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Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes »

hsimone wrote: November 4th, 2022, 2:34 pm Did you end up using any other inspiration to come up with your own quotable phrases? (i.e. “Do your best, and accept the rest.”)
Not consciously or specifically, but generally I'm just compiling and paraphrasing ideas I've read or heard elsewhere, even if I don't remember from where.

So, for instance, while I may have possibly been the first person to put those seven English words in that specific order, the concept to which they refer is something that has been expressed separately and independently by many others throughout human history. So in a way my inspirations are too many to count and identify.
My entire political philosophy summed up in one tweet.

"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."

I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes »

Surabhi Rani wrote: November 5th, 2022, 7:52 pm Who is your role model?
My top two living role models are probably Rob White and Jorge P. Newbery.
My entire political philosophy summed up in one tweet.

"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."

I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
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Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes »

Lunastella wrote: November 5th, 2022, 10:08 pm Now I want to know if you're a vegetarian LOL. But my questions are more personal:
1. How do you get so much done? (dancing, writing, working, parenting...)
2. What's your favorite OBC forum?
3. What's your favorite movie?
1. Aside from in the book itself, especially the chapter "Do Less, Better", I think I may have best explained this in this Facebook Post (which I also cross-posted to Twitter.

2. If I had to choose just one, maybe Creative Original Works: Poetry.

3. I think it depends on my mood, but I'd say probably either Fight Club or Legends of the Fall. Legends of the Fall is a big part of the reason I named my son Tristen. :)
My entire political philosophy summed up in one tweet.

"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."

I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
mrlefty0706
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by mrlefty0706 »

Please explain to members why it is worth a subscription fee to use Twitter Blue. I feel Musk overpaid for Twitter and he is now expecting users to reimburse him for the overpayment by requiring a subscription fee for Twitter Blue.
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Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes »

mrlefty0706 wrote: November 7th, 2022, 9:33 pm Please explain to members why it is worth a subscription fee to use Twitter Blue. I feel Musk overpaid for Twitter and he is now expecting users to reimburse him for the overpayment by requiring a subscription fee for Twitter Blue.
I am not sure what you mean by "members" here. Members of Twitter?

In any case, Twitter Blue existed and cost money before Musk ever bought Twitter.

I could be mistaken, but my best guess is you are mixing up "Twitter Blue" with "Twitter" itself.
My entire political philosophy summed up in one tweet.

"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."

I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by Sushan »

Hi Scott,

On Page 57 you have spoken about being the observer of one's own thoughts. I have heard about this concept previously, but so far I have not understood the concept or a way to do that.

Have you actually done that? Or do you know the way to do that?

Thank you
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers”

– William James
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes »

Sushan wrote: November 12th, 2022, 3:05 am Hi Scott,

On Page 57 you have spoken about being the observer of one's own thoughts. I have heard about this concept previously, but so far I have not understood the concept or a way to do that.

Have you actually done that? Or do you know the way to do that?

Thank you
Can you quote the specific sentence(s) from page 57 that you are asking about?
My entire political philosophy summed up in one tweet.

"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."

I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
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Sushan
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by Sushan »

Scott wrote: November 17th, 2022, 4:30 pm
Sushan wrote: November 12th, 2022, 3:05 am Hi Scott,

On Page 57 you have spoken about being the observer of one's own thoughts. I have heard about this concept previously, but so far I have not understood the concept or a way to do that.

Have you actually done that? Or do you know the way to do that?

Thank you
Can you quote the specific sentence(s) from page 57 that you are asking about?
I am extremely sorry for the inconvenience. The specific quote that I mentioned was on page 56 of the Kindle version.
Rather, what makes Descarte's argument so incredibly profound and meaningful is the reference to conscious awareness, namely conscious awareness of thought, the conscious hearing of the inner monologue generated by most human brains. You are not that which thinks the thoughts, but rather that which consciously hears or observes the thoughts.
Here you have discussed about being the observer of one's own thoughts. If what you are implying is what I am thinking, then it is a marvelous ability. So I would like to know whether you have actually done that or whether you know a way to achieve that level of consciousness.

Thank you
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers”

– William James
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by hsimone »

Scott wrote: November 7th, 2022, 4:14 pm
hsimone wrote: November 4th, 2022, 2:34 pm Did you end up using any other inspiration to come up with your own quotable phrases? (i.e. “Do your best, and accept the rest.”)
Not consciously or specifically, but generally I'm just compiling and paraphrasing ideas I've read or heard elsewhere, even if I don't remember from where.

So, for instance, while I may have possibly been the first person to put those seven English words in that specific order, the concept to which they refer is something that has been expressed separately and independently by many others throughout human history. So in a way my inspirations are too many to count and identify.
I like that! To be continually be inspired, even not consciously aware of it happening, is a very beautiful thought.
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by mrlefty0706 »

Hi Scott,
For your mentoring program I need to review three books in 100 days. I believe I have already reviewed one book and I need to know where the list of books I can choose from for the other two reviews.

Larry Moser
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes »

mrlefty0706 wrote: December 23rd, 2022, 11:34 pm Hi Scott,
For your mentoring program I need to review three books in 100 days. I believe I have already reviewed one book and I need to know where the list of books I can choose from for the other two reviews.

Larry Moser
Mrlefty0706
If you are also a book author, you will need to pick the books to review from the Authors Reviewing Authors Exchange ("ARA Exchange") at OnlineBookClub.

Otherwise, you will pick the book using the Select tab of the Review Team Page at OnlineBookClub.
My entire political philosophy summed up in one tweet.

"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."

I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by Sandra Fairclough »

What inspired your narrative? were you inspired by biblical principles?
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes »

Sandra Fairclough wrote: December 29th, 2022, 1:43 pm What inspired your narrative? were you inspired by biblical principles?
Thank you for the question! :)

I had and have countless different inspirations from an eclectic array of sources.

I'm not religious, and I don't follow any one specific religion, but since you specifically ask about the bible, presumably meaning the Christian Bible, there are definitely some principals in the Christian Bible that resonate with me and inspire me, such as the following:


"The kingdom of heaven is within you."
(Luke 17:21)


"For what has a man profited, if he gains the whole world for the price of his own soul?"
(Matthew 16:26)


"You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also."

(Matthew 5:38)


“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?"
(Matthew 5:43)


"Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
(Matthew 6:34)


"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven."
(Luke 6:37)


"Do not judge, or you will be judged. For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
(Matthew 7:1)


"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul."
(Matthew 10:28)


"You are the light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one lights a lamp and puts it under a clay pot. Instead, it is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so others will see the good you do and will praise your Father in heaven."
(Matthew 5:14)


"Not everyone saying to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but only the one actually doing the will of My Father in the heavens."
(Matthew 7:21)
My entire political philosophy summed up in one tweet.

"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."

I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by NanciWrites »

Hello Scott!

I thoroughly enjoyed In It Together. I've left a short review on OBC and am working on a longer one. I look forward to sharing it with you.

In the meantime, I'd like to know - How much inspiration and input did you receive from the Street Team?

Fabulous work. Thank you for the opportunity to read it!
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Re: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Post by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes »

NanciWrites wrote: January 9th, 2023, 9:59 pm In the meantime, I'd like to know - How much inspiration and input did you receive from the Street Team?
Hi, Nanci,

Everyone on the Street Team contributed $100 to help the fund the book before it was even written (via a Kickstarter campaign). So the support and assistant was incredible.

Inspiration can be a tricky word, especially when it comes to any kind of art. Coincidentally, the book talks about the word inspiration a bit. Technically, one could argue that inspiration it must come from one's own spirit, or in other words one's own free-spirited self. More broadly, I think it tends to be a word that refers to something mysterious, something that is perhaps mysterious by definition.

The amount of involvement in the project by the members of the Street Team varied. A couple of them volunteered their time to give the book a proofread while it was still a very rough draft, correcting some typos and providing feedback and suggestions about possible changes.

I can say that many they not only inspired me from day 1 but also had a very tangible impact on the book in terms more direct support, funding, and assistance. :)
My entire political philosophy summed up in one tweet.

"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."

I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
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