Eckhart Aurelius Hughes AMA (Ask Me Anything)

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

For those who don't know, I am Eckhart Aurelius Hughes.

Post any questions you have for me as a reply to this topic, and I will do my best answer.

It can be a question about anything. It can be about me, about the book, or about anything else!

[hsimone]

Yay, I get to post!

What were some inspirations that you used or experienced to create the beautiful and meaningful quotes that are included in your book?

Also, how many hours per day, week, or month did you spend creating In it Together?

[Melissa Jane]

Some people become philosophical after reading philosophy books or when they have favorite philosophy authors. However, most people become philosophical due to their own experiences. The hardships (or luck thereof) forces them to think a certain way and, therefore, formulate philosophies to live by. What would you say inspired your philosophies (made you philosophical)? Is there any single event that you think pivoted your general outlook on life?

[Le-nic Pretorius]

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!

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

Also, how many hours per day, week, or month did you spend creating In it Together?

I'm going to answer this question first because it plays into the next one.

I worked on the book for over 5 years. It wasn't consistent. Some weeks I would work 40+ hours on it, and others I'd barely work on it all.

That is, depending on how you count working on it. Another way of looking at it is that even on those weeks that I would say I didn't work on it, I was still often reading other books or doing other writing and journalism, or just thinking about the book or the ideas in it, and putting them into practice.

A few times I had written the book about halfway and then didn't feel it was living up to my vision and re-started it completely, which is one reason it took so long.

Yay, I get to post!

What were some inspirations that you used or experienced to create the beautiful and meaningful quotes that are included in your book?

Do you mean the quotes by other writers and people?

If so, most of them were quotes that I already read and liked and had in my notes before I had even started the book.

Since I was working on the book for so many years, during which time I read many other books and listened to many lectures, so it gave me a lot of chances to hear a quote and realize it fits with a part of my book to add it in. That would also give me a chance to summarize or incorporate some of the other ideas or facts from that person or book that aren't explicitly included in the quote itself.


Thank you for your questions!

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

Some people become philosophical after reading philosophy books or when they have favorite philosophy authors. However, most people become philosophical due to their own experiences. The hardships (or luck thereof) forces them to think a certain way and, therefore, formulate philosophies to live by. What would you say inspired your philosophies (made you philosophical)? Is there any single event that you think pivoted your general outlook on life?

Thank you for your question, Melissa!

I have always been interested in philosophy for as along as I can remember even before I knew the word philosophy and it knew it was called philosophy.

My older sisters knew that, and they would bring me home some of their old college books about philosophy or related subjects when I was young. So I was probably like 12 or 13 when I first read Plato's Republic, for instance. I suspect it's little bit of chicken and the egg situation because we can wonder: did they keep bring bringing the books because I loved philosophy so much or did I learn to love philosophy so much because they kept bringing me the books? I don't know. And once you get marked as the guy who likes philosophy, they don't just give you the used ones anymore, but buy you know ones from the store.

For what it's worth, I do remember buying Beyond Einstein by Dr. Michio Kaku from Barnes and Noble inside the local shopping mall when I was in middle school. That was the first time I learned about String Theory and the first time I ever heard of Michio Kaku. I didn't get too much from the book at that young age, as a lot of it was above my head, but I did immediately starting looking up String Theory on the internet and found some websites that summarized some of the concepts more understandably.

Another factor that affected my outlook on life is that I spent a lot of time home alone as a kid, very much more than most. I didn't realize it at the time, but looking back on it over the years I see how that shaped me in a way that most don't get to be shaped, especially when it comes to (1) being very introverted (which I am) and to (2) my general approach to things like self-sufficiency, individualism, self-responsibility, self-discipline, etc.

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

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?

[Le-nic Pretorius]

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 that you are left-handed!

[Mazher Rizvi]

Hi Scott just a very basic question: Where is OBC headed for? Your Vision, Mission & Values? May I also suggest a sample survey of your members. What motivates them to join OBC?

[Mounce574]

What is a book you find inspirational or motivating? How do you stay motivated in general?

[hsimone]

Also, how many hours per day, week, or month did you spend creating In it Together?

I'm going to answer this question first because it plays into the next one.

I worked on the book for over 5 years. It wasn't consistent. Some weeks I would work 40+ hours on it, and others I'd barely work on it all.

That is, depending on how you count working on it. Another way of looking at it is that even on those weeks that I would say I didn't work on it, I was still often reading other books or doing other writing and journalism, or just thinking about the book or the ideas in it, and putting them into practice.

A few times I had written the book about halfway and then didn't feel it was living up to my vision and re-started it completely, which is one reason it took so long.

Yay, I get to post!

What were some inspirations that you used or experienced to create the beautiful and meaningful quotes that are included in your book?

Do you mean the quotes by other writers and people?

If so, most of them were quotes that I already read and liked and had in my notes before I had even started the book.

Since I was working on the book for so many years, during which time I read many other books and listened to many lectures, so it gave me a lot of chances to hear a quote and realize it fits with a part of my book to add it in. That would also give me a chance to summarize or incorporate some of the other ideas or facts from that person or book that aren't explicitly included in the quote itself.


Thank you for your questions!

Oh my goodness, re-starting at about halfway writing your book? That is true commitment and patience!

I like that you were able to pull from several resources, including people, to compile such a thoughtful and thought-provoking book!

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.”)

[Surabhi Rani]

Who is your role model?

[Lunastella]

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?

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

Hi Scott just a very basic question: Where is OBC headed for? Your Vision, Mission & Values? May I also suggest a sample survey of your members. What motivates them to join OBC?

We recently promoted Sarah to General Manager of OnlineBookClub. My general vision is that under her leadership the community itself will decide where it goes.

In analogy to child that grows up and leaves home to go make it in the world on his own, my vision is to step back in time and let OnlineBookClub start leading its own way forward.

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

What is a book you find inspirational or motivating? How do you stay motivated in general?

Staying motivated is generally not an issue for me. Rather, one the spectrum between restlessness/workaholism and laziness, and I would probably be closer to the former.

Nonetheless, a couple books that have helped inspire me and motivated me are Burn Zones: Playing Life's Bad Hands by Jorge P. Newbery and And Then I Met Margaret by Rob White.