ARA Review by Jade_Lazlow of In It Together
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Jade_Lazlow
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ARA Review by Jade_Lazlow of In It Together
[Following is an OnlineBookClub.org ARA Review of the book, In It Together.]
Overall, I enjoyed and appreciated this book and its potential to be a tool for coping with the daily angst so many of us face. To say our lives have changed dramatically and with disturbing speed over the last few years is an understatement. I had been looking for a comforting book to read to help me feel more anchored despite the chaos. Although I am not a a frequent reader of philosophical work, when I stumbled across "In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All," I decided to read it.
In this book, Eckhart Aurelius Hughes, draws upon different cultures’ histories and teachings. I was familiar with some and not others, but Hughes explains them in ways that are understandable and relatable to readers familiar with the tenor of philosophical writings. The passages he includes meld together in a guide that harkens to universal ideas. Exploring those ideas and the harmonies and commonalities between them offers a level of comfort. It reinforces the reality that we are not alone and that separateness is an illusion. In our divided society mired in conflict, these teachings helped this reader to feel a greater sense of unity in the chaos. This unity spans time and space, which helps put current conflicts into perspective.
As I worked my way through the book, I appreciated the breadth and depth of Hughes’s knowledge of spiritual and philosophical teachings from so many rich cultures and over such a broad timeline. His words were like a long conversation with a wise elder who gently guides you through complex thought and ideas with clarity and wit. In a sense, his approach is multi-disciplinary in that he also includes perspectives from scientists, artists, and others in addition to philosophers. For me, this added to the universality and the applicability of the teachings to many aspects of my life. His style reminded me of a cross between great philosophers of past ages combined with the more modern and relatable thinkers of modern times.
It took me a while to work through the book, as is appropriate for this genre. A philosophical person would want to read and then contemplate before moving to the next passage. I especially appreciated Hughes’s reminders that there are things one can do when one feels overwhelmed by things beyond control. Mindful focus and understanding and accepting one’s sphere of influence were especially helpful to me. That said, as others have pointed out, it is wordy and drawn out. It is not an easily digested [i}Chicken Soup for the Soul{/i] sort of book. In fact, some passages, I think, would be difficult for casual readers to follow.
Hughes’s world view is vast, and quite liberal in its perceptions of reality. While I enjoyed reading about those perspectives, I think some readers, especially those who have strong personal belief systems leaning toward conservative Christianity, might not relate to some of the more New Age ideas. That said, books of this genre, by their nature, stretch and challenge our beliefs. We need not necessarily adopt all of those teachings. Hughes himself impresses this on us with his emphasis on being self-guided and free in one’s philosophies.
The reading is somewhat dense in some passages, but again, this is not uncommon in the genre. Many of the ideas presented are weighty and require thought and processing. If you enjoy this type of challenge, as I do, this book will be an excellent read for you.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
***
View In It Together on Bookshelves
Overall, I enjoyed and appreciated this book and its potential to be a tool for coping with the daily angst so many of us face. To say our lives have changed dramatically and with disturbing speed over the last few years is an understatement. I had been looking for a comforting book to read to help me feel more anchored despite the chaos. Although I am not a a frequent reader of philosophical work, when I stumbled across "In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All," I decided to read it.
In this book, Eckhart Aurelius Hughes, draws upon different cultures’ histories and teachings. I was familiar with some and not others, but Hughes explains them in ways that are understandable and relatable to readers familiar with the tenor of philosophical writings. The passages he includes meld together in a guide that harkens to universal ideas. Exploring those ideas and the harmonies and commonalities between them offers a level of comfort. It reinforces the reality that we are not alone and that separateness is an illusion. In our divided society mired in conflict, these teachings helped this reader to feel a greater sense of unity in the chaos. This unity spans time and space, which helps put current conflicts into perspective.
As I worked my way through the book, I appreciated the breadth and depth of Hughes’s knowledge of spiritual and philosophical teachings from so many rich cultures and over such a broad timeline. His words were like a long conversation with a wise elder who gently guides you through complex thought and ideas with clarity and wit. In a sense, his approach is multi-disciplinary in that he also includes perspectives from scientists, artists, and others in addition to philosophers. For me, this added to the universality and the applicability of the teachings to many aspects of my life. His style reminded me of a cross between great philosophers of past ages combined with the more modern and relatable thinkers of modern times.
It took me a while to work through the book, as is appropriate for this genre. A philosophical person would want to read and then contemplate before moving to the next passage. I especially appreciated Hughes’s reminders that there are things one can do when one feels overwhelmed by things beyond control. Mindful focus and understanding and accepting one’s sphere of influence were especially helpful to me. That said, as others have pointed out, it is wordy and drawn out. It is not an easily digested [i}Chicken Soup for the Soul{/i] sort of book. In fact, some passages, I think, would be difficult for casual readers to follow.
Hughes’s world view is vast, and quite liberal in its perceptions of reality. While I enjoyed reading about those perspectives, I think some readers, especially those who have strong personal belief systems leaning toward conservative Christianity, might not relate to some of the more New Age ideas. That said, books of this genre, by their nature, stretch and challenge our beliefs. We need not necessarily adopt all of those teachings. Hughes himself impresses this on us with his emphasis on being self-guided and free in one’s philosophies.
The reading is somewhat dense in some passages, but again, this is not uncommon in the genre. Many of the ideas presented are weighty and require thought and processing. If you enjoy this type of challenge, as I do, this book will be an excellent read for you.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
***
View In It Together on Bookshelves
