ARA Review by MotherMelania of In It Together

[MotherMelania]

[Following is an OnlineBookClub.org ARA Review of the book, In It Together.]

---

3 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

In It Together is a well-intentioned book that strives to remind us that we are indeed all in this together and that the struggle to cooperate with each other for our mutual good is well worth the effort. In our deeply divided society, we all need this timely reminder. However, the author's solution is to try to convince us that there is no such thing as right or wrong.

I have never understood this type of argument. If right and wrong are not real, what is the author trying to convince us readers of? That he is right that there is no right nor wrong? That we are morally wanting in thinking that there are morals? Why did he bother to write the book at all? If there is no right nor wrong, why does it matter if we get along or not?

To Hughes' credit, he does have a strong sense of what most of us would understand as right and wrong. He wants to help heal our broken society, and I think that is a "right" desire. I also appreciate that "right and wrong" can degenerate into "I'm pure, and you are reprehensible," but that is a corruption of the belief in right and wrong, which those in the Christian tradition (as I am) have traditionally recognized as a great wrong in and of itself.

I am glad to converse with somebody who believes that a position I hold is morally wanting, because if I'm wrong, I need to know that. Unless we do have those conversations, we can't really move forward in the "beautiful struggle" of understanding and living with one another.

For its good intention, I give this book 5 out of 5. Sadly, I give it 1 out of 5 for its ability to make good on its intention, as the argument laid forth was confusing and inconsistent. So, my final review is 3 out of 5.

***
View In It Together on Bookshelves