ARA Review by Tyler Newhouse of In It Together

[Tyler Newhouse]

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

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4 out of 5 stars

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In It Together provides a narrow but enlightening outlook on life and how one can find their identity in the spiritual rather than the materialistic world. The book successfully challenges the reader to focus on what is really important: the spiritual side. This is then juxtaposed against the fleeting material wealth that inevitably fades.

The author does a superb job of explaining the importance of the spiritual side. Terms such as true love, the meaning of consciousness, and the importance of self-discipline are clearly presented as necessary pillars for living a healthy, fulfilling life. I personally found most of the ideas useful for everyday life, even if I already knew most of them from being an avid reader of philosophy. If anything, the book holds up well alongside philosophy and self-help books.

Unfortunately, the author often repeats himself and rehashes the same idea numerous times. Moreover, the book presents its assumptions without offering additional context, and this may disappoint some readers who prefer nuanced explanations. For example, the author frequently uses the phrases "some people would believe," or "some people would think.” These phrases, along with many others, are used to illustrate possible opposing arguments, such as whether starving children dying is a morally bad event to occur. While the author rightfully dismisses such arguments for this happening, no specific group or counter-belief is given, and the author explicitly tells the reader that every rational human should agree with such universal truths. This is okay for a self-help book, but I felt as though the explanation could have been expanded upon to further strengthen the author’s argument.

To quote from the book: the author presents "deep spiritual truths that are very agreeable to all" but does not explain why they should be agreeable, thereby limiting the book's audience. While the vast majority of readers will undoubtedly agree with the author, the lack of nuance and opposing perspectives, coupled with repetitive points, weakens his argument, especially for a philosophical book.

In it Together is an agreeable and enlightening book that is somewhat narrow in its presentation of what is objectively good and what is objectively bad or wrong. I would rate this book a solid 4 out of 5

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