OnlineBookClub.org

If you haven't already seen it, please check out the wonderful topic created by Brenda Creech, How would you answer the opening question?

After seeing some of the answers there, I'm thinking for the second edition of the book I might add a small clarification to the Opening Question to make it read as follows:

"If you went to sleep in your body in your bed with your memories, and awoke in my body in my bed with my memories instead of yours, would you notice a difference? Would there even be a difference to notice?"

The only change would be the addition of the phrase "instead of yours".

I think that would make the question more clearly express what I actually had in mind, but on the other hand perhaps that would make the question to easy to answer and not pique the curiosity of the reader as much. The main goal of starting with a question is to get the reader thinking for themselves, with free-spirited creativity, to go along with the idea in the intro by Ram Dass, that idea essentially being that what the book says (i.e. the answers to such questions) are already within the reader and the book at best just helps them find what they already know within themselves, and perhaps more importantly to help them see that there is another person and by extension many other people and beings in this world that feel like they feel and know what they know, and that we aren't alone but rather in it together.

What do you think?

I agree that the addition of "instead of yours" would make the thought more clear. Also, I believe this would not take away from the introspective aspect of the question. I mean I would be equally curious and would give the same amount of thought to the question, even with the addition. However, this would make me completely put myself in someone else's shoes, without thinking about the fact that there would still be a bit of me (i.e my memories) in someone else's body.

I prefer the addition of 'instead of yours', as it makes the question clearer. It clarifies that we have no memory of our own but just the other person's.

I think adding the phrase, 'instead of yours', will make the question clearer has a clearer question will attract a better answer.

Yes, this is a good change. I think I saw people earlier questioning if they would keep their memories, but this change makes it unambiguous that you do not

I think the addition would make it clearer. They would still have to think about it but know that they wouldn't have both memories. They would have to contemplate if everyone's thoughts are similar or if they would feel different if the thoughts were different, or if they would be oblivious to it all.

I think adding the words "instead of yours" adds clarity to the question.

Great thought! I think adding the “instead of yours” would take some of the guessing away and make it clearer, like others have said. I also don’t think that it would take anything away from the original thought/question.

I like the addition of 'instead of yours.' I think it will make readers reflect more on their answers.

Complex questions will make the reader read it several times. But unfortunately some may not grasp the full meaning even after doing so. So I think the new edition is better

Since many readers interpret questions differently, they can become more aware of different answers and possibilities as long as they are openminded and put in some time and effort into thinking about their answers, especially during debates or discussions. I think that I was more engaged in answering the question because I had to think about it more before posting my answer. But that's just the thing. It seems that we started to go off on a tangent and didn't think about the question in the way that you wanted. Perhaps my interest in stories of living in other peoples' shoes has something to do with this, but with or without the extra phrase, I still think that the question is interesting. For simplicity and avoiding misdirection, I think that the clarification is a good idea.

The addition of that phrase will make the question more clear.

I think the addition of "instead of yours" will make things clearer. But honestly speaking, I am still thinking about that question. It is so deep. I am yet to fully understand the meaning or message therein.

I believed the adding "instead of yours" would definitely make the quote clearer. It would make the quote more introspective, as the premise is clearer.

Personally, I understand the opening question. However, I will support anything that will help clarify the message in this book. The target is to get this book across the whole world and we can't afford any unclear or ambiguous passages. So I support the change!