Book: #Life
Q1. Hello Sir, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I am a 36 year old guy that lives in Peterborough in the UK. I am a University lecturer by trade and focus largely on coaching, development, psychology and education. I hold a BSc and an MSc and am currently a PhD researcher in ‘Epistemological Philosophy, Target Reflective Practice and the Development of Leadership’.
I have far too many hobbies, including art (I draw and have taken commissions), music ( I play the guitar), sport and exercise, and of course I read voraciously.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘#Life’ book?
This book is me bringing together the two disciplines of psychology and philosophy, which ordinarily sit side by side. So I had to try and bring both together in a way that people would both understand and relate to. The fact that this is my first book provided more than enough challenge, but I also had to decide on what life-based topics to include and what to leave out.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
There are almost too many to mention. Perhaps if I split them up that might help. Within the world of psychology the likes of Jordan Peterson, Jonathan Haidt and Carol Dweck. In philosophy I would probably say the eastern philosophers such as Lao Tzu and Confucius and the western philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius, Friedrich Nietzsche and Immanuel Kant.
In terms of general writing and rational inquiry, the likes of Thomas Sowell have been a huge influence.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
This would probably be either the nature reserve that I am fortunate to live very near in Peterborough, or the small country villages of East Sussex which is where my family and I are originally from. Both are very natural places, with Sussex seeming like it is stuk in some sort of time warp. It reminds me of simple times and a simple life.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
I think this depends on what kind of book you want to write. If you are looking to write a non-fiction booked that is well researched, then obviously a great deal of time is spent on conducting that research beforehand. If it is narrative non-fiction, then less so.
However, I think that everyone considering writing a book should contemplate what it means to try and produce something you are proud of and what level of work is associated with that goal. Having an understanding of the publishing process is definitely an advantage!
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘#Life’ book?
From start to finish it took 18 months, but that includes editing and re-writing. In terms of a first draft it was roughly 12 months, with the first 6 months mainly research-based. The editing process is actually very lengthy and combined with understanding how to publish takes longer than people generally think.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘#Life’ book to buy?
#Life is only available on Amazon, but can be purchased in paperback and kindle versions.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘#Life’?
The title is a bit of a satirical take on modern life being so social media focused and hashtag driven. It is a reminder to actually live life rather than just view it on your phone. I am not trying to offend anyone of course, but I want people to realise the wisdom that exists in the words of these great philosophers and how valuable they can be for living life.
The book cover was a difficult thing to come up with. How do you encapsulate a book that uses move quotes, song lyrics and literary references along with ancient wisdom and modern psychological research? Or more importantly, how do you make a cover for a book that is about life? I just went with designs from other books that I liked and went from there. The circular design on the front then represents the cyclical nature of life, entropy etc, along with a metaphoric target of living a better life.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I have used an array of quotations from really unexpected sources (movie, TV and so on) in order to help people understand the content, but also break up the monotony of the same voices. I actually use Homer Simpson as my ‘anti-hero’, who regularly voice the opposite of what I am trying to say (in his usual comedic fashion). Hopefully this has helped add some humour and life to the text, lightening the mood on what are very deep topics.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
That the wisdom we need in life is all around us. It is in our movies, in our TV shows and in our children’s books. It is even in the often simple but poignant words of our parents, children and friends. All we need do is pay attention and try to understand the deeper meanings of these words and how they bring value to our lives. #Life is an attempt to do that, by making the complex words of the greatest minds in history a little easier for everyone to absorb.
Book Is Available On Amazon
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