Hope … and the Hedgehog by Tom Vaughn Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway! {Ends 9/9/22}

Review By LAWonder10:

First of all, I was pleased the author clarified the title in the very beginning of his book. It saved me from being distracted by trying to connect the title to the story content.

Secondly, he may not have formal credentials or degrees, but I am impressed with the research and information he possessed. More information than a lot of “credited” individuals. 

Hope… and the Hedgehog is a well-thought out, well researched book on Where we originated from, Why are we here on Earth, and where do we go after we die. He expands on fear of dying and lengths some have gone to, throughout history, to preserve life, 

He also discusses the various beliefs and disbelief’s, and brings up very good points of discussion.

Along with the well-written thoughts, he discusses faith, and “believers” vs atheism they need to work together for human survival. A couple of points he made that I especially liked is:

1. The accounts he gives of those who have been in space and their views.

2. The comment by astronaut Michael Massinimo,  “We are all time-travelog, journeying together towards the future”

He further discusses love and human needs.

It is a “quick read” but inspiring book with a huge amount of research

I offer a Five star rating for this literary work.

I was gifted this book with no pressure to post a positive review. This is my honest review.

It is because many – if not most – people seem to confuse faith with religion that I wanted to write ‘Hope….and the Hedgehog’…  A small book described as ‘a pocket philosophy for the current age’. 

It takes a step back to a time before religion (if there ever was such a time!) to the very simple-and strikingly stark – binary choice we all have to face in deciding whether we think it more likely that life has a meaning and purpose (and therefore perhaps a continuum?) or whether it is just a meaningless, random cosmic accident.
A huge subject-one with which most people avoid engaging-this book attempts to simplify it and present it in an easy readable way. My aim being to encourage (not force or coerce) readers to think about it-that’s all. It is not a religious book.

A large part of my research for this book was undertaken by reading a wide variety of other writers from different periods throughout recent history-most of whom can be recognised  as being far more erudite than me. These include existential philosophers, naturalists, scientists, astronauts, doctors, atheists, believers-and even a couple of prescient teenagers!

I do most of my writing either at the kitchen table or at my desk, depending on whether I’m doing concurrent research-when using a pen is much easier-or whether it is at my computer. I definitely don’t write every day as there are
other important aspects of my life that need equal attention.

I’m not a very disciplined writer and I have no strict schedule that I feel I have to adhere to. I tend to write best when other aspects of my life are running calmly and smoothly, leaving me free to concentrate.

Procrastination is the number one enemy of all writers, and it is often easy to confuse this with writer’s block. Except for the most disciplined of writers, we almost all suffer from this from time to time. My remedy has always been just to
sit down and write-however unenthusiastically or even badly. It is amazing how this usually gets you back on track and, whatever you’ve written that you’re dissatisfied with, can then always be remedied.