What does it mean to be a philosopher by night?
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To different people, being a philosopher means different things. To me, it represents someone who pursues the truth and understands that truth is unwavering and does not change over time. Truth is a core value for the philosopher, as well as courage and commitment to community.
In pursuing truth, a philosopher thinks beyond the surface of what modern culture tries to force upon us, and he or she is willing to stand up for it. To have courage means to be willing, despite the odds and the fears, to defend truth and the freedom to express it at all costs. And last but not least, these things would be worthless in a world where we live on our own. To believe in community and do your part in it is to seek truth, defend it, and, in the journey of doing so, inspire others through our lives and stories.
Encouraging these core values enables the strengthening of our communities by giving them the ability to think critically of the world and their purpose in it, helping them find contentment in whatever situation they find themselves in, and becoming an example to those who still need a gentle push toward the relentless pursuit of truth, its defense, and the inevitable and welcomed outcome of living a life worth writing about.
When it comes to storytelling, I believe everyone is meant to be a writer. In a world of constantly evolving ideas, writing allows us to organize our thoughts and determine what is right for us, what is truth, and why we do what we do.
Throughout my years as a writer and independent author, I have developed a series of skills and strategies to write and think as effectively as possible. I want to share all of that with you as we grow together. I strongly believe that a society that can think critically and put those ideas into writing will allow communities to grow stronger, but I also understand that something like that does not happen overnight.
The idea of being a philosopher by night comes from the reality that we all have jobs, families, hobbies, and other responsibilities that we must take care of during the day. There is often little time left for our minds to wander. But, sometimes, in those late hours of the night, we have room to think about the important questions in our lives. Sometimes, we get those brief and beautiful moments when we get to be philosophers.
Let me help you tell your story…
When you subscribe to my newsletter, I provide you with resources to help make the most of those late-night philosopher moments through creative writing. Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools that humans have, and because I believe in its immense power, I created a "starter kit" for becoming a writer. When you join my email list, you will receive a free copy of my writing guide, 15 Ways to Overcome Writer's Block. You will also receive a free copy of my book, Red Magic. Red Magic is a poetry collection written in the form of love letters. The book also includes some reflection questions that will serve as writing prompts that explore what it means to live and what it means to love. I believe everyone has a story to tell and that they should tell it. It is our stories that often inspire and change other people's lives.
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Philosophy is the love of wisdom.
See below for some books that have changed my way of thinking and behaving and encouraged me to seek wisdom even more.
The Warrior Poet Way: A Guide to Living Free and Dying Well by John Lovell
In The Warrior Poet Way, public speaker, former Army Ranger, and all-around patriot John Lovell offers a needed antidote to the lack of strong men in our modern world. This is a call to all men to be what they truly are. Both dangerous and good. Lovers and fighters. Lions and lambs.
Both philosophical and practical, this guide dispenses essential advice on how to be a whole man, from tyranny-proofing your home to wooing the right woman. Through anecdotes of his time in the military, interviews with other men, and practicums at the end of each chapter, Lovell teaches the virtue of balance—navigating the tension between violent warrior and romantic poet—and guides men through each mental and physical change they must make to embody the ancient spirit of a real man.
Plato. Aquinas. Descartes. Kant. Freud. These great thinkers are still impacting the culture today―from public policy decisions to world events, theology, the arts, education, and even everyday conversations. In this classic book, the late R. C. Sproul expertly surveys history’s most influential streams of thought, proving that ideas are not just passing fads―they have consequences for generations to come. Helping readers better understand how many of these ideas have shaped their own thinking, this book will empower Christians to be a Christlike influence in the world.
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
In the book that People magazine proclaimed “beguiling” and “fascinating,” Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Barnum.
Some laws teach the need for prudence (“Law 1: Never Outshine the Master”), others teach the value of confidence (“Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness”), and many recommend absolute self-preservation (“Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally”). Every law, though, has one thing in common: an interest in total domination. In a bold and arresting two-color package, The 48 Laws of Power is ideal whether your aim is conquest, self-defense, or simply to understand the rules of the game.
Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. Foster
Hailed by many as the best modern book on Christian spirituality, Celebration of Discipline explores the "classic Disciplines," or central spiritual practices, of the Christian faith. Along the way, Foster shows that it is only by and through these practices that the true path to spiritual growth can be found.
Dividing the Disciplines into three movements of the Spirit, Foster shows how each of these areas contribute to a balanced spiritual life. The inward Disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting, and study offer avenues of personal examination and change. The outward Disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service help prepare us to make the world a better place. The corporate Disciplines of confession, worship, guidance, and celebration bring us nearer to one another and to God.
The Pathless Path: Imagining a New Story For Work and Life by Paul Millerd
The Pathless Path is about finding yourself in the wrong life, and the real work of figuring out how to live. Through painstaking experiments, living in different countries and the goodwill of people from around the world, Paul Millerd pieces together a set of ideas and principles that guide him from unfulfilled and burned out to the good life and all of the existential crises in between.
This book is a personal journey of awakening and is an ideal companion for people considering leaving their jobs, embarking on a new path, dealing with the uncertainty of an unconventional path, or searching for better models for thinking about work in a fast-changing world.
The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene
From the author of the multi-million copy bestseller The 48 Laws of Power and The Laws of Human Nature, a mesmerizing handbook on seduction: the most subtle and effective form of power.
When raised to the level of art, seduction, an indirect and subtle form of power, has toppled empires, won elections, and enslaved great minds. Immerse yourself in the twenty-four maneuvers and strategies of the seductive process, the ritual by which a seducer gains mastery over his target. Understand how to "Poeticize Your Presence," “Keep them in Suspense – What Comes Next,” and “Master the Art of the Bold Move.” Every bit as essential as The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction is an indispensable primer of persuasion that reveals one of history's greatest weapons and the ultimate form of power.
Reading and learning are critical for living a life worth writing about.
However, I understand that buying all the books you want can often get expensive. If that’s the case for you, you might want to try Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited (KU) program. With the KU program, you get unlimited access to reading and listening to Amazon’s MASSIVE book catalog (including many of my own books) for a set price every month. If you want to try the program for free, click here to visit Amazon and start your free trial. Don’t miss out on this valuable offer!
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