ARA Review by SERENA COPE of In It Together

[SERENA COPE]

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

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3 out of 5 stars

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Eckhart Aurelius Hughes ‘In It Together: Beautiful Struggles Uniting Us All' is a poignant and thoughtful examination of the silent struggles that all people must endure. Instead of following a conventional plot, the book blends philosophy, introspection and emotional honesty in a series of contemplative dialogues. Hughes challenges the reader to consider suffering as a bonding experience that can even be healing when stared, rather than as something to avoid.

This book’s authenticity is what makes it so lovely. Hughes doesn’t make an effort to be too aloof of cerebral. He writes as if he has experienced hardships and decided to stay with them long enough to comprehend them. He discusses suffering, anxiety, happiness and kindness in a way that feels deeply human and refreshingly unpolished. You won’t find any flashy metaphors or dramatic chapter endings here. Instead, you’ll find someone speaking to the part of you that probably doesn’t show many people.
This book is notable because Hughes reinterprets struggle as something that is intrinsically unifying rather than something to be ashamed of. Just that message was a welcome change. In It Together, it gently reminds us that we are not alone and that even in our darkest moments, we are still a part of something greater in a world where we frequently feel so alone.

I rated this book a three out of five. The pacing felt a little repetitive at times, which is the only reason it didn't receive a perfect five. Without offering much fresh perspective, some reflections returned to the same topics. But that is more than made up for by the quiet wisdom and emotional sincerity throughout. It's the type of book you underline, highlight, and go back to when life gets too much.

Strongly suggested for anyone who enjoys quiet, introspective books that touch the soul without preaching.

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