Review: "The Middle Way" (manuscript)

 

            I came across Cole Hastings (known on social media as seasoned tofu) looking for recipes for vegan meals.  His social media deals with vegan meals, body building, and self-help.  I have found his content both enjoyable and helpful, and he has even answered some of the questions I have asked him.

            He has written a book titled:  The Middle Way:  How to Strategically Use Laziness to Enhance Your Creative Power. Even before reading his book, I knew form his social media that he is influenced by Stoicism, Buddhism, and a dualistic perspective on the world.

            His book contains thirty-five one-to-three-page chapters in which he summaries all the lessons that have been helpful to him.  It is very readable and contains many good ideas to follow up on.

            In calling his book, The Middle Way, he says we should free ourselves from addictions to pain and pleasure and enjoy whatever life gives (4).

            He denies that anything is wrong, but I wonder if he really believes that (7), and he argues that if we “act as if” something is true, the universe will bring it to you (11).  He says that thankfulness is essential to good living (15), yet to understand you are nothing in the scope of the universe (33).

            He explains that success is being aware of your needs and removing anything that keeps your needs being met (48). He writes about the importance of self-care (64).

            The subtitle concerning laziness as the strategy to enhance your creativity means this: rather than pressing ahead and never stopping to attempt to be creative, take time to go for a walk, take time to sit and allow you mind to wonder, and so forth.  This may seem like laziness to many, but in allowing whatever will to bubble up into your mind will enhance your creativity (69).

            The second half of the book is an application of the things he teaches in the first half – and it is much more than I have said – this little book is jam-packed with ideas and guidance.

            In this section, he talks about the value of asking questions (72), writing/journaling ideas without prejudice and then going back to them, exploring what they might lead to (82), determine the work scenario that works for you – both place and time (86). 

Then he talks about several ways to practice laziness to your profit. And he explains the value of saying “no” – something I have been working on even before reading his book (112).

He recommends consuming other creators’ content to spark ideas within you (122) and get some walking in (124).

The book ends with a list of references.

I found Cole’s book interesting, encouraging, and of value.  It is short, pithy, and conversational – like you’re discussing these ideas with a friend.  And, as I have said, it covers a lot of ground.  This could be considered a life primer.

He said on social media that he hopes to write another book.  I hope he does.  He is a thinking person – and I enjoy interacting with people who think – who spur me on to further thought.

I do have questions that I hope I will be able to ask him about – how his understanding of dualism works, what he means by “illusion,” and so forth.

The one thing that bothered me is that he puts references to some ideas and quotations in his book, but not for all of them.  All the ideas he gets from others need to be documented.

Otherwise – it is a great place to start for anyone seeking to live life well and creatively.  Check him out.

            [This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]