Author Name:
Michael Marvosh
Book Title:
The Forest is the Tree: Three Big Reasons to Pay Attention to this Moment
Website URL:
https://www.michaelmarvosh.com/
Link to book page on Amazon:
Social Media Links:
What is your book about?
An approachable conversation about some of the perspectives we can take toward reality, ourselves, and our beliefs. A 21st-Century foray into the millennia-old conversation about what it means to be human.
What inspired you to write your book?
There were two main prompts. First: I was raised Christian, and never imagined I’d be anything else. Then, I became an Atheist and never imagined I’d be anything else. Then, I became… something else. Somewhere along the way, I realized I would never be finished, and I could never know how I would change next. Second: I was disturbed and frightened by the increasing political and religious acrimony of the last decade or two. I sensed that the problem was deeper than politics or religion, and that my journey with religion might provide a valuable perspective for looking at–and hopefully resolving–partisan conflicts.
If you have a business related to your book, tell us about it:
My current business (tutoring and contracting) is not related to the book, but I am developing myself as a speaker, and considering going into coaching. I’m keeping an eye out for opportunities that make sense with my topics.
What is a typical day like for you?
I get up, make coffee, and read (nonfiction) or write for a few hours, until I run out of gas or get interrupted with work. I then continue with whatever is scheduled for the day: tutoring, contract work, meetings, etc. I spend evenings with the family or playing games with friends. I try to get to bed early and read (fiction) before falling asleep.
What do you most enjoy about what you do?
The flexibility. Every day is the same, yet different. What I’m hoping to enjoy more of, however, is engaging in deep, real conversation with people who are trying to live their lives more consciously.
What are some favorite books you’d recommend to our readers?
The Beginning of Infinity, by David Deutsch. A Brief History of Everything, by Ken Wilber. Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with my Kids, by Scott Hershovitz.
What advice do you have to offer our readers?
When you’re afraid, upset, or overwhelmed: take a deep breath and pay attention. Acknowledge the experience as real and valid, accept that it has something to teach you, and allow it to move through you. It is when we ignore or resist these difficult experiences that we suffer–or worse, cause suffering to those we love.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I’m a really avid boardgamer.
What’s next for you?
We have a newborn right now, so it’s a lot of sleep deprivation and trying to figure out how to reestablish a functioning routine. But once I get that done, it’s more reading and starting to journal about my next book. I’m thinking of calling it “Mirrors of the Kosmos.”
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