Promoting Independent Thought

By Michael Drew - Aug 20 , 2008

Bruce Pinchbeck’s parenting formula includes the following principles:

• Don’t stifle them with rules and regulations
• Encourage them to pursue their interests
• Look for opportunities to guide them when they are receptive

Does it surprise you to learn that Bruce’s son B.J. became an entrepreneur at age 9?

Yep, while all his peers were playing video games, “BeeJay” was creating a web page “to help kids get their homework done easier.” Twelve years later, BJ Pinchbeck’s Homework Helper contains more than 800 links to educational sites, spanning a variety of topics. His home page displays numerous endorsements, including this one from Newsweek – “Move over, Bill Gates and Steve Case—here comes B.J. Pinchbeck!”

You think Bruce Pinchbeck is a proud Papa? You bet he is. His parenting style encouraged B.J. to become an independent thinker, and as Mark Twain so eloquently put it, that’s a pretty rare thing:

The quality of independence was almost wholly left out of the human race. The scattering exceptions to the rule only emphasize it, light it up, make it glare.

Would you agree that the world could benefit from a few more independent thinkers? Are you doing anything to help create them? I’m not questioning your parenting style; I’m asking if you’ve ever considered writing a book? Because in my opinion, authors have the same opportunity to shape minds that parents do.

Let’s look at some reasons why you should do this:

1. It’s a chance to clearly conceptualize your ideas and create something that’s never been created.
2. It’s an opportunity to help readers see the big picture and grasp the underlying principles.
3. It gives you a forum for challenging the status quo, as Daniel Lord Smail does in his new book, On Deep History and the Brain.
4. It increases recognition, which exposes you to new revenue streams, which gives you the opportunity to influence even more independent thinking.

Now let’s look at some reasons why you shouldn’t write a book and share your insights with the world:

I don’t know if I’m at a loss for independent thought or what, but I just can’t seem to think of any.

Questions about turning your ideas into a book may be directed to Michael R. Drew at the Austin, Texas, headquarters of Promote A Book: 512-858-0040. You can also contact Michael via email at michael@promoteabook.com.