Hope . . . and the Hedgehog: Life? Death? And then what? Our personal quest...

by Tom Vaughan

How did life begin? How does it end? What happens to those qualities that make each of us alive as individuals after the bodies they animated die and disappear?
Taking inspiration from Sir David Attenborough’s maxim ‘Nature wastes nothing’ and drawing on the wisdom of commentators as varied as NASA astronauts, the Dalai Lama, existential philosophers, a couple of prescient teenagers and even an engagingly ‘human’ gorilla – Hope . . . and the Hedgehog distils the thinking behind the principal interpretations of creation, before presenting them to the reader in an easily digestible summary.
This is not a religious book and nor does it extol religion – rather it offers the same kind of assurance Bear Grylls presents to his readers. In the same way, it helps unpick the enduring puzzle that prompted Steve Jobs, creator and co-founder of Apple, to enigmatically describe death as ‘Very likely the single best invention of life.’ Which reinforces the importance of hope addressed here.

105 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2022

Reviews

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope...and the Hedgehog is a fascinating exploration of life, death, and everything in-between. What came before? What comes after? Does life have meaning? These are just some of the questions pondered within the pages of this book. And while religion gets mentioned a few times throughout, this is not a religious book. It's more about spirituality and faith, but it also does bring up agnosticism and atheism. As someone who has spent the last 25 years considering myself agnostic (although I am more of a mish-mash of beliefs type of person), I found this book to be thought-provoking and insightful. It made me think. It made me curious. It made me question certain things. I've always been a fan of the belief of reincarnation. That our souls never really die, but that they move on to another life somewhere. But I also like to believe that some people are lucky/special enough (for lack of a better word for it, I suppose) to move on and become a guardian angel. I believe my grandma became one when she passed, and I believe she has visited me in my dreams from time to time, even potentially saving me from...I don't even know what at one point (that dream is a whole story, and I don't want to bog down my review by including it, but it was intense and very realistic and scary).
Pondering the meaning of life, and thoughts such as where we came from and where we go when we die, can seem depressing, but for me, it's something I've always been curious about. Although, I will admit that there still is some lingering fear that pops up anytime I do let my mind wander off down those thought paths. I think it's only natural for people to be scared when it comes to death, because it is such an unknown.
Hope...and the Hedgehog is the type of book that you can just sit and read at your own leisure, while also opening your mind to some new ideas about life and death. It's also a book that includes some inspiring quotes from philosophers, activists, and poets. It's an intriguing read, and I quite enjoyed it for what it was.
4.5 stars.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
#iReadBookTours

Hope… and The Hedgehog by Tom Vaughan is a book Vaughan had extensively researched to answer difficult questions like, Is there life after death? And is there a God who has control of our lives after we die? Vaughan doesn’t try to point you to one thing. Instead he takes what he has found on the subject.If this is a subject you are interestes in, or maybe you have questions about these issues, I encourage you to read this book. Othes may be like me and have it all settled. I don’t need to worry about any of this because of my faith in God and I know what will happen to me, its all settled for me. Read through this book, and while you are reading I hope you can find a peace that will settle it all for you as well. I like the name of this book, it kinda throws you off a bit about what it really is about, but it’s a very clever name! This one is four stars for me.

A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Kameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.


If you read the book’s summary, you’ll recall the author states this is not a religious book. That’s the truth. They do not support one religion over another. However, they don’t push religion under the rug either. Tom Vaughan states, “…we cannot ignore that religion of every creed is embedded in human society that it forms an integral part of our lives.” Also, another truth. Even our government seems to be run by faith, which goes against the Constitution. The first amendment to the US Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Tom Vaughan also informs readers they have “no scientific, philosophical, or theological training of any kind.” That made this book more personal – less like I was getting schooled on a subject.

Tom Vaughan gave insight into many areas and posed questions to his audience. “Why are we born?” “Why are we here?” “Purpose of life?” “What happens after I die?” These questions have been on the minds of many scholars and non-scholars for many, many years.

Tom Vaughan made one remark that is 100% true: “Rich or poor, we all carry the same chronic illness.” Money might change your type of dwelling, but at the end of the day, we all get sick. We all die. Your cash and acquisitions will hole zero value to you when your body gives out. Speaking of wealthy people, I had no idea how much a person would pay to have their head frozen ($80,000) or their entire body put on “ice” ($200,000). Seriously, that money would be put to better use elsewhere. Instead of freezing all or parts of oneself, how about leaving your money to a charity?

You can’t discuss life and death without throwing in some science. Don’t worry, it’s not super complex information—just cool facts. You might find the answer to a clue on Jeopardy.

I could go on and on with my thoughts on Hope . . . and the Hedgehog: Life? Death? And then what? Our personal quest… by Tom Vaughan, but I think you can sense I liked it. I wasn’t expecting the colorful images scattered throughout the book. The drawings fit perfectly with the surrounding text/thoughts. Nice work.

(Find more reviews/ratings at www.superkambrook.com)

[Angela Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope…. And The Hedgehog is a Spiritual Book. I began reading this book a few times before I committed to reading it. Since I am a religious "believer" to a point, I wasn't sure how I would handle the "this is not a book about religion" premise on which I felt the book based itself. As I read, however, I found that the author discussed aspects of religions and many other thoughts, views, and concepts in his look at life, love, hope, purpose, death, and more. While it isn't a religious book--hope and faith certainly present themselves throughout the pages.

Hope…. And The Hedgehog Presents a Varied Assortment of Thoughts and Perspectives. I am not always a fan of serious philosophical thought, which is also not what this book is about. The author does a beautiful job considering ideas and perspectives from physical and social scientists, world leaders, social activists, thought leaders, and even examples from Bear Grylls and the animal world as he analyzes life and its purpose.

Would I Recommend Hope…. And The Hedgehog by Tom Vaughan? I enjoyed this book and the author's perspectives and ideas. He didn't offer definitive answers to life's big questions--but showed a lot of food for thought as he probed views on life, purpose, faith, hope, love, and death. With the various perspectives presented, and some relatively open-minded considerations, readers certainly have opportunities for further personal thought on the subjects. This book is excellent for readers seeking a starting point in evaluating or re-evaluating their own lives' meanings and purposes.

I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Vaughan’s book, Hope . . . and the Hedgehog: Life? Death? And then what? Our personal quest..., was an intriguing and thought provoking book to read. It offers some new ways of thinking about questions many other readers often wonder or ask. I loved how there were quotes from those from the past that gave their own interpretations. I like that it was not overpowering on preachy topics and uses different diverse opinions and thoughts. It was one that offers hope that I have been seeking within myself for a while now. The book is quite short and so easily to read in just a few short hours and should be read again and again. This is one of those books that I will add to my very limited keeper shelf to keep on hand and reread in the near future to remind me what I have learned the first time around of reading it.

I am giving Hope . . . and the Hedgehog: Life? Death? And then what? Our personal quest... a very well deserved five plus stars. Readers who are looking for new perspectives on life and death. I would be interested in reading more like this by Tom Vaughan in the future.

I received a paperback copy of Hope . . . and the Hedgehog: Life? Death? And then what? Our personal quest... from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a small and digestible entryway to the big existential questions about life and death. For anyone who has wondered about what happens beyond this realm, though this book doesn't give any concrete answers, it guides the reader in the direction of the right sorts of questions to ask. Quoting many sources intermittently - Hawking, Sagan, and Twain among them - this book looks to uplift and bring hope to what may otherwise seem a nebulous and terrifying topic.

As a person who is always questioning the meaning of life and beyond, I thoroughly enjoyed this short read. I feel it would be even better suited to someone who may not already be questioning life's more complex questions. It’s a good “beginner’s guide,” if you will. All in all, though, it's a great book to add to one's collection. And the cover art and inside illustrations are cute and very well done!

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really had no clue what to expect from this book, I found it such a thought provoking and inspirational read, one that I will go back to time and time again. I really took my time to savour each page and the quotes I enjoyed reading, I feel they give the reader a guidance through life, personally I have found this book very helpful. After reading a chapter or even just a quote it makes me appreciate my life and what I have. It made me take some time out of my day to sit and think about what I had just read. I really hope it helps other people, it is such a positive book. Also I loved some of the illustrations in the book, it made it more special for me.

[Marilyn GS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking and ultimately reassuring.