Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an avid lover of learning. From early on I tended to develop interests in a wide variety of subjects and spend an unusual amount of time trying to learn about them. I usually tend to look at those topics from a point of view that is slightly off the beaten path. I seem to have trouble doing anything exactly the way other people do them, but at the same time, I am not usually to the opposite extreme either. The main topics that have stuck with me throughout my life includes: health and healing, religion and philosophy (especially the more eastern forms), exercise and longevity, little known investing methods for early retirement (who doesn’t want that?) and self defense for the nice person. So far, The Wisdom and Peace of the Teachings of the Tao Te Ching is my first book, but I have others on the way. I think my investing book will come out next, and soon.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current book is The Wisdom and Peace of the Teachings of the Tao Te Ching. When I was in college I went through a rough patch emotionally. I went from being in a small town where I was known to a big college where I was a number. I had been good at sports, but I really wasn’t all that special compared to the people around me in college. My friends were mostly engineers, and I wasn’t, so when they all started working on projects I felt left out and alone. I ended up spending most of my time at a used book store across the street from the apartment complex I was living at. I bought enough books on religion and eastern philosophy to make my own book store. I eventually came across the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. It was my favorite of all the books I had read, yet it was so short and simple and to the point. I read every version I could find. The book was written thousands of years ago, so some of the wording was hard to digest, and each writer interpreted each short chapter just slightly differently. Eventually, I had friends going through rough times and I would recommend this book to them. But each time they would complain that they couldn’t understand a lot of it, so I would sit down and tell them what each chapter meant. Eventually, I started writing down these interpretations. Recently, a friend mentioned that I should publish my book. I had tried to publish a few things years ago, but the industry was different then, and publishing a book was harder and expensive. Now, things are easier, and I decided to give it a try.If my book helped even one other person it would be worth my effort. And now when I suggest the Tao Te Ching I can give out my version.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have odd writing habits, other than reading my words over and over and over. Especially with my Tao Te Ching version, I wanted the book to be plain and simple, but I still wanted to retain a certain poetic rhythm to the readings at the same time. I wanted a specific cadence. I am that way quite a bit when I write. I want the writings to express meaning, but I am picky about the words and the rhythm. I’m not like this here, in this interview, but when I am writing I am ultra picky.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching is an obvious influence. The works of other eastern philosophers as well- Bankei Zen was a big influence. It is a very straight forward system of Zen. I like authors and books that cut to the chase, take out all the fluff and get right to the point. Buddhism and Zen in general are influences. All of the religions are really- I believe they all have a common core teaching that runs through them. They all teach love, and they all teach that there is an Intelligence back of all we know that runs the show. That there is more to this world, and what is beyond, than we can comprehend at this point. Each religion also seems to have other teachings that are added to this core, big picture. But those added teachings tend to be “how not to kill each other until you mature enough to understand the big picture” kind of things. The lesser teachings are cultural, and teachings related to the time period of that religion- hygiene and things like that. These lesser teachings of “don’t kill each other” and “don’t have lots of unprotected sex with a lot of different people” tend to be what the masses concentrate on and argue and fight over, while missing the big picture entirely. They will argue over whether a woman should be able to talk in church or not, or teach, while missing the big picture.
What are you working on now?
I am finishing up my book on investing. One of the underlying themes of my life is freedom. For me, the Tao Te Ching is trying to deliver freedom from the bondage of being attached to this world. Attached to our bodies and what happens to them, and attached to having to have “stuff” to make us happy. In my work, I also want to be free. I tried working for other people and it just didn’t stick. I am attracted to investing because I don’t feel that the way society works is the way it is meant to be. I feel that the human race has cornered ourselves into having to work hard, often husband and wife both working, and sometimes having to work multiple jobs each, just to live. I don’t think this is how it is supposed to be. If you look at native peoples that have not yet “civilized”, there are obvious drawbacks, but at the same time, as long as they have shelter, hygiene and a good water and food supply, they are very happy and healthy. They tend to work 2-4 hours per day to secure the things needed to live, then they rest, socialize and play the rest of the time. I think this is how we are meant to be. By becoming financially independent, we can get back to that way of living. My new book is a guide to help people get to that point. I am not quite there myself, but close. And I have found a method that makes that idea a reality fairly quickly.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have no idea. I am a horrible salesman. I like learning, testing what I learned, and passing it along. I don’t like trying to figure out how to market or sale that information.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I really don’t, as of yet. I don’t like to teach anything I don’t know. I know how to learn, and how to put what I have learned into book form, but we’ll have to see if I can sell it. If I do, then I’ll give advice.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To only take advice from someone who has what you want. EVERYBODY wants to give you advice, and they mean well. But people can only give you what they have in them. If you want to open a gym, find a gym like the one you want to have and ask that person for advice. If you take advice from a gym owner that only has 5 customers, that person is giving you advice that is only good for getting 5 customers. If you take advice from someone that has never run a gym, they may have good ideas, but remember that they don’t know what is really going on. When you take advice from someone who has what you want, that’s when you really listen.
What are you reading now?
A few Zen books, Master Yunmen right now. I’m also rereading Bankai Zen books and a few others. I’m also reading A LOT of books on publishing books for Kindle 🙂
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to get my investment book out, and then start on a Self Defense for Beginners series, maybe one for women specifically. Then a few health books- diet and thyroid gland issues. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis specifically. I have a few other ideas, but I’m going to get those out first.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My Tao Te Ching version- I just love that book. And two blank books to write in. I like to create more than I like to read.
Author Websites and Profiles
Matthew Barnes Amazon Profile