Interview: George Bryant talks about More Thinking About Life
- NZ Booklovers
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
George Bryant, QSM, JP, MA (Hons) DipEd, DipTheol, AFNZIM, ATCL, is a prolific author and he is one of New Zealand’s foremost writers on people in society, based on his experiences as a teacher, preacher, public speaker, politician and social worker. He lives in Tauranga. George talks to NZ Booklovers.
Tell us about More Thinking About Life.
More Thinking About Life explores some issues that people are worrying about today, such as the lack of freedom of speech, diminishing empathy, our obsession for always wanting more, the importance of the words we use, the decay of truth, coping when the going gets tough, the need for more wisdom in politics, the search for happiness, confusion about the Treaty of Waitangi, and the future, possible extinction of human civilization. It is really a sequel to Life Is… which DayStar published in 2020, and New Zealand in 2050 (2022).
What inspired you to write it?
It draws together the themes of many chats with people in coffee bars and institutions to which I belong. The above issues kept popping up in conversations. The ordinary Kiwi, the ‘silent majority’, seems more concerned about what’s happening to life, the way society is going, rather than road cones, gang patches and speed limits. So, I’ve tried to clarify the issues for them.
How did you research the book?
(i) My life’s experiences
(ii) Numerous discussions and interviews
(iii) Relevant stories on the internet
(iv) Selected library books
My routine process when writing the book?
Most of my thinking took place early morning (5 or 6 am onwards) in bed, with my laptop at the ready. I go to bed early so my mind is freshest at that time. For example: What issue do I have to research today? Where will I find it? Who do I need to visit? What topic do I need to investigate on the internet?
Most actual writing was done sitting the corner of my favourite cafes for a couple of hours most days over six months, imbibing a cappuccino on the side.
Of course, I must have read and altered the draft of each chapter at least ten times, as new ideas came to mind during the day or when sleeping.
Favourite topic?
Probably the decline of the freedom to speak on certain topics and the use of certain words, linked with all the mis- and disinformation we receive, and the subsequent distortion of truth.
What did I enjoy the most?
Two things: (i) The actual writing of it, as I sat at my laptop (after all the thinking and research) (ii) Holding the finished book in my hands, after all the hard work self-producing it - and the satisfaction of re-reading some of what I had written!
What will readers take away?
I hope they will think about what they’ve read and, perhaps, act on it if they can. Several chapters end with guidelines for action, largely based on my personal experience.
What did I do to celebrate finishing the book?
Immediately, I quietly savoured dining out. Then I enjoyed organising two book launches, each with about 70 of my friends and acquaintances.
Favourite book this year?
I’ve spent most of the year thinking about, writing and distributing this one! Most of my reading has centred around what I’ve been writing. However, I did get a chance to browse through John Grisham’s latest, co-written with Jim McCloskey title Framed.
His style is similar to mine and centres on legal matters.
Next on the Agenda?
This was my 26th book and has left me somewhat exhausted! However, I have written one magazine article since and will probably write a few more.