Nick HutchisonFounder and CEO, BookThinkers

The Every Man persona, with author Philip Gabbard

25 Oct 2022 · 1 min

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1:12

In this interview segment, Nick Hutchison asks Philip Gabbard what the "everyman" persona means to him and why it makes him unique. Gabbard explains that the everyman concept is about recognizing that all people share common experiences, fears, anxieties, and joys, and that authenticity arises from embracing this shared humanity. He notes that many people adopt inauthentic selves, creating a disconnect from their true nature. Gabbard recounts that his first editor introduced him to the everyman idea, which he initially did not understand, but through study and personal reflection he has come to value it as a form of character refinement that brings humility and honor.

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So what does the everyman persona mean to you? Why? Why are you unique? Because you're just like everybody else. I mean, it's, it's a little bit of a funny question, but so many people are trying to be something else and you're just you. And you seem very comfortable in that.
I am. I've been comfortable being alone without being lonely. I think an everyman idea, which is not— this is not something— these are new revelations for me. But the everyman idea is, is to really become in touch with the fact that we all go through the same experiences. We all have endeavored and endured the same fears and anxieties and, you know, good things and bad things, and we can relate. It's— there seems to be a disconnect at times with some of us that we go down these paths that we have an inauthentic self. And in those situations, I think we disconnect from who we truly are. And, you know, this everyman idea was shared with me from my first editor. And I didn't really know what it meant either, but— The more I leaned into it, And the more I took it on and studied it, I went, you know, I'm proud to have that kind of character refinement in my life. It's humbling and it's honoring.