Let’s face it, we live in a sound-bite world. People don’t have the time these days to read books, attend lectures or watch long documentaries. For the most part, they wish to be entertained. So, in order to reach the masses of the Western world today with a crucial message, we need to learn how to get our message across in sound-bites — defined by Wikipedia thusly:

In film and broadcasting, a sound bite is a very short piece of a speech taken from a longer speech or an interview in which someone with authority or the average “man on the street” says something which is considered by those who edit the speech or interview to be the most important point.

I like Twain's concept of "a minimum of sound to the maximum of sense."

Before the actual term “sound bite” had been coined, Mark Twain described the concept as “a minimum of sound to a maximum of sense.”

It is characterized by a short phrase or sentence that deftly captures the essence of what the speaker is trying to say. Such key moments in dialogue (or monologue) stand out better in the audience’s memory and thus become the “taste” that best represents the entire “meal” of the larger message or conversation.

As a “big picture” kind of guy who has been blogging daily since February, I have realized that we never run out of anything to say about such a simple topic — eating the “natural” diet for our species. And while there is nothing complicated about the solution (Just two words — “Whole Plants?”), there is a great deal of complexity and resistance involved with how we created the mess we’re in — and how we’re going to get out of it.

Matt Lauer, someone I admire as a great interviewer; I must have my sound bites ready when he asks me those tough questions.

Hopefully, one day it will be my privilege to serve as one of the primary “voices of the health-promoting and Earth-friendly plant-based lifestyle.” If so, I need to be ready for that interview when Oprah, Matt Lauer, Dr. Oz or Letterman give me the call. I will need to be able to answer their questions simply, crisply and credibly in powerful sound-bites that people will remember.

That said, this morning I set up a spread sheet where I will begin storing sound-bites that might come in handy someday. And I already have a list with multiple entries in every letter from A to Z. Being the “big picture” guy, I must always be able to relate my answers to the big picture. As I draft those sound bites over the next few days, I will share them with you.

As you may know by now, this blog site and our book are both full of powerful sound-bites aimed at helping the mainstream thinkers of the Western world gain enough critical information quickly and easily — so that one day they may experience what I have been calling a blinding flash of the obvious. That’s when they will suddenly exclaim to their spouse, “Oh my God, honey, we’re eating the wrong food!”

J. Morris Hicks, "the big picture guy" ppromoting health, hope and harmony on planet Earth.

Then, after they come to that realization; if they care about their own health, the planet and the future of their own children, they may be ready to climb aboard the 4-Leaf train themselves; thereby joining the grassroots revolution to make things right. Later this week, I will begin sharing some of those sound bites with you — some of them may be helpful for you when you are asked questions about “why in the heck are eating this way?” Beginning in July of 2011; our sound bite series….

1. Big Picture — First edition (7-21-11)
2. Wasteful, Harmful and Cruel (7-26-11)
3. Environment — Land & trees (7-27-11)
4. Environment — Water (7-28-11)
5. Environment — Climate change (7-29-11)
6. Environment — Biodiversity (7-30-11)

If you like what you see here, you may wish to join our periodic mailing list. Also, for help in your own quest to take charge of your health, you might find some useful information at our 4-Leaf page. From the seaside village of Stonington, Connecticut – Be well and have a great day.

If you’d like to order our book on Amazon,  visit our BookStore now.

—J. Morris Hicks…blogging daily at HealthyEatingHealthyWorld.com

PS: Occasionally an unauthorized ad may appear beneath a blog post. It is controlled by WordPress (a totally free hosting service). I do not approve or personally benefit whatsoever from any ad that might ever appear on this site. I apologize and urge you to please disregard.