Mehmet Yildiz's Blog: Updates from Dr Mehmet Yildiz - Posts Tagged "rfk-jr"
Why Writing A Book About Robert F Kennedy Was the Most Challenging Among My 50+ Books
I Finished the Hardest Book of My Life, And Here Is What I Learned
This was the first project I nearly cancelled. I endured the pressure using the same mental models I teach superlearners and superachievers, with steady guidance from trusted mentors.
ISBN: 9798227128720
This was unlike any of the 50+ books I have written. It was harder than my scientific or technical books, more emotionally demanding than my story collections about leadership, and more complex than any of my strategy manuals.
It challenged not only my knowledge and stamina but my values, reputation, and sense of purpose as a writer.
I started turning my research manuscript into a book manuscript 12 months ago. I titled it The Mysterious Leadership Mind of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: How Cognitive & Behavioral Science Explain Thinking & Action Beyond the Box.
Then I announced that I am writing this book publicly in a story titled Who Is the Real RFK Jr. & How Cognitive Science Unpacks His Leadership, Influence, & Legacy in February 2025.
The First Time Challenges in my 40+ Years of Book Authoring
When I quietly began writing it, I did not anticipate how polarizing the subject would be. Some people discouraged me gently, and some harshly.
Others told me plainly that writing about RFK Jr. would damage my credibility and author reputation.
A few said it was not worth the trouble, so cancel it. Several even suggested that publishing the book would be a mistake that could haunt me for years, so I should even delete my stories and newsletters about it.
They tried to scare me and give doubts as BAITERs do in Dr Phil's vernacular.
These intense reactions surprised and even shocked me a bit when some strangers and online trolls started threatening me.
To reasonable critics, I said I had followed his work for decades, not as a supporter or critic, but as a cognitive scientist and observer of human behavior.
I was very much interested in how he handled grief in his younger years, how he challenged authority in his mid-years, how he framed arguments, and how his voice, both literal and metaphorical, shaped public reaction and finally became the Secretary of the biggest health department, HHS, in the United States.
My research has never been about promoting or attacking his ideas. It was about understanding an interesting leader whose lifestyle and activities resonated with me at multiple levels, and it could be interesting for aspiring leaders.
Still, the wave of doubt became strong due to massive email messages from Substack and Medium readers. I was on the verge of cancelling the project.
At one point, I quietly archived my manuscript, unsure if I would return to it, and told my wife I think this would be my first project to cancel. She couldn't believe her ears at first, but respected my decision.
I keep remembering the wise words of my mental hero, Madame Curie: "There is nothing to fear in life, just to be understood." This became my mantra in challenging times like these in the last six months.
Besides, gratefully, my wise mentors reminded me of something I had forgotten in this dilemma. They told me that writing is not always about acceptance by others. Sometimes it is about accuracy, honesty, integrity, truth-telling, and completion.
They believed I could finish what I started, and more importantly, that I should. They highly recommended that I continue and ignore BAITERs.
Their quiet confidence gave me the clarity and additional courage I needed in these challenging times. I always listen to my wise mentors, friends, editors, publishers, and my supportive wife.
I resisted the strong temptation of cancelling it. Over the next six months, I focused fully on completing the project.
I wrote with discipline and respect to my potential readers who want to learn my side of the truth.
I studied my massive research manuscript about RFK Jr. through the lens of leadership psychology, ethical behavior, rhetorical strategy, activism, legal issues, and cognitive bias.
I had to change my usual and casual voice for my book writing. I returned to my academic style, which Grammarly hated, giving every sentence red as it was written in passive style, unlike my active voice.
But I did not want it to be complex with jargon or complicated sentences. I shortened the sentences and used Hemingway Editor for each chapter to lower the content reading levels from Grade 17 to Grade 7 level without compromising scientific rigor, which the narrative required.
I did not write it as a biography or an opinion piece. I wrote a structured, methodically analyzed, and educational resource that helps readers at any level understand persuasion, pressure, identity, and legacy.
My focus was on aspiring leaders who can get the best out of this book, so each chapter included practical tips based on the narrative part of the book.
The Relief of Completion in Mid-July 2025
I submitted the completed versions to publishers. This week, the book passed quality checks by global publishing platforms like Findaway Voices for audio, Ingram and Amazon for global paperback, and my digital distributor, Draft2Digital, which will distribute it to many reputable bookstores globally.
I narrated the audiobook using Google Studios. I am very grateful to Google Play employees who supported me while recording it with a preferred virtual voice, with the utmost care I needed for it. Every sentence carried my intention and tone from a popular American model voice by Martin G.
Today, I uploaded the early access version as a complete digital and audio bundle to my discount bookstore at Digitalmehmet Content Ecosystem in EPUB, MOBI, PDF, and MP3 formats, zipped as one product bundle for interested readers and listeners.
This book is not just about a public figure like a traditional biography. It is a cognitive, psychological, and behavioral analysis about how we perceive the minds of leadership, how we assign meaning to speech and silence, and how courage sometimes looks like quiet persistence.
I am pleased I finished it successfully and on time. I will further improve it with beta readers' feedback and guidance from three senior editors and six subject matter experts to make it a full version next month.
Here is a sample draft chapter I shared four months ago on this platform. But it does not reflect my narrative style in the published version.
The Mysterious Leadership Mind of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
How Cognitive and Behavioral Science Explain Thinking and Action Beyond the Boxmedium.com
Key Takeaways
To fellow writers who feel stuck, who are told that their ideas are too risky or controversial, I want to say this clearly:
You can write with care and truth. You can challenge assumptions while maintaining your values. You can finish difficult projects and grow stronger for doing so.
Writing should never be confined by fear or anxiety. As long as your work is grounded in honesty, integrity, respect, and curiosity, it will find those who are ready to read it.
In a time when loud voices often drown out thoughtful ones, we need books that ask more than they answer, that offer analysis without accusation, that invite us to understand before we judge.
I hope this work reflects that spirit for my loyal and potential readers. And I hope it encourages other writers to move forward with grace, even when the topic feels heavy and the road uncertain.
I invite you to keep creating space for diverse thought, careful inquiry, and meaningful reflection. That is how change begins.
I will soon upload the digital and audio versions to my Health & Wellness Network publication on Substack for members.
You can contact me via my author platform, the Digitalmehmet Content Ecosystem
https://digitalmehmet.com
I also created a new platform called Substack Mastery at https://substackmastery.com, https://substackmastery.org, https://substackmastery.net and https://substackmastery.blog to serve different audience. I explained my vision and mission for Substack Mastery in an article on Medium.com
Why I Bought 4 Domains for Substack Mastery Version 2.0
Here is the link to the story: https://medium.com/illumination/visio...
This was the first project I nearly cancelled. I endured the pressure using the same mental models I teach superlearners and superachievers, with steady guidance from trusted mentors.
ISBN: 9798227128720
This was unlike any of the 50+ books I have written. It was harder than my scientific or technical books, more emotionally demanding than my story collections about leadership, and more complex than any of my strategy manuals.
It challenged not only my knowledge and stamina but my values, reputation, and sense of purpose as a writer.
I started turning my research manuscript into a book manuscript 12 months ago. I titled it The Mysterious Leadership Mind of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: How Cognitive & Behavioral Science Explain Thinking & Action Beyond the Box.
Then I announced that I am writing this book publicly in a story titled Who Is the Real RFK Jr. & How Cognitive Science Unpacks His Leadership, Influence, & Legacy in February 2025.
The First Time Challenges in my 40+ Years of Book Authoring
When I quietly began writing it, I did not anticipate how polarizing the subject would be. Some people discouraged me gently, and some harshly.
Others told me plainly that writing about RFK Jr. would damage my credibility and author reputation.
A few said it was not worth the trouble, so cancel it. Several even suggested that publishing the book would be a mistake that could haunt me for years, so I should even delete my stories and newsletters about it.
They tried to scare me and give doubts as BAITERs do in Dr Phil's vernacular.
These intense reactions surprised and even shocked me a bit when some strangers and online trolls started threatening me.
To reasonable critics, I said I had followed his work for decades, not as a supporter or critic, but as a cognitive scientist and observer of human behavior.
I was very much interested in how he handled grief in his younger years, how he challenged authority in his mid-years, how he framed arguments, and how his voice, both literal and metaphorical, shaped public reaction and finally became the Secretary of the biggest health department, HHS, in the United States.
My research has never been about promoting or attacking his ideas. It was about understanding an interesting leader whose lifestyle and activities resonated with me at multiple levels, and it could be interesting for aspiring leaders.
Still, the wave of doubt became strong due to massive email messages from Substack and Medium readers. I was on the verge of cancelling the project.
At one point, I quietly archived my manuscript, unsure if I would return to it, and told my wife I think this would be my first project to cancel. She couldn't believe her ears at first, but respected my decision.
I keep remembering the wise words of my mental hero, Madame Curie: "There is nothing to fear in life, just to be understood." This became my mantra in challenging times like these in the last six months.
Besides, gratefully, my wise mentors reminded me of something I had forgotten in this dilemma. They told me that writing is not always about acceptance by others. Sometimes it is about accuracy, honesty, integrity, truth-telling, and completion.
They believed I could finish what I started, and more importantly, that I should. They highly recommended that I continue and ignore BAITERs.
Their quiet confidence gave me the clarity and additional courage I needed in these challenging times. I always listen to my wise mentors, friends, editors, publishers, and my supportive wife.
I resisted the strong temptation of cancelling it. Over the next six months, I focused fully on completing the project.
I wrote with discipline and respect to my potential readers who want to learn my side of the truth.
I studied my massive research manuscript about RFK Jr. through the lens of leadership psychology, ethical behavior, rhetorical strategy, activism, legal issues, and cognitive bias.
I had to change my usual and casual voice for my book writing. I returned to my academic style, which Grammarly hated, giving every sentence red as it was written in passive style, unlike my active voice.
But I did not want it to be complex with jargon or complicated sentences. I shortened the sentences and used Hemingway Editor for each chapter to lower the content reading levels from Grade 17 to Grade 7 level without compromising scientific rigor, which the narrative required.
I did not write it as a biography or an opinion piece. I wrote a structured, methodically analyzed, and educational resource that helps readers at any level understand persuasion, pressure, identity, and legacy.
My focus was on aspiring leaders who can get the best out of this book, so each chapter included practical tips based on the narrative part of the book.
The Relief of Completion in Mid-July 2025
I submitted the completed versions to publishers. This week, the book passed quality checks by global publishing platforms like Findaway Voices for audio, Ingram and Amazon for global paperback, and my digital distributor, Draft2Digital, which will distribute it to many reputable bookstores globally.
I narrated the audiobook using Google Studios. I am very grateful to Google Play employees who supported me while recording it with a preferred virtual voice, with the utmost care I needed for it. Every sentence carried my intention and tone from a popular American model voice by Martin G.
Today, I uploaded the early access version as a complete digital and audio bundle to my discount bookstore at Digitalmehmet Content Ecosystem in EPUB, MOBI, PDF, and MP3 formats, zipped as one product bundle for interested readers and listeners.
This book is not just about a public figure like a traditional biography. It is a cognitive, psychological, and behavioral analysis about how we perceive the minds of leadership, how we assign meaning to speech and silence, and how courage sometimes looks like quiet persistence.
I am pleased I finished it successfully and on time. I will further improve it with beta readers' feedback and guidance from three senior editors and six subject matter experts to make it a full version next month.
Here is a sample draft chapter I shared four months ago on this platform. But it does not reflect my narrative style in the published version.
The Mysterious Leadership Mind of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
How Cognitive and Behavioral Science Explain Thinking and Action Beyond the Boxmedium.com
Key Takeaways
To fellow writers who feel stuck, who are told that their ideas are too risky or controversial, I want to say this clearly:
You can write with care and truth. You can challenge assumptions while maintaining your values. You can finish difficult projects and grow stronger for doing so.
Writing should never be confined by fear or anxiety. As long as your work is grounded in honesty, integrity, respect, and curiosity, it will find those who are ready to read it.
In a time when loud voices often drown out thoughtful ones, we need books that ask more than they answer, that offer analysis without accusation, that invite us to understand before we judge.
I hope this work reflects that spirit for my loyal and potential readers. And I hope it encourages other writers to move forward with grace, even when the topic feels heavy and the road uncertain.
I invite you to keep creating space for diverse thought, careful inquiry, and meaningful reflection. That is how change begins.
I will soon upload the digital and audio versions to my Health & Wellness Network publication on Substack for members.
You can contact me via my author platform, the Digitalmehmet Content Ecosystem
https://digitalmehmet.com
I also created a new platform called Substack Mastery at https://substackmastery.com, https://substackmastery.org, https://substackmastery.net and https://substackmastery.blog to serve different audience. I explained my vision and mission for Substack Mastery in an article on Medium.com
Why I Bought 4 Domains for Substack Mastery Version 2.0
Here is the link to the story: https://medium.com/illumination/visio...
Updates from Dr Mehmet Yildiz
Dr Mehmet Yildiz is a postdoctoral researcher in cognitive science and technologist who has worked as a Distinguished Enterprise Architect certified by the Open Group on multi-billion dollar enterpris
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