it's the thought that counts

I remember a lecturer saying "reputation counts for nothing, and you don't have to take my word for that, one of the leading experts says the same thing"
it runs along similar lines to "take my advice, don't listen to what anyone says" as something that doesn't make sense as soon as you examine it.
these days I find myself trying to practise it, give equal merit to the thoughts of people regardless of their previous efforts
"everyone has one novel in them Baldrick"

so I have to convey a lapse, I recently discovered a book called "Simply Christian". although not arranged in alphabetical order I recognised the author's name so clutched at it cheerfully. the reason I was reminded of this particular lecture is that almost immediately I leafed through for the "about the author" bit, which is noticeably absent. Instead of a list of qualifications and reasons why this person is eminently suitable to produce this work there is a simple dedication to give a grounding in Christian understanding. I felt suddenly humbled, I steer a course to the value that each of us has our own understanding of the world which is equally valid given the confidence to express it, that together we can pool our understanding to create something much more far-reaching, and yet I had fallen into the trap of reputation.

I would recommend to anyone that they read the book as the thoughts of a fellow Christian, a traveller on the spiritual journey , and not look for clues to the author's qualifications, nor presume his understanding superior to our own. But I discovered the book because I was aware of them, not recommended so much as mentioned in conversation, and perhaps I was meant to.

What on Earth can that mean?