Customer Reviews

The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness: A True Story

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

EXTRAORDINARY, A ONE-IN-A-MILLION EXCEPTIONAL BOOK, A MUST READ, PACKED WITH WISDOM. You will not want to put this book down. Joel Ben Izzy is a professional storyteller who, because of a mindboggling twist of fate, loses his voice and is no longer able to perform. Months and months pass and there is no sign that his voice will return. How does a person let go and redefine one's hopes and dreams? Ben Izzy utilizes the tales he was once able to tell and applies their lessons to his own life. But perhaps the greatest benefactors of his experience are the readers who take to heart what he learned about the "secret of happiness."

I got this book as a gift. I sat down in my favorite chair on a warm afternoon and started reading and reading and reading. This thing is so damn addictive I couldn't stop! I ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting and it felt like I was only reading for an hour. That was a couple of months ago. I've started reading it again this week and it's just as fun the second time around. There are many little life lessons weaved throughout that made me ponder my own existence but with a great sense of humor about it all. This is LAUGH OUT LOUD funny. What a great little gem of a book. I've bought copies for several of my friends and they've all had the same experience I did. I couldn't give it a higher rating. This is a MUST READ for anyone who thinks about life and who loves to laugh about life's little twists.

I've read this book over and over, and each reading reveals deeper meaning, more humor, more sadness, and more wisdom. Joel ben Izzy's stories (which I've enjoyed for many years) are a wonder, but the way he weaves the stories he tells with the story of his life is unique and powerful. This is, by far, the best book I've read in years. I will give it for holiday gifts to friends and family, to my corporate clients, and to just about everyone else I can think of. Most important, I will keep reading it. This is the sort of book to treasure every time life throws you a curve, every time something goes wrong, and every time something goes right.

I started reading "The Beggar King" on a flight from San Diego to San Francisco. When the pilot announce that we were about to land, I found myself reading faster and faster. I just didn't want to put this book down! Ben Izzy is a masterful storyteller and the way he weaves ancient tales from around the world into his own personal (and authentic) story is fascinating. I found myself going from laughing out loud to getting choked up and teary-eyed, and then back to laughing out loud again. For me, that's one of the best gifts from a book like this -- bringing out our emotions and leaving us on a high. I know what I'm giving to my clients as holiday gifts this year! Definitely a great read with powerful lessons that I'll reflect upon for a long, long time.

THE BEGGAR KING AND THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS was by far one of the best books I have read in the last five years. Always on the search for that perfect novel that takes the reader through a wide range of real emotions and teaches something wise and profound with out being 'preachy,' Joel ben Izzy's book fit that criteria and so much more. I laughed, cried, sniffled, giggled and smiled my way from opening to final sentence. This would be an excellent gift book this holiday season and a welcome addition to your own personal bookshelf. I know you'll love it.

Reading about the author on the back flap of the book before starting the book itself nearly spoiled my attraction to Mr. Izzy's narrative because it gave me an idea of the conclusion. It is a non-fiction that is supposed to be uncomplicated; at least, that was my first thought. Fortunately, I was wrong. Little did I envision myself on the edge of the seat trying to figure out what would happen next! There was no mystery for me to solve but Mr. Izzy was such an enigmatic story teller, even on paper, that I was hooked. I have never listened to him in person or on tape, but I can imagine how adept he is in his trade. Each chapter starts with a tale from a part of the world where some have a clear moral value but a few of them require the reader to have a second look in order to reflect the significance. Mr. Izzy's great sense of humor brightens the grueling experiences and I'm sure that is one of the characteristics of a successful story teller or even a strong personality. The book is a well written and creatively formed idea that results in a fast and interesting read.

...this is a good place to start. Joel draws you in with his engaging storytelling, insight, humble nature. I found myself trying to slow down and read just a little every night because I didn't want it to end so soon. But I could just have easily read the book in one sitting. Don't miss this one.

This unassuming little book is packed with bits of wisdom. I loved quotes like: "The Talmud asks, 'Who is rich?' and answers, 'The man who can appreciate what he has'" and "Sometimes you must follow your dreams very far to find that which is closest to your heart."

The story is also funny and heartwrenching and uplifting. Ben Izzy's profound experience is told in a very real, personal way, and as he struggled to understand the loss of everything he valued, I struggled with him.

Do not miss this book...it is a treasure.

This is the best book I have read in a long time. I loved the author's technique of prefacing each chapter / theme with an ancient folk tale. This connected the wisdom of the past with the challenges of today. I found the author's style engaging and attractive (there are not many books I have trouble putting down). The teachings about life and God were profound. My only grateful regret is that I did not make notes while reading. I will now have to do that upon reading the book a second time - after I get it back from the people to which I have loaned it. My advice is don't borrow this book but buy your own copy. Then, when you read it, have a pencil nearby. There are many statements that are so life enhancing, that the reader will want to remember those passages and refer to them, when, in their turn, life grants a portion of challenge and sorrow.

This book found me the day I was attending the wake of a good friend. I was feeling miserable of course and decided to start this book minutes before I got out of the car at the funeral home to take my mind of off my grief. I read the prologue and was hooked to this story. It has changed my outlook on life and on the death of my friend. It is great how the author takes each folktale and applies it to his life. This book is full of many life lessons and I am truly inspired to look through the curses in my life to find the blessings like Joel ben Izzy did. I have just bought this book and plan to read it to my High School World History classes this fall. I think this is a must read book for everyone. Give yourself a gift and read this book!