God Is My Broker: A Monk-Tycoon Reveals the 7 1/2 Laws of Spiritual and Financial Growth [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Brother Ty Brother Ty (Author), John Tierney (Author), Christopher Buckley (Author), John Glover (Reader), John Marion Tierney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 1998

With this latest work of fiction, a collaboration with New York Times writer, John Tierney, Christopher Buckley promises to be every bit as hilarious and witty as in his previous audiobook, Thank You For Smoking. In God Is My Broker, Buckley aims his sharp humor at the self-help gurus; and the likes of Stephen Covey, Anthony Robbins, and Deepak Chopra had better watch out.



Down to their last $304, the abbots in this story make a bunch of money playing the stock market--and then get carried away in today's commercialism and self-help principles when they begin to market their homemade wine. From redecorating their decrepit digs in the "peasant chic" style to outrageous television commercials to a "Cask-cade" water slide and artificial alp behind their monastery, (and passing off "decent Chilean table wine" as their own $16 a bottle brew) these monks will stop at nothing to get to the top of the wine business!



God Is My Broker includes actual excerpts from the writings of Robbins, Chopra, and Covey, and lists hysterical questions about God, money, etc., that followers of the "progam" can ask themselves!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Audio allows for playful enhancements to this capricious send-up of Catholicism, capitalism, infomercials, marketing consultants, and most everything American middle management holds dear. Set in an upstate New York monastery-turned-theme-park, this tale of wayward monks is performed with great spirit by Mark Linn-Baker (an actor whose credits include Shakespeare and a starring role in TV's Perfect Strangers). Dramatic organ and choral music accompanies the seven and a half spiritual laws and accompanying meditations and exercises ("Number six: He who throws the first stone usually wins"). Phrases in Latin, renditions of the Bee Gees, and Italian and southern accents distinguish characters and scenes and add dramatic dimension to this spoof on self-help and business books.

The chronicler of this good book is Brother Ty, a failed Wall Street trader with a touch for the bottle who has chosen to mend his ways by becoming a monk. He joins the order of St. Thaddeus, whose only renown comes from the bad wine they produce. The monks are in desperate financial straits, but they are led by a remarkably ambitious Abbott whose discovery of Deepak Chopra is the start of many a strange event and revelation. Chopra, the Abbott determines from his reading of Creating Affluence, is telling the monks how to make money. For example, when Chopra writes, "Go first class all the way and the universe will respond by giving you the best," the Abbott translates this into buying brother Ty a first-class plane ticket to Chile so he can buy wine to replace the orange dreck the monks sell. And on this trip Brother Ty does strike gold, although he contends that the tip he acted upon was from God. The Abbott insists on giving the credit to Chopra. And so it goes. The monks turn to self-help gurus, Brother Ty sticks with the Almighty, and soon the monastery is awash in money, fame, and ultimately, trouble with the Feds, the Vatican, and of course, Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes.

Brother Ty, Christopher Buckley, and John Tierney have written this book unashamedly and with infectious fun, and that fun will radiate blatantly through your audio speakers. Not recommended for listeners who can't muster a laugh at issues concerning the Church, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the wisdom of Chopra and other self-help wizards. (Running time: 360 minutes, four cassettes) --A.E.D.

From Library Journal

Billed as a self-help novel, this satire features Brother Ty (for Tycoon) and his wondrous advice for getting rich with God's approval. Optioned by New Line Pictures.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Random House Audio; Abridged edition (March 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553479504
• ISBN-13: 978-0553479508
• Product Dimensions: 15.7 x 4.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,524,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Books on Cassette > Health, Mind & Body > Subliminal & Hypnosis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The secrets of self help books revealed., August 4, 2000

By 

taking a rest - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: God Is My Broker : A Monk-Tycoon Reveals the 7 1/2 Laws of Spiritual and Financial Growth (Hardcover)

Christopher Buckley is an accomplished writer of several genres, although his humor and wit when committed to paper are very special, and at times especially sharp edged. Sharp, as only a quick intellect, a novel view on life, and a willingness to bring humor where others fear to tread can be. As the Son of one of the most accomplished men of letters, he has created a style that is all his own, and which frequently, one imagines, causes Buckley The Elder to wince.

The photo on the inside of the jacket is a good visual summary of Mr. Buckley and John Tierney as could be staged. Taken, I believe, in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral a monk enigmatically robed and seated in the back of a limo, resembles one of the cloaked Jedi Knights of Star Wars fame. No Jedi he, as this is the Brother Ty that will lead you, the reader, to riches. Bracketed on either side of the Monk, stand the authors; both nattily dressed, raising their glasses of wine, more as a challenge than a salute. I am not familiar with Mr. Tierney's work, but whatever he contributed to this book is very well done.

Divine inspiration guides Brother Ty as he seeks to replenish the coffers of the Monastery he has joined, after alcohol and his failure as a stockbroker brought him to a contemplative life. However what he finds is an Order that is rapidly becoming extinct, the Monks are on food stamps, the treasury depleted, and it falls to him to save it.

What follows is a wickedly written satire on self-help books in general, and those that concentrate on business in particular. But this book is different, for it is infused with the divine, and as He created the world in 6 days and then rested, His picking of stocks and commodities not only is a sure play, it is here for all to learn.

Another great work from Mr. Buckley, this time with his co-conspirator, Mr. Tierney.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Buckley Effectively Punctures Self Help Balloon, May 14, 1998

By 

Robert Derenthal "bucherwurm" (California United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: God Is My Broker : A Monk-Tycoon Reveals the 7 1/2 Laws of Spiritual and Financial Growth (Hardcover)

A few years ago Wendy Kaminer wrote a book, I'm Dysfunctional, You're Dysfunctional, that took on self help books and programs. Now Christopher Buckley assigns himself the same task writing a fictional account of a monastery headed by an abbot who is a devotee of Deepak Chopra. It's a fluffy, hilarious, yet incisive probe that makes a lot of self help writers and their readers look silly. Its a slim book, but with about 3 laughs per page you get you're money's worth. Don't read it if you are a fan of Chopra, Robbins or Covey though, as I'm sure it will stunt your spiritual growth, and set you back on your path to make millions of dollars in this lifetime.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Health Warning to Heed!, November 4, 1999

By 

Lindy (Concord, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: God Is My Broker : A Monk-Tycoon Reveals the 7 1/2 Laws of Spiritual and Financial Growth (Hardcover)

I feel I must WARN EVERYONE who has had RECENT surgery ...DO NOT READ this book till you are COMPLETELY healed. Pressure from laughing so hard could send you back to the hospital!