The Holy Man [Paperback]

Susan Trott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1996

They came from far and wide to see the Holy Man, to find new direction in their lives. They walked away, forever changed by simple words of wisdom so powerful, yet so universal, that their stories are an inspiration to us all. This acclaimed national bestseller is a warm and witty parable of the human search for happiness.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Holy Man is a delightful pilgrim's tale set in the modern world. Written with wit and verve, it tells the story of a gentle-natured disciple who, in the space of a week, moves from fear and doubt to joyful enlightenment. Anna's teacher is Joe, a wise and patient sage who sees in her the acolyte he has long been seeking. As their relationship grows, she begins to assume his mantle, while he sees her become ever more sure-footed. Watching this relationship unfold is wonderful, and Susan Trott shows uncanny insight into the nature of friendship as well as the interplay between pupil and teacher.

But this novel isn't solely about Anna's progression towards enlightenment, since she doesn't come alone to the holy man's door--she is accompanied by her skeptical husband, Errol, and their two children. They, too, have spiritual journeys to make, and in so doing enrich and instruct both Anna and her mentor. The Holy Man is a charming read and an uplifting one that never veers into the sentimental or trite. --Lucas LoBlack, Amazon.co.uk

From Publishers Weekly

Trott, who has won a wide readership with her individualistic, witty novels (Divorcing Daddy), may touch some readers with this charming and quirky, if sometimes woolly, fable about a 72-year-old holy man named Joe and the pilgrims to whom he dispenses advice. Joe, who likes to allude to Jesus and Buddha, is very human and fallible, clandestinely taking pills for his heart ailment. Most visitors are rushed through his mountain hermitage in 20 seconds; he rarely talks to them but many seem to benefit anyway, letting go of egotism, envy, arrogance and other spiritual ills. Joe's wisdom too often seems lifted from fortune cookies ("Your life, stripped to its essence, is pure gold"). He glibly recycles Eastern ideas, as when he tells a grieving widower that his wife "was never yours. Nothing that you have is yours," and he occasionally slips into New Age psychobabble ("Einstein completely abandoned his ego.... Then he was free to think, free to release his intuitive power"). But his basic message?tolerance, overcoming greed and ignorance, recognizing the inherent holiness of people and nature?shines through Trott's prose. BOMC and QPB selection.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead Trade (April 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573225320
• ISBN-13: 978-1573225328
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #394,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in Andover, Mass, educated in Boston, Providence,and Bennington Vt. I fled the cold of New England to live happily ever after in Northern California, where most of my 15 novels take place with forays back to NE and to other countries. I am the mother of three, grandmother of eight. As my marathoning days are behind me, I've become a dedicated ping pong player and T'ai Chi dancer. My books have acquired a multitude of Hollywood options but just one movie, When Your Lover Leaves..., an NBC movie of the week. I live on a houseboat with my husband, who is retired from the Norwegian Merchant Marine, and my Cocker Spaniel who only sometimes retires from playing ball. I continue to be devoted to the craft of writing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lyrical Pilgrimage, December 28, 2001

By 

Vidya C. Sekhar "Vidya Chandra Sekhar" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Holy Man (Paperback)

This book is a metaphor (in the tradition of the Canterbury Tales) for the various journeys each of us take to find wisdom. Often we feel that someone or a place will give us the results we seek in life, but eventually the realization grows on us that the answers are already programmed in ourselves. In her writing, Susan Trott takes us along for the ride as she slices into many perspectives on the road to the Holy Man. Highly recommended reading... but give yourself some thinking time in between the chapters. It will help you reconnect with your beliefs in an authentic way.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Joy to read, July 17, 2003

By 

E. L. Weinhold "Lolly" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Holy Man (Paperback)

The Holy Man was such a pleasurable book to read. The writing style was simple, but the meaning was so deep. The Holy Man lives on a hill and people from every surrounding village, and some from even farther, come to ask his advice on every matter. There are small chapters of about 4 pages that introduce some of the pilgrims that have made their way to the Holy Man's house. The advice and words he dispenses are beautiful amd sometimes humorous.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read For Anyone With A Mind...And A Heart, April 6, 2000

By 

Pam Powers - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Holy Man (Paperback)

I'm glad to see so many favorable reports about The Holy Man, as it is quite possibly my favorite book. This book provides a model for life that is so succinct and simple; and really hits home in a number of ways. When I wasn't laughing, I was squirming a bit, even a couple of dozen reads later.

I have given away more copies of this book than I can count. I highly recommend sitting down and reading through it only a chapter at a time so that you can think about it. It's a quick read, so you'll have plenty of time to read the sequel, The Holy Man's Journey! It's great, too, but the first one is just a treasure.