The Listener [Mass Market Paperback]

Taylor Caldwell (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Bantam Books (1975)
• ASIN: B001BAF4QI
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Badly needed in this time of religious and political hatred, June 4, 2004

By 

L. L Teuling "meloroze" (McAllen, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Listener (Hardcover)

This book, published in 1960, tells the story of 15 "souls" -- people from many walks of life -- from judges and doctors to a humble, devout cleaning lady. Each person goes into a sanctuary like building to spend time with "The Listener."

I won't tell you who "The Listener" is. You might guess, and you might not. But one thing I can guarantee -- your life won't be the same after you read this book. You can be Catholic, Protestant (with all the variations therein) or even a Hindu, Moslem or Jew, and be challenged by reading this book.

Through these 15 stories, Taylor Caldwell expresses more about the real essence of Christianity than all of the "Doctrinal" books I have read -- and as a PK (preacher's kid) I've read a lot of them. This describes more than a "religion." It is a relationship with the real originator of Christianity.

We have a lot of garbage being promoted in the name of religion today -- and a lot of it is in the name of religion, and trying to be carried out politically. It's easy to forget that Jesus Christ Himself was notoriously apolitical. He was about REAL spirituality -- something that starts in the innermost part of a person and spreads outward.

The message of this beautiful book is as important today as it was when it was written. The fact that circumstances and cultures have changed is irrelevant -- human nature hasn't changed at all.

Read this story. It will be among the most worthwhile time you've spent.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars for a Hindu, it`s a beautiful way to understand Christ, April 28, 2000

By 

juniartha I Wayan (Bali, Indonesia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Listener (Hardcover)

I am a Hindu believer by birth, The Listener is one of those few rare books that opened up my horizon to the truth and suffering of Christ (and human beings. In fact, this book gives me watery eyes every time I read it, and I read it often. The New Testament was written by The Apostles in The Apostles` words, while The Listener is The New Testament written by and in the laymen`s words.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Favorite!, May 18, 2005

By 

Katie "book worm" (PA , USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Listener (Hardcover)

This book has become a favorite of mine - it's a classic! I plan to recommend it to many of my family & friends - & I highly recommend it to you too!

The chapters in this book are actually categorized as "souls" - each one dealing with 1 person who came to "the Listener" in a broken state, and left healed (in more ways than one).

This book has the potential to really hit home - showing that we ALL have problems (no one is immune), and that we are NEVER really alone - a concept that is so easy to forget these days.

I don't want to spill the beans re: who the listener is, but after you read the first chapter you'll instinctivly know (if not by the first chapter, then definitely by the second). Once your realize who it is, it will serve as a reminder that we all have a "listener" - available any time, day or night.