Customer Reviews

The Twelfth Angel

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Twelfth Angel, by Og Mandigo, is truly an inspiring and heartfelt story. This story left such an unforgettable impact on me that I know I'm likely to ponder it for years. Everyone should absolutely read this book, especially those in need of inspiration and hope. This book leaves you with tears, with hope you never knew you had, and with the wanting to never give up.

I don't want to give away too much, but this book is about a young, diligent, succesful, loving man who moves back to his small hometown of Boland, NH, with his wife Sally and their young boy Rick. When tradegy strikes, John has to struggle to cope. His life is shattered and he ultimately looks to suicide as an answer. Fortunately, his old friend, Bill helps him out of the gutter, which is where his life now lies, by asking him to help coach the boys little league. Uncertain, John finally accepts.

The day of tryouts John notices a boy who is smaller than any of the other kids, whose baseball hat and clothes look about two sizes too big on him. This little boy isn't very good at baseball, but he kept on trying, the whole time with determination and a big smile on his face. Although some of the older and better kids laughed and smirked at his constant mistakes and misses, this little boy was never put down and never stopped. And to John's surprise, this boy was amazingly the splitting image of his boy Rick! At first John had even thought he could have been Rick. This little boy, Timothy Noble, was by far the worst player of all the kids who tried out, and who had managed, almost as if by destiny, to end up on John's baseball team, receiving a jersey with number twelve on it.

Early on in the baseball season, John noticed that there was something very genuine and original about Timothy. What John and Timothy both don't know, is that their relationship will become very close, as they both need each other more than they can imagine.

I absolutely loved this heartfelt story. I even had tears gushing down my cheeks as I neared the end of the book. I think that this book is truly inspiring and comforting. I loved how caring and concerned John was of Timothy, and I especially loved little Timothy Noble and how happy he was. I was truly touched by this story and will always cherish everything I learned from this book. The lesson I think that Mandigo was in a way trying to get across is that you must be positive and have at least a good-maybe even a great-outlook on life, no matter what comes your way. If you are positive, you have a positive feedback, making your life richer everyday and in many different ways.

I really enjoyed Og Mandigo's writing style, as he was very, very vivid with his descriptions. I definitely plan to read more of his books in the future, and I would recommend this book to anyone who can read!

I absolutely adore Og Mandino and he is my all time favorite author. I have just about all of his books and have read numerous books more than once. I cannot begin to describe the hope and inspiration he has provided to me in my times of despair. The world is a much better place because of the love, power, and strength of Og Mandino's literary jewels.

The Twelfth Angel is a powerful testament to courage, faith, hope and most importantly, love. I have carried that quote from Winston Churchill around with me for years, "Never, never, never, never, never give up!". Og is able to take the reader to heights I have never before felt with another author. I can now understand readers writing to him with their testimonies of wanting to end their life and after reading a Mandino story, they were infused with such hope and the courage to go on. This story will do that for you as well.

I am sure that we all have felt and experienced soul wrenched despair and thinking the only solution was suicide. John Harding, the main character, experiences these very thoughts and feelings and angels appear in his life in the form of some very special people, including a very special little boy named Tim. I really believe that it is little Timmy who gives John the will to live again and John helps to give back to Timmy, as he embraces life once again.

This is story which will make you cry and yet have you soaring on hope and love. As I said in the beginning, I absolutely love Og Mandino and have nothing but the highest praise for each and every one of his books. I re-read them often and share them with friends. I guarantee that you too, will fall in love with this incredible author - an angel himself.

Please give this book to your children to read - it will have an impact on them - guaranteed. This is the kind of book that will stay in your heart for days.

This is one of the most heart warming books that I have ever read. A friend suggested the book to me at a point in my life when challenges and disappointments were simply overwhelming. I felt dispair just as John Harding did. I shared that same emptiness in my heart and within my soul... I questioned the reason to live or at least how my life could be of any value when everything seemed so bad!?! This book was exactly what I needed to read so that I could find "the true meaning of life". This book was my first stepping stone to really change my life- I continue to read other inspirational/motivational books, etc. I would like to thank this very special man for entering my life. I really needed that same enthusiam for life that he holds in his heart and through his actions. His optimisim motivated me enough to discover things about myself and for that I am eternally grateful. I thank you, Matt. You are indeed a true friend.

Although I enjoyed this story, It wasn't as powerful as any of the "Greatest" series were. I found it to be too predictable. If you aren't familiar with this author and really want to get a taste of his brilliance start with "The Greatest Salesman in the World" I actually think this book would be great to introduce young readers (13 & up) to the wonderful and profound messages that Og teaches, especialy boys because of the subject matter (a lot of info about boys little league baseball) Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book, just not up to par for Og, in my opinion.

I'm only 13 years old and I'm not really a BOOK WORM, but I really like Og Mandino's "12th Angel". It's my book report in school. When I was reading it, I treasured its quotes in my mind like: Day by day, in everyway, I am getting better and better or Never (6x) Give Up! Sheesh! It touched me so much that it made me burst into tears. It influenced me a lot and I hope it will influence you too...

Og Mandino has written books that has a lasting positive effect on it's readers. The Twelfth Angel outdid all his other books. To say that the book is inspiring, is a great understatement. Even if one has not experienced the tragedy of the main characters, one can look at his' experiences in life and see the connection. Og Mandino has written a book that will forever have a lasting impact on me and the others. I'm not sure if the others agree with me but I'll say it anyway.... this is the greatest book Og Mandino wrote!

I've always enjoy Og Mandino's self-development books, both his nonfiction and fiction. The Twelfth Angel is trademark Og Mandino - it is a powerful self-development lesson taught through emotion and by example. It's a story of hope for the future, even when the future appears hopeless.

In my opinion, you don't just read an Og Mandino fiction book, you "feel" an Og Mandino book and The Twelfth Angel is no exception. He is one of my favorite self-development writers, so this review may be a bit partial.

Have you ever been through such a powerful life changing and emotionally devastating experience that you instinctively know life will never be the same again? You begin to realize that you are at an emotional fork in the road, you're either going to learn from the experience or end up wallowing in it. That's exactly what happens to the main character John Harding in The Twelfth Angel - his life is facing that powerful and often frightening life-changing fork in the road.

After the tragic loss of his wife and child in an accident, John Harding believes he is faced with the choices of either to go on living or to end it all. When it seems the bleakest, a friend comes to him asking for help. He's asked to help coach a boys little league baseball team. And slowly but surely John's life has hope and purpose once again.

We can learn so much from children. They have such an unstoppable optimism and enthusiasm. And in The Twelfth Angel, this is just what John needs in his life. This book is also about never, ever giving up. John begins to mentor Timothy Noble who is not the athletic type yet becomes one of the most important players on "The Angels" baseball team. Timothy teaches everyone about the power of possibility and persistence.

What can this well written story teach us? It teaches that life is full of purpose and wonder. You were placed on this earth to make a difference and it's up to you to find that purpose. As John discovered, with purpose you have the willpower to keep going even when the going looks impossible and hopeless.

This book is about courage, belief, hope, persistence and the power of purpose - that's how I'd summarize this powerful little story.

The Twelfth Angel is an easy read and in fact you can probably read it in a couple of days. Be prepared to read with your mind and emotions. Give yourself some quiet time to absorb the self-discovery lessons and feel the emotions these lessons can invoke.

If you decide to read The Twelfth Angel, please read with an open mind and heart because then you'll truly appreciate Og Mandino's wise lessons about the wonder of living a meaningful life.

I loved this book. I started on Tuesday evening and finished Wednesday evening. It's one of those "just can't put it down types". I found myself totally immersed in John Harding's insufferable grieve, and his compassioned interaction with little Timmy Noble. The ending made one wish there were more people like John in this rough old world. I will be buying several copies for my friends and family to read, along with a Kleenex or two. I've read several of Mandino's book, and think this is by far his best. My niece, Laurie, let me read her copy while we were on vacation. Thanks, Laurie. Love, Aunt Peggy

I've read every book that Mandino has written. This was the first book that got me hooked on this author. He is a great story teller and a great motivational/inspirational writer! This is a must read for anyone over the age of 12. If all little league coaches read this book, there would be less problems with out of control coaches. This is not about baseball but about how to deal with life and how to treat people.

I have read everyone of Og Mandinos Books and all I can say is that he writes with brilliance, clarity, enthusiasm, and spirit. You can never go wrong with any of his books. He points out the path to success and motivates the spirit within to achieve all that we as human beings are capable. He helped me to tap into my innate genuis and create a life of prosperity and creativity. If you havent raed his books, start now and your journey of the spirit will begin. He was a born writer and even after his passing continues to have a great influence on many people old and young. He truly lived a purposeful and divine life. Go buy all his books and enjoy the growth and enlightenment. After that Buy my Book " Your daily Walk with the Great Minds of the Past and Present". Enjoy and rememeber you are capable of great things in your life.