• The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness

  • A True Story
  • By: Joel ben Izzy
  • Narrated by: Joel ben Izzy
  • Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (96 ratings)

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The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness  By  cover art

The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness

By: Joel ben Izzy
Narrated by: Joel ben Izzy
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Publisher's summary

When a storyteller loses his voice, he believes he's lost everything. In fact, he's been given a great gift.

Once upon a time, a successful storyteller lost his voice to throat cancer. Deprived of the instrument of his art and his livelihood, he retreated into dark, sullen silence and depression. While searching for a spiritual explanation, he encountered his former mentor, a cantankerous and often drunken old man. Their meetings began a journey into the timeless wisdom of ancient tales: of beggars and kings, monks and tigers, lost horses, buried treasures, and ultimately the secret of happiness.

In this altogether original book, Joel ben Izzy shares his personal account of surviving loss, gaining wisdom, and rediscovering one's true purpose. Weaving in tales he's collected over the years from Sufi, Muslim, Chinese, Jewish, Iraqi, Zen Buddhist, Italian, and Indian cultures, he passes along the lessons he has learned. As we travel with ben Izzy from tragedy back into light and sound, we are encouraged to see our own lives as stories, and to open our own hearts to happiness.

©2003 Joel ben Izzy (P)2007 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"His memoir shines with brisk suspense as well as his unerring, precise eye for including only the elements of his hard-won wisdom that matter the most." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness

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Wit and Wisdom, Tragedy and Triumph all told with Gentle Humor

Joel’s mixture FOLKLORE, Jokes, Philosophy, History and Biography is FACILITATING, EXHILARATING and COMPELLING! I give The Beggar King my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!

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Amazing listen!

Great story, well told by the author, lots to learn about life, loss and the secret of happiness. Love it

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Short and Sweet

This audio book is Sweet. You can feel the love and preciousness that went into formulating it. It is easily enjoyable, for any age.

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Classic, Timeless

recommended by many famous people interviewed by Tim Ferriss in Tribe of Mentors. Ben Izzy weaves timeless stories into his own life story with beautiful lessons for all.

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Touched my heart and engaged my mind

Worth listening
Excellent narration and story
Touched my heart and engaged my brain
Thanks for a great book

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He Answered my Question from his Performance

I listened twice. Great personal story told with a dozen traditional tales woven in. Similar to Joel's live style. Most powerful to have him use his voice for the Audio book .

Every Storyteller should hear this story.

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Great story

This is a great story told by a great storyteller. The near ration is great really enjoyed it. I hope to read more by Joel Izzy.

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inspiring storytelling

Inspirational, thought-provoking, entertaining. I would listen to this one again. I picked up lessons on story-telling, lessons on life, and even teared up at one point.

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Thought provoking...

This story is remarkable I believe for each listener because it has so many different applications to life and what it means for each person.

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Great way to spend the afternoon!

Entertaining and thought-provoking. I enjoyed it very much and will recommend it to my friends and am going to try more of Izzy's stories.

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