Faith, Hope and Carnage

By: Nick Cave, Seán O'Hagan

Narrated by: Nick Cave, Seán O'Hagan

Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

This program is read by the authors. Featuring sixteen musical codas and elements from the Carnage, Skeleton Tree and Ghosteen albums, it also includes an exclusive, additional 12-minute conversation between Cave and O’Hagan about the production of the recording.

Faith, Hope and Carnage is a book about Nick Cave’s inner life.

Created from more than forty hours of intimate conversations with Seán O’Hagan, it is a profoundly thoughtful exploration, in Cave’s own words, of what really drives his life and creativity.

The book examines questions of faith, art, music, freedom, grief, and love. It draws candidly on Cave’s life, from his early childhood to the present day, his loves, his work ethic, and his dramatic transformation in recent years.

From a place of considered reflection, Faith, Hope and Carnage offers ladders of hope and inspiration from a true creative visionary.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

©2022 Nick Cave and Sean O'Hagan (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Beautiful conversations between beautiful souls

Whether you’re a Nick Cave fan or if you haven’t heard a single second of his music (is that even possible?), I can’t recommend this enough. Cave’s openness and O’Hagan’s thoughtful questions and observations makes for an experience that is profound, funny, moving, and ultimately uplifting. The audiobook features both gentlemen carrying out their conversation and is arguably the best way to experience the material.

Do you like to think deeply about things?

So does Nick Cave. This book was not at all what I expected, it was so much better. Not an autobiography or a memoir, instead it takes the listener on a rolling journey of seeking and questioning that is simultaneously thought provoking and enlightening. I'm ready to start it again and listen through a second time. Highly recommended.

Faith Hope Carnage and a beautiful, enduring love story

Oh to find the kind of love Nick holds for Susie. Yes, this book is deep and funny and raw, but to hear Nick describe his relationship with Susie is itself a revelation. Don’t be put off by the almost awkward reading in the beginning. The ease of the conversation builds and builds until it all comes stunningly to life. And death and sorrow and joy. Thank you, Sean and Nick. What a gift!

A life changing and affirming listen.

Thank you Nick and Sean for this. I truly think this conversation will stand the test of time as a resource for those seeking and examining the nature of existence and loss.

What a wonderful hopeful book!

I’ve always liked Nick Cave. And this book sums up the best in him. Hope and love, faith, religion and pain. Extraordinary man.

A beautiful conversation

A trusted friend recommended this book to me and even though I’ve never been a true fan of Nick Cave I gave it a try. Found it to be a wide ranging wild ride through important topics: creativity, religion, grief, the impact of the pandemic, forgiveness and gifts of aging.
I urge anyone interested in listening in on this intelligent, thought-provoking conversation to also give it a try.

Truly amazing

I will say first I think the audio book is probably a million times better then the written book because it’s overall a moving conversation and I’m not sure that would translate to written word as well.
Other then that I have to say I cried FOUR TIMES listening to this. Nick cave is one of my absolute favorite musicians first of all but I believe that even if he was not I would still be deeply moved by this entire conversation.
I started listening to this on the anniversary of my brothers death and was absolutely shocked to hear Nick Cave explain in a detailed and eloquent way details of how he felt after the unfortunate passing of his son and what him and his wife Susie had to go thru. Some of what he says absolutely shocked me to my core because it is almost word for word how the grief over my brothers passing hit me and I had never been able to put it into words and didn’t think it was possible for anyone to put it into words. Despite me saying that it is overall more uplifting then you’d think. I know Nick didn’t want it to be a biography but I did love hearing some of his rock n roll stories but above all this conversation is about life in general, his view of life and the world and his view is so incredibly interesting. Truly one of the best things I have ever read/listened to and it was more moving for me then multiple therapy sessions would have been.

Meaningful

Some of the most meaningful thoughts/ideas on art, creativity, life, and grief I’ve ever read.

Very revealing and intimate

A wonderful and insightful exhibition of the inner workings of Nick Cave’s methodology, his very particular approach to religion as artistic inspiration and a touching meditation on the processes of grief and the role of grief in life and art. It will stand as a great perspective on a very historic and harrowing time.

heavy and insightful

glad these two created this conversation, it's amazing.surprise ending for me made this more of a great listen.