The Christmas Sweater

By: Glenn Beck

Narrated by: Glenn Beck

Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

The #1 New York Times best-selling author and renowned radio and television host Glenn Beck delivers an instant holiday classic about boyhood memories, wrenching life lessons, and the true meaning of the gifts we give to one another in love.

"We weren't wealthy, we weren't poor - we just were. We never wanted for anything, except maybe more time together...."

When Eddie was 12 years old, all he wanted for Christmas was a bike. Although his life had gotten harder - and money tighter - since his father died and the family bakery closed, Eddie dreamed that somehow his mother would find a way to have his dream bike gleaming beside their modest Christmas tree that magical morning.

What he got from her instead was a sweater. "A stupid, handmade, ugly sweater" that young Eddie left in a crumpled ball in the corner of his room.

Scarred deeply by the realization that kids don't always get what they want, and too young to understand that he already owned life's most valuable treasures, that Christmas morning was the beginning of Eddie's dark and painful journey on the road to manhood.

It will take wrestling with himself, his faith, and his family - and the guidance of a mysterious neighbor named Russell - to help Eddie find his path through the storm clouds of life and finally see the real significance of that simple gift his mother had crafted by hand with love in her heart.

Based on a deeply personal true story, The Christmas Sweater is a warm and poignant tale of family, faith, and forgiveness that offers us a glimpse of our own lives - while also making us question if we really know what's most important in them.

©2008 Mercury Radio Arts Inc. (P)2008 Simon & Schuster

The Christmas Sweater

This book is incredible. Not only a holiday book--this is a book about love, appreciation, redemption and atonement. This is one for every library to be shared with the world.

It will get you in the spirit

Any additional comments?

I'm not a big fan of Glenn Beck. If I had known of his politics before buying it, I probably wouldn't have. That would have been my loss. It's a very good book and will put you in a Christmas mood by the end.

Heart warming story. You appreciate simple life.

Loved it. Great heart warming story. You appreciate the small things you have and may might miss along the way.

Sensational

I loved every minute of it! I would suggest to all of my Friends.

Life Changing

I am giving EVERYone I know a copy of this for Christmas. You'll need two boxes of tissues as Glenn takes you by the hand and leads you through a life changing story of hope lost and faith found, then brings you full-circle to what truly matters and how to have it. This is a story that will become a time honored tradition in our home. Bravo!

Full of Life Lessons

If you love God, Country and traditional values, Listen to this one with your children. Keep the kleenex nearby, and perhaps a notepad for any thoughts as you listen. Thank You Gren Beck for sharing this wonderful story, so appropriate for EVERY DAY LIVING!!! Bravo!

Check download

Book length says 4 hrs. 49 mins. Mine only downloaded 4:24. Chapters 4 & 5 appear to be missing. I believe the book has 16 chapters, mine downloaded 14. Chapter 4 on iTouch list is actually Chapter 6.

Riveting story that you'll find hard to put down

This is a very heart warming story that I'd recommend to anyone with no hesitation. The author may be a divisive person in the political and media arena, but this is an excellent book. It is a story that most people can related to and many can at least empathize with. I applaud Beck for writing such a fantastic book. You really will have a hard time putting this down.

Tears of sadness and joy!

This is a great little book. The narration is also wonderful. Expect to cry because the book is truly moving.

Sweet but disappointing

Glenn Beck has jumped into the nostalgia realm with a sweet little book about a memory that he has of his childhood. I certainly appreciate the effort and applaud his willingness to open himself up and be transparent in this fairy tale of sorts.
I found myself totally absorbed in the movement and style of his writing and the voice he used to keep me interested and even entertained throughout ... until the bitter end. I say the bitter end because I found that his use of a rather hackneyed finale to be somewhat disappointing. He had set me up for something truly extraordinary but just could not give a strong payoff.
Please do not hear me saying one should not read or listen to this book. For many people it will hold a wonderful feeling of comfort for the "old days of yore." But for me, the nostalgia simply was not enough to satisfy my love of the ironic twist and the unexpected ending that is both logical and not totally unexpected.
So, I'm not going to say how it ends, since that is for the reader/listener to discover and then decide for himself whether or not it is satisfying. I only want to prepare the reader to not expect too much and to not be too disappointed if it does not completely satisfy. Enjoy it for what it is. I did. But, don't expect it to be more than a simple little nostalgic memoir and nothing else.