Fish Out of Water

A Search for the Meaning of Life: A Memoir

By: Eric Metaxas

Narrated by: Eric Metaxas

Length: 17 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

What happens when one of America’s most beloved biographers writes his own biography?

For five-time New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas, the answer is Fish Out of Water: A Search for the Meaning of Life - a soaring, lyrical, and often mischievous account of his early years, in which the astute Queens-born son of Greek and German immigrants struggles to make sense of a world in which he never quite seems to fit.

While millions know Metaxas as a celebrated author, the witty host of Socrates in the City, and a nationally syndicated radio personality, here he reveals a personal story few have known. The scion of two families with very different traditions, he enjoyed their affection and support through his riotous but successful years at Yale, yet later felt abandoned as he drifted toward an abyss of meaninglessness from which he barely escaped.

Along the way, Metaxas introduces us to an unforgettable troupe of Runyonesque characters who join this quintessentially first-generation American boy on his odyssey, underscoring how simultaneously funny, serious, happy, sad, and meaningful life can be.

©2021 Eric Metaxas (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Absolutely Fantastic

Absolutely fantastic. Very long yet leaves you wanting another volume immediately. The author’s reading is heartfelt:

He is so awesome

First heard him when he spoke at Cornerstone Chapel. This is a great book about his unique upbringing and journey to Christ. From being Woke to Christ.

Highly Recommended

The author reads his story and has you laughing and crying along with him. Great book! Highly recommended.

Hilarious, authentic (truly) and meaningful

How refreshing! I have never enjoyed an autobiography like this!!! I laughed throughout and moved carefully down the road with this author in his discovery of Truth. Rich language and recurring metaphor between one world and the next created a magnificent tapestry...I hesitate to say that I wish Eric Metaxus’ life to move on down the road so I may read his second autobiography! I know!...please make it a trilogy. Book two is ready...write it! Pure joy, this.

loved it!

True, I've enjoyed his other books, but why do I want to hear about Eric's life? His humorous storytelling style, his interesting encounters with people, his family, his path to Christ, all make for a very enjoyable experience.

Coming of age in Christianity

Interesting story of an adult conversion from innocent childhood Christianity to intellectual secularist to heartfelt fully alive Christian journey. Holds many different scenes which are fun, quirky, serious, loving, and intellectually honest and curious! Many wonderful book citations! I Corinthians 13:10

No kidding: I laughed, I cried…

Eric Metaxas presents an exquisitely artful display of masterful word-craft. It’s fun; many times provoking sudden outbursts of laughter. It brings one safely and engagingly through many toils and snares to an awesome and barely believable life-changing climax. More to come… [cue the music].

First book Ive read by Eric Mataxas

Very good book, I thoroughly enjoyed the many stories he told of his life. Some were quite hilarious!

Read by the author and quite a delight

First off, a memoir read by its author is the best because you get the bonus of the accents, affectations, and inflections of all the characters. For example, no one knows how Metaxas’ greek father would have said something better than Eric. And you get the full performance. It was highly entertaining. Lots of entertaining characters.

As for the story, it points to the transcendent and will be highly encouraging to those seekers who are sincere in their search for truth. Spoiler: it’s JESUS. But if ye truly desire the truth, have a listen. At minimum, this guy has had a very interesting life and is a great story teller. But this book has much more to offer you than that. Give it a listen!

Reliving my childhood

I was born in 1961 and grew up in a Christian home in Michigan. My family heritage was long established in America. So the similarities of Eric and my life couldn’t be more different but as I listened to Eric, I relived so many times of my childhood and post graduation of depression and wondering what now that I immensely enjoyed the book. Eric paints such vivid pictures of life. There were several times of laughter and sharing the stories with family members. It was also a wonderful depiction of how God draws us to himself each in our own way so that we can hear him.