When Bad Things Happen to Good People

By: Harold S. Kushner

Narrated by: Harold S. Kushner

Length: 4 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Offers a moving and humane approach to understanding life's windstorms. Raises many questions that will challenge your mind and test your faith regarding the ultimate questions of life and death.

©2009 Harold S. Kushner (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

"This is a book all humanity needs. It will help you understand the painful vicissitudes of this life and enable you to stand up to them creatively." (Norman Vincent Peale)
"Whether religious or not, this book will speak because it touches - profoundly, but simply - on questions no parent and no person can avoid." (Harvey Cox, Harvard Divinity School)
"A touching, heartwarming book for those of us who must contend with suffering, and that, of course, is all of us." (Andrew M. Greeley)

This book answered all my questions

Howard kushner is wise kind and dead on. I am grateful for this book. If you are trying to accept the existence of a higher power in a world where bad things happen to good people, read this book. It is not dated. Still absolutely relevant. Thank you.

a wonderful outlook on life and loss

after the loss of our child our priest suggested this book took me 5; years to get to read it but it's great spiritual guidance is enlightening.

Definitely helpful

I am a Congregationalist, but have strong connections with the Jewish faith, so this was a lovely convergence of the two, for me. Being 30 years old and diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer 4 years ago, I have struggled with my “surviving … for now” stage. Rabbi Kushner’s words, allegories, and personal stories have helped me shift my perspective a little. Enough to help. I will definitely be rereading. Give it a shot. If nothing else, it might give you a better perspective of someone else’s struggles.

Wonderful

An excellent life altering account of how to live a truly wonderful life. Not overly religious.

Very affirming to what I believe

I had heard of this book years ago and always wanted to read it, but didn't need it until I lost my 26 year year old son to a sudden and traumatic accident. Then there were so many questions as to why this happened. So many people would recite the platitudes that 'God needed him more than we did', 'God had a reason for this', "he's so much happier now and in a better place''. Which infuriated me because he was happier when his accident happened that he might have ever been in his life! He had a great job that he was flourishing in since he had struggled to find what he wanted to do, he had just bought a house and hadn't even made a house payment yet, he had a wonderful girlfriend, soon to be engaged. He was happy and healthy, not suffering when a horrible freak accident happened. I don't believe God caused this, or wanted him in heaven. An accident happened and God was there to scoop him up and take him to heaven. This book affirms my beliefs and I found it very comforting. All things don't happen for a reason, and unfortunately Bad Things do Happen to Good People. God didn't NEED him, but he has him, and we are sad, will always be sad and will always miss him. Losing him is grief beyond measure. I highly recommend this book for anyone wondering 'Why'?

Inspiring and Comforting

Loved this book!
It provided me with courage and inspiration to live a happy and fulfilling life having listened to another person's point of view.
Thank you, Rabbi Kushner!

Interesting perspective

The theology is off but good book that really makes you think about what you believe.

OMG

I know have CLARITY about the bad things that happen in life and a direction in how to handle it.

Healing.

I found healing and strength with this book. In desperation, it has given me faith and endurance to see through this time of life.

excellent

I enjoyed this book. The narrator is also the author which I think made his narration more special