A Life of Unlearning

One Man's Journey to Find the Truth

By: Anthony Venn-Brown

Narrated by: David Tredinnick

Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

This is a story about living your truth, embracing who you are and living the life you were meant to live. Whether you're gay or straight, a Christian or a non believer, you'll find relevance in Anthony's tale.

On the surface, Anthony Venn-Brown was a happily married father of two and an evangelist preacher for the Assemblies of God Church; but he was living a lie. Tired of feeling torn and fragmented, he confessed and came out, and the results of that confession took him on a lonely journey that made him who he is today.

©2004 Anthony Venn-Brown (P)2005 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd.

Everyone should read

As the daughter of a Pentecostal minister and the mother of a transgender son, I could relate to so many things in this book. I read wish everyone would take the time to read it with an open mind- our world could truly benefit!

An interesting tale, of one man's struggle...

Interesting how one man's life, can be even remotely simular to those dealing with some of the same things. I'd recommend this book to everyone who's unsure how to become themself. In fact I have told several people to get it. Cheers!

The book I didn’t know I needed

This personal testimony shook me to my core, as I relate to it wholeheartedly as a gay man.
Though I grew up in a later time, Anthony Venn Brown’s experiences resonated so deeply with me.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who needs comfort in their journey of coming out, who needs education on the “gay experience,” as well as to the person who desires an more open mind.

This book was beautifully written, beautifully narrated; it brought me to tears many times. I feel wholly encouraged!

THE BEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ!!!!

Anthony Venn-Brown is my new fave author after finishing his audiobook. The greatest thing is that, i added him on my facbook page and he's so nice to acccept my friend's request.... Such an honor!!!

Sadly, this is the only book I could search from the web he wrote...

Is there anybody who knows his other books just in case he has?

A little harder for a woman to understand

I admire Tony’s book. And I applaud it’s brutal honesty. I am a gay Christian so of course I was glad that he found himself. As a woman, I find it harder to understand his sexual exploits as simply those of a gay man. Many of them seem like a sexual addiction to me. Having a relationship where two people live together, share a life, have sexual intimacy, but are committed to not being “romantic“is not really in my repertoire. But he certainly described the angst of finding oneself utterly out of step with what other people expect. It is a painful road. I’m glad that more of us are finding our way out.

Very educational and very honest.

Any additional comments?

Is Christianity more valid than mythology? Didn’t the Bible start as an oral tradition? Ignoring these and many other questions is what we westerners tend to do; we still conform to superstition and traditions as if there were facts. The author dares to show us unapologetically how he preached these beliefs vehemently and without regard to the havoc that they play in many people’s lives and, in this case, in his own life. The intimate look into the internal drama of trying to get rid of his homosexuality using any means available, natural or supernatural, even going thru an exorcism and reparative therapy without any success. The detail and the depth of the narration surprised me as the author doesn’t intend to be liked or if he does, did not achieve it, until the very end.
I finally ended up grateful to him for having written the book, it took guts to be this honest.

Too much

I wish this book had been more about the story and less about his sexual encounters. I feel like they were a bit too much.

Inspiring

The summary “This is a story about living your truth, embracing who you are and living the life you were meant to live”, prompted me to want to read this book.

I was not disappointed. Once I started listening to it I could not put it down.

Anthony comes across as telling his story in a very open and honest manner. His courage and determination to live a life of authenticity and integrity are truly inspiring.

As a gay man and father I have felt some of the same struggles in my own life and reading about Anthony’s journey has given me inspiration to stay the course and continue to strive to live my life in the way it was intended.

It wasn't easy, but I'm still here!

I had read reviews of ex-New Jersey Governor James McGreevey's autobiography, "Confession" when I ran across Venn-Brown's book. The two books make interesting bookends on the whole issue of society coming to grips with high-profile leaders as they are part of and ultimately change the political and social dynamics of our society.

They share a lot of characteristics - men in very public lives, married, with children, always struggling with their homosexuality and denying it to themselves and expressing it in furtive ways.

Venn-Brown's experience is all the more powerful because not only was religion a conflicting factor in both of the these men's lives, Venn-Brown was a leader in the evangelical movement. He ultimately decides that he can no longer stay in his marriage (unlike the recently disgraced Ted Haggard in the US) and sets out to learn to love himself.

Ultimately, this means getting rid of the baggage that society and religion regularly imputes to the character of members of the gay community.

Thoughtful and engaging story, relevant reflection

Enjoyed the story. well presented and the reflections were helpful. Good book to read if coming to terms with being gay and growing up in a Christian environment.