• The Other Side of Suffering

  • The Father of JonBenet Ramsey Tells the Story of His Journey from Grief to Grace
  • By: John Ramsey, Marie Chapian
  • Narrated by: John Ramsey
  • Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (79 ratings)

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The Other Side of Suffering  By  cover art

The Other Side of Suffering

By: John Ramsey, Marie Chapian
Narrated by: John Ramsey
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Publisher's summary

The untold story of how John Ramsey survived unspeakable tragedy and learned to hope again.

Like the biblical Job, John Ramsey had it all - wealth, social position, a loving family. And like Job, Ramsey was destined for great affliction, as many of the most precious things in his life were cruelly taken from him.

First came the death of his eldest daughter in a car accident in 1992. Then, four years later, his beloved six-year-old, JonBenét, was murdered; Ramsey was the one who discovered her body, concealed in the basement of his family's home. The case drew international media attention, and - compounding Ramsey's woe - suspicion unfairly focused on Ramsey and his wife, Patsy. Although they were ultimately cleared of any connection with the crime, Ramsey's sorrows did not end. In 2006, Patsy died, at 49, of ovarian cancer.

In this remarkable audiobook, Ramsey reveals how he was sustained by faith during the long period of spiritual darkness, and he offers hope and encouragement to others who suffer tragedy and injustice.

Public Domain (P)2012 Hachette

What listeners say about The Other Side of Suffering

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This is a story that needed to be told

Where does The Other Side of Suffering rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a moving book, all the more so since John Ramsey narrated it himself. It is simply excellent.

What did you like best about this story?

This book tells the inside story of the famous JonBenet Ramsey case, and it was fascinating. It was also important to learn that Patsy Ramsey was nothing like the character that the media reported at the time ... and I believe the true villains in this tragic story are the Boulder Police and the national media, particularly CNN and CNN Headline News.

What about John Ramsey’s performance did you like?

It was heartfelt and honest.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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We lived it with John

Would you listen to The Other Side of Suffering again? Why?

probably not- We remember it when it happened but liked John's view point

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Story of Faith.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Other Side of Suffering to be better than the print version?

It is awesome to hear the actual author tell the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Other Side of Suffering?

The first 1/3 at least is heartbreaking.

Which character – as performed by John Ramsey – was your favorite?

John Ramsey is great but I relate to his late wife. I loved the line about people paying to see excess in the Christmas decorating. Yes, she was confident and correct in giving them what they paid to see.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Awesome and inspirational book

What made the experience of listening to The Other Side of Suffering the most enjoyable?

John's faith was inspirational

What did you like best about this story?

Despite incredible sad events, John never lost his faith.

What does John Ramsey bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

His voice portrayed the sadness, grief, loss, and desperation.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I often wondered how he put one foot in front of the other and continued to live. I was amazed at how many awful events he endured in his life but continued to believe God would not forsake him.

Any additional comments?

May God's peace be with the Ramsey family.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Book

Would you listen to The Other Side of Suffering again? Why?

The book explains some about the Jon Benet murder, and what his family went through regarding the legal issues and the media. However, much of the book is about how John Ramsey recovered from the loss of 2 daughters and his wife. This is a very inspiring book, and and I thought it was a great book to listen to.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent read for anyone who has lost a child

What did you love best about The Other Side of Suffering?

"Love" is not an appropriate verb describing this book. It describes in a heart felt way of John's anguish through the process of loosing his daughter, the false pre-disposition that he and/or his wife were responsible for her death.

What other book might you compare The Other Side of Suffering to and why?

This book compares with the also excellent book by Pam Morgan "I Stand" because it shows individuals of faith being drawn to a deeper faith when God doesn't do the things they expect Him to do.

Have you listened to any of John Ramsey’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I'd watched John Ramsey of the Mike Huckabee program and thought he did an excellent job of briefly relating the story.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was moved many times during the book. Each time when they realized the police were only targeting them rather than actively looking for the subject, especially moved me.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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Obsessed with Stature

It’s important to understand how suspects think. In reading this book, there were several takeaways. John appears to be obsessed with stature and appearance. Everything is about stature and appearances; there’s the charity work in India, porsche, sailboat, mansions, former Miss America contestant wife, active member of the church, contest winning athletic kids with good grades, beautifully decorated home, successful Fortune 500 business, book about his faith, wonderful grandkids. John is concerned about how his grandkids and their kids will remember him. He’s not very curious though. For example; he’s never read JonBenet’s autopsy report. He dismisses claims of prior sexual abuse altogether. Never asked Patsy if she murdered their daughter. He claims he’s never even considered it; though her handwriting is very similar to the ransom note, was written on her notepad, with her pen and she was the one who claims to have discovered the note that morning. The garrote was reportedly made with Patsy’s broken paint brushes too (coincidence I suppose). John has known a great deal of tragedy in his life; divorce, death of two daughters, losing wife to cancer. It’s made him who he is. Now, as a wise, kindly, God fearing, old man, he can provide sage advice. It’s his duty, really. He uses attorneys often. For example; getting access to previous statements, limiting questions to certain topics, setting length and locations for police interviews, or denying them altogether, etc. Yet in the book, he seems to claim to bend over backwards to be available to police. It seems someone’s lying… Despite all the tragedies, the worst disrespect, the one that really got him, was being asked to provide pubic hair samples to eliminate him as a suspect in his 6-year-old daughter’s murder. For a man of John’s stature, that was too much.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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must read for anyone seeking inner peace

if you aren't of faith, you may find this hard to read. Still ... it's amazing story of John's journey and that's why I read it. many tears hearing his story. loss of a child is bad enough, but the media frenzy is incomprehensible! I can only hope that this story helps shape the media's sense of responsibility! the story should help anyone struggling with tragedy.

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Eye opening

Enjoyed hearing another side of this case. Enlightening as to how John Ramsey has used his faith to get through this life shattering event.

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Beautiful and moving book from father of Jon Benet

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! The knowledge of suffering revealed by author is astounding!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Author, narrator, because he lived the story.

What about John Ramsey’s performance did you like?

True story

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