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The Book of Job  By  cover art

The Book of Job

By: Stephen Mitchell - translator
Narrated by: Peter Coyote
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Publisher's summary

Perhaps no other Biblical tale penetrates so deeply into the everyday travails of the common person as The Book of Job. It tells the story of a righteous man beset by torment and misfortune through no fault of his own. This parable of bad things happening to a good person addresses the eternal question of why we are here, and why we suffer. This translation is by Stephen Mitchell.
Recording (P)1988 by Audio Literature; Copyright ©1979, 1987 by Stephen Mitchell

Critic reviews

"This translation finds the timeless center of the Job saga, and the reader interprets it with just the right combination of anger, eloquence, and faith. This is a text which was meant to be heard." ( Harvey Cox, Harvard Divinity School)

What listeners say about The Book of Job

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Phenominal !!!

Excellent spiritual and tremendously inspirational reading of an ancient text. Gives wonderful perspective for our daily lives in light of true faith and devotion to righteousness. An absolute must for older children and certainly for adults. Enjoy!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Good translation, well-narrated, mediocre audio

This is an exceptional translation of Job, and Peter Coyote does an excellent narration. However, the audio quality is only fair.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Naked I came...

Loved Mitchell's powerful translation. The audio's production was poor, but STILL Peter Coyote's reading of Mitchell's Job was amazing. It flowed like blood and pounded like the waves. It burned like fire.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Hopeless Condition of Mankind, the Triumphant Majesty of the Creator

I am a Stephen Mitchell devotee and a pragmatic. I love his work in the Homeric ancients so much that I wanted to hear his translation of Job. Does not disappoint. This is a wonderful way to recounter the hopelessness of man, the answer of the fates, and the majesty of God. I know I'll listen t o this many more times in my life, God willing. This is a very good place to turn when life darts it's many and varied arrows at you.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Makes Feeling Sorry For Myself Harder Than It Was

Job puts my trials in perspective. Thank you, Lord. May you ever be above me. I have sent this to my children.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

I really enjoyed the experience of hearing Job, as dramatized in this narrative. Hearing the words as presented here adds power to the awesomeness of G*d, as this book always portrays.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

illuminating and thought - provoking

This was my introduction to The Book of Job. It was applicable to my life in several ways, as I recently became disabled due to necrotizing fasciitis and had to stop a lucrative career. However, in several ways my life is "less stressful. " Whereas in the dozen years before my illness I may have read one or two books for lesisure, I have read at least 40 books since joining Audible in March 2016.

The narration of this Book was fantastic as I felt that I was sitting with Job and his friends in a circle discussing God and Faith. At first, I thought I would miss something because of the shorter duration compared to other renditions of The Book of Job in the Audible store. On the contrary, I found that the duration allowed for repetition of particular areas for emphasis and clarification all during the few hours in my kitchen between a late lunch and early supper.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

highest recommendation

First the caveats: Between the audio quality (a little fuzzy) and the navigation (two 30min chapters), I assume this was converted with minimal effort from a tape original.

But Stephen Mitchell's adaptation of the book is so beautiful, and Peter Coyote's performance of it is definitive.

You'll need an ebook or physical copy if you want to know more about Mitchell's approach to the text. If you're seriously in the market for the present audiobook, I think you will enjoy the full thing with the long introduction.
I've found it in a lot of used bookstores, so you can probably get it for next to nothing from an ethical online store like Better World Books.

Would the audiobook be better if Peter Coyote had read the introduction?
Yeah, obviously it would be better if Peter Coyote read the introduction, but that's an unfair standard to judge any audiobook by.
Highest recommendations!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Speechless

I'm speechless, by both Stephen Michell's rendition of The Book of Job, and Peter Coyote's narration. Both men brought to life this timeless story in ways that silence me. This audio book is the best I've ever listened too.

I can't fathom other's comments on "poor sound quality" and taking away a star for this work of art. This audio book is pure brilliance. Heart full.

For the poetry, for the passion, for the highest level of artistry and excellence in every way, I assure you, this book will pull you into the story without you even noticing it happening. And then of course are the lessons it offers, right?

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow! Wonderfully theatrical reading of Job

This was a great translation and reading of Job. Peter's theatrical reading brought the book to life. He was fantastic. The book was easy to follow and never boring. I am so glad I bought this book.

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1 person found this helpful