The Amen Effect

Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World

By: Sharon Brous

Narrated by: Sharon Brous

The national bestseller

From one of our country’s most prominent rabbis, an inspiring book about the power of community based on one of her most impactful sermons.

In a time of loneliness and isolation, social rupture and alienation, what will it take to mend our broken hearts and rebuild our society?

Sharon Brous—a leading American rabbi—makes the case that the spiritual work of our time, as instinctual as it is counter-cultural, is to find our way to one other in celebration, in sorrow, and in solidarity. To show up for each other in moments of joy and pain, vulnerability and possibility, to invest in relationships of shared purpose and build communities of care.

Brous contends that it is through honoring our most basic human instinct—the yearning for real connection—that we reawaken our shared humanity and begin to heal. This kind of sacred presence is captured by the word amen, a powerful ancient idea that we affirm the fullness of one another’s experience by demonstrating, in body and word: “I see you. You are not alone.”

An acclaimed preacher and story-teller, Brous pairs heart-driven anecdotes from her experience building and pastoring to a leading-edge faith community over the past two decades with ancient Jewish wisdom and contemporary science. The result is a clarion call: the sense of belonging engendered by our genuine presence is not only a social and biological need, but a moral and spiritual necessity.

With original insights and practical tools, The Amen Effect translates foundational ideas into simple practices that connect us to our better angels, offering a blueprint for a more meaningful life and a more connected and caring world.

©2024 Sharon Brous (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Rabbi Brous shares remarkable compassion, insight, and moral vision in these pages that illuminate a way forward at a time when the fog of fear and anger in the world grows ever dense. This wonderful book is welcome, affirming, and urgently needed.”—Bryan Stevenson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just Mercy

“Sharon Brous is one of the most visionary, beloved rabbis in the U.S. today. What a joy to welcome this book into the world.”—Krista Tippett, New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Wise

“Sharon Brous has drawn deep from the wells of her spiritual tradition to help quench the thirst of people facing the wilderness of loneliness and injustice today. . . . We all need this wisdom.”—Bishop William J. Barber II, founding director of Yale’s Center for Public Theology and Public Policy and president of Repairers of the Breach

The best way to live, regardless of which religion

You practice! An amazing testimony of the practice of peacemaking in living with love as a root principle.

Beautiful and relevant for our times

Powerful, hopeful and in her own words. This book is best listened to, narrated by Rabbi Brous herself. I listened to this over 2 days. It’s filled with wisdom and relatable stories about our oh so human condition. This book is uplifting and hopeful while not naive to the hardships life hands us. A must read/listen!

Compelling, Moving, and Actionable

Such a great listen. So many great lessons told in a compelling fashion. I cried and I learned. Cannot recommend enough.

Inspirational

What an inspirational book and a roadmap to mend our broken world with humanity, understanding and humility. I have recommended this book to so many people- a must read!

Amen Effect- amazing

Probably the most beautiful amazing book I've ever listened to!♡ I will listen to this book again and again!

Great message for healing

Compassion, care, and love show how to have a better world, especially in these chaotic times. It gives me hope. We are all connected.

A full hearted approach for a broken world

Reaching inside to our best and most vulnerable selves, this book combines ancient and contemporary wisdoms that can soothe one's aching soul.

appeals to all faiths

best book of 2024. food for our souls. Sharon is a gift to America. SHE has message to bring our country together.

A moving prescription for what ails us

Sharon Brous’ book is a moving prescription for what ails our souls as individuals, as communities, and as a nation. Based on ancient Jewish wisdom, its message is equally available to people of all faiths or of no faith.

Amazing book

I listened to it in 2 days. I cried through most of. It touched so many aspects of my life personally. I want to thank the author for writing it