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The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life  By  cover art

The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life

By: Hannah Whitall Smith
Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin
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Publisher's summary

Hannah Whitall Smith originally wrote The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life in 1875 as an article for her husband's inspirational magazine. The book subsequently became a worldwide best seller that has influenced generations.

Smith describes her book with these words: "I do not want to change the theological views of a single individual. The truths I have to tell are not theological, but practical. They are, I believe, the fundamental truths of life and experience, the truths that underlie all theologies, and that are in fact their real and vital meaning. They will fit in with every creed, simply making it possible for those who hold the creed to live up to their own beliefs, and to find in them the experimental realities of a present Savior and a present salvation.

"Most of us acknowledge that there is behind all religions an absolute religion, that holds the vital truth of each; and it is of this absolute religion my book seeks to treat."

(P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

What listeners say about The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely reading of a devotional classic

I find it difficult to "get into" devotional literature from the 19th Century -- the language and style get in the way. Somehow, this reading moves through and past that problem. The reader's conversational style makes the wording sound very natural.

What is the the "secret" spoken of in the title? It is a scriptural approach to dealing with such inevitables as doubt, temptation, search for guidance, etc., which then moves to the joy that accompanies the Christian life.

Though the vocabulary may in some cases be a bit strange to the 21st Century listener -- we do not use the word "consecration" in quite the same way Hannah Whitall Smith used it -- the context, along with the author's explanations and examples make her meanings clear.

Highly recommended for those days when we need a gentle reminder of God's love and the response he longs for us to give to that love.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional!

This is one of the most lucid explanations of the Christian's walk that I have ever read. Her ability to take a complex subject and reduce it to easily understood principles and explain how and why you should apply them is unparalleled. I wish all current Christian writing were as enlightened. Concerning the narration, I felt Ms. Gavin's reading of this book related the spirit of the author's intentions to the listener in a superb manner. I only wish my review could relate my enthusiasm for this book half as well.

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11 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

A Classic Christian Book

This book really blessed me. I thought that the chapter on knowing the will of God to be one of the best I have ever read. Also her chapter on legalism was right on. The reader was also very good.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

new favorite book

absolutely amazing. If only everyone had a copy and it blessed them even more than it greatly blessed me...

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent writing!

So encouraging and uplifting and so relative to my life today...God's truth is timeless!! Renewed strength to endure challenging times!

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  • 02-03-21

Surprising.

I am really surprised by the outpouring of positive reviews for this. I am a Christian, and I love listening to things like CS Lewis or other apologetics, but this was a big letdown.

The first chapter or so was actually pretty great, and there were some things in there that really made me think, and every once in a while throughout the book I liked something she said. The thought she projects are not bad in any way, she's right on point with everything.

The problem is if she says more or less everything she has to say in the first chapter and then repeats it over and over with different metaphors for 20 chapters. ooooof.

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2 people found this helpful

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If you want more of God, read this!

If you love God more than the cares of this world, this book is for you!

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2 people found this helpful

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Truth never changes.

This book which was written in the 1800s but the wisdom in it still applies today. . This book has become my favorite of all time! I loved it!

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beautifully written!!

I loved this book. I would recommend taking your time as you go through it.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Love this book

A classic of Christian literature. Well conceived well written and performed. I recommend to all.

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2 people found this helpful