The Great Good Thing

A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ

By: Andrew Klavan

Narrated by: Andrew Klavan

Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

How did a New York-born, Jewish, former-atheist novelist and screenwriter - a winner of multiple Edgar Awards, whose books became films with Clint Eastwood and Michael Douglas - find himself at the age of 50 being baptized and confessing Jesus as Lord? That's a tale worth telling.

From his childhood outside New York City through his years as college-dropout wanderer and on to his growing success as a writer, Andrew Klavan consumed stories. From novels and plays to movies and the Bible, literature helped him interpret the world and understand his place in it. Dropping out of college to wander the country as an itinerant journalist, he met the woman who became his wife - and tales of marriage have been central to his writing ever since.

Wrestling with severe depression that took him to the brink of suicide, his readings of Hamlet and even Freud became crucial life-giving supports. And lying in bed reading Patrick O'Brien's seafaring tales, he found the courage to say a prayer - "thank you" - that overturned his life and led, inevitably, to his baptism in New York City a few days after his father's memorial service. The stories of Western literature led Andrew Klavan to Jesus. This is Klavan's story of that journey.

©2016 Andrew Klavan (P)2016 Thomas Nelson Publishers

Beautifully written, a joy to read

Thank you for telling your story Andrew! I loved reading this book - your prose is a joy to read. I also love your philosophy - which I can't do justice to in one sentence in an Amazon review. Amazing book!

Well worth it.

I laughed and cried. An honest and hopeful look at human nature and God's goodness.

Great Book by a Great Author

Loved it. It has even helped me in my walk with Christ. I can relate to a lot of the issues he discussed in this book about his journey to Christianity.

Profound

The only thing I can say about this book is: whether you believe in Christ, or not, and whether you want to believe in Christ, or not, you should read this book. I think it’s destined to be a classic.

Andrew is one of my favorite humans

I experienced so many emotions reading this. I feel like I’ve have a special peek into Andrew Klavan, the flawed and extraordinary man. I felt jealous of the many deep experiences he has had in his lifetime, and wondered why I hadn’t had such vivid epiphanies in my own. Maybe I haven’t quieted my mind to examine them thoroughly. I loved the honesty and appreciated the vulnerability he had to endure for that honesty. Andrew is one of my favorite human beings. - From a 30 year old woman of color :)

Wonderfully written and narrated! Great, good read

I'm about the same age as the author and he captured that coming of age feeling of the 50's and 60's so well. I listened to this in a couple days but want to go back in the book and highlight some of his thoughts that were written with such wisdom. Also- he loves his wife and describes her and their relationship in such loving words that I'm jealous. A great, good read!

Life changing for intellectual skeptics

Klavan takes you through his personal experience as a normal kid and Jew growing up in America, to make logical sense out of existence and it's creator. Very relatable

Loved this book!

A wonderful story told by one of my favorite people on the planet. It has given me hope that my atheist leaning son will one day too find his joy of joys in Christ

Life Altering.

This is a book that will take you through the deepest thoughts and feelings of a deeply broken person. You will experience Klaven's progression toward Jesus, and his struggles with allowing himself to believe.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It is well written, captivating and ultimately an adventure that will inspire.

Did not really think I was the religious type

He brought his normal fantasy style of writing to this real life story of a man looking for mission life