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The Man on the Mountaintop  By  cover art

The Man on the Mountaintop

By: Susan Trott,Libby Spurrier - adaptor
Narrated by: Stanley Tucci,Toby Jones,Clare Corbett,Rachel Atkins,Jeff Harding,David Thorpe
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Publisher's summary

Audie Award, 2019: Faith-Based Fiction and Nonfiction

Audiofile Earphones Award Winner

The Man on the Mountaintop tells the story of Holy Man Joe, an ageing and unassuming man who lives in a hermitage on top of a mountain. During the summer months, thousands of hopefuls line the single-file path leading to his door, seeking his wisdom. From bombastic, wealthy nobles intent on cheating their way to the top to drunkards who gradually build the physical and mental strength they need to quit their addiction, The Man on the Mountaintop is a rousing tale full of humour, wit and life lessons.

In an Audible Originals production, Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada, Fortitude) and Toby Jones (Infamous, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) lead a multivoice cast in an inspiring tale that is as entertaining as it is profound.

Also featuring Alison Dowling, Anne Rosenfeld, Avita Jay, Christophe Hespel, Christopher Ragland, Clare Corbett, David Thorpe, Fran Canals, Hayward B. Morse, Jeff Harding, Lachele Carl, Laurence Bouvard, Liza Ross, Lobo Chan, Martin T Sherman, Paul Panting, Rachel Atkins, Richard Rees, Sagar Arya, Sheena Bhattessa, Stephen Hogan and Tim Bentinck.

A note from the author, Susan Trott:

Dear Listeners,

I was having trouble getting to sleep at night. Instead of counting sheep, I found myself counting people going up a mountain to see a holy man. Each night, semiconscious, I came to know this holy man and the pilgrims.

My insomnia problem was solved. Now I had a story to write. I wrote it quickly, although years later, when asked how long it took to write, I said 50 years, which was also true.

Recently the Dalai Lama said, 'You don't have to believe in God to be a kind and compassionate person.' Joe, our man on the mountaintop, would agree.

©2017 Audible, Ltd (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

Our favorite moments from Man on the Mountaintop

The hermitage was plain, rugged, and square.
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The door was opened wide...
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"It was a loving, passionate line…"
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The famous man, the personal assistant, and the sage
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  • The Man on the Mountaintop
  • The hermitage was plain, rugged, and square.
  • The Man on the Mountaintop
  • The door was opened wide...
  • The Man on the Mountaintop
  • "It was a loving, passionate line…"
  • The Man on the Mountaintop
  • The famous man, the personal assistant, and the sage

Publisher's summary

Audie Award, 2019: Faith-Based Fiction and Nonfiction

Audiofile Earphones Award Winner

The Man on the Mountaintop tells the story of Holy Man Joe, an ageing and unassuming man who lives in a hermitage on top of a mountain. During the summer months, thousands of hopefuls line the single-file path leading to his door, seeking his wisdom. From bombastic, wealthy nobles intent on cheating their way to the top to drunkards who gradually build the physical and mental strength they need to quit their addiction, The Man on the Mountaintop is a rousing tale full of humour, wit and life lessons.

In an Audible Originals production, Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada, Fortitude) and Toby Jones (Infamous, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) lead a multivoice cast in an inspiring tale that is as entertaining as it is profound.

Also featuring Alison Dowling, Anne Rosenfeld, Avita Jay, Christophe Hespel, Christopher Ragland, Clare Corbett, David Thorpe, Fran Canals, Hayward B. Morse, Jeff Harding, Lachele Carl, Laurence Bouvard, Liza Ross, Lobo Chan, Martin T Sherman, Paul Panting, Rachel Atkins, Richard Rees, Sagar Arya, Sheena Bhattessa, Stephen Hogan and Tim Bentinck.

A note from the author, Susan Trott:

Dear Listeners,

I was having trouble getting to sleep at night. Instead of counting sheep, I found myself counting people going up a mountain to see a holy man. Each night, semiconscious, I came to know this holy man and the pilgrims.

My insomnia problem was solved. Now I had a story to write. I wrote it quickly, although years later, when asked how long it took to write, I said 50 years, which was also true.

Recently the Dalai Lama said, 'You don't have to believe in God to be a kind and compassionate person.' Joe, our man on the mountaintop, would agree.

©2017 Audible, Ltd (P)2017 Audible, Ltd
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Susan Trott

About the Creator

Susan Trott is the author of more than 16 novels, including the best-selling Holy Man series, Flamingo Thief, and Crane Spreads Wings. Born in Andover, Massachusetts and educated in New England, she lives with her husband in northern California. A self-described homebody who travels widely, this mother and grandmother also enjoys table tennis and T’ai Chi.

About the Performer

After becoming interested in theater in high school, Stanley Tucci decided to pursue his passion professionally, enrolling in SUNY Purchase’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts. In 1982, the same year he graduated from the program, Tucci made his Broadway debut with a small role in The Queen and the Rebels. Only three years later, he starred in his first feature film, Prizzi’s Honor, beginning a long and celebrated career on the big screen. Tucci has appeared in everything from box-office mega-hits (all four installments of The Hunger Games, Captain America: The First Avenger, 2017’s live action Beauty and the Beast) to warm, feel-good comedies (The Devil Wears Prada, Julie & Julia, Easy A) to critically adored dramas (such as 2009’s The Lovely Bones, which earned Tucci the nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards, BAFTAs, and the Golden Globes). His television work has also racked up accolades and praise—Tucci won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of controversial columnist Walter Winchell on HBO’s Winchell, in addition to an Emmy for a guest spot on Monk, and a second Golden Globe for HBO’s Conspiracy. This Audible Original is not Tucci’s first venture into audiobooks; he and Meryl Streep received a Best Children’s Spoken Word Grammy nomination for their narration of 2008’s The One and Only Shrek, and he has lent his voice to a variety of books, including The Postman Always Rings Twice and The Good German.

About the Performer

English actor Toby Jones is internationally known for both his stage and screen work. Only a year after finishing his drama studies at L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris in 1991, Jones made his film debut in Sally Potter’s Orlando (1992). Less than a decade later, he won the 2002 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in the West End comedy The Play What I Wrote. This strong start soon gave way to roles in acclaimed films including Infamous, Frost/Nixon, Captain America: the First Avenger, Captain America: Civil War, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. His voice will also be familiar to Harry Potter fans; Jones voiced the beloved house elf Dobby for the entirety of the film saga. Jones is also known for his television performances. His turn as film icon Alfred Hitchcock in The Girl earned him nominations for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA while other roles on Sherlock, Doctor Who, Wayward Pines, and Detectorists were lauded by fans and critics alike.

What listeners say about The Man on the Mountaintop

Average customer ratings
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Great listen!

I really enjoyed the story and the performance. It was like listening to a play, sound effects and all. Very enjoyable and a positive break from such a negative world.

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78 people found this helpful

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

shallow wisdom

It feels like the author took a "daily wisdom" calender, then wrote shallow, obvious short stories to correlate with the messages. I wanted to give it 1 star but the app wont let me go lower than 2.

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77 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wisdom, wisdom, wisdom...

I loved the context around the Man on the Mountain top and the many things he could represent for our varied realities.
Enjoyed how he imparted wisdom in the simple conversations.
This is a definite Audible original win. The sound effects takes listening to a book to a whole new level. Narration was amazing!
#clever, #inspiring, #guruforall, #heartfelt, #spiritual, #awesome narration, #tagsgiving, #sweepstakes

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71 people found this helpful

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Hard review to write...

Of course I like the performance and production. You will too, unless you don’t.

I like it as I align with the fundamental principles of the story, and with the producers and performers’ obvious delight in participating in the production. If it is worth doing something it is worth doing it wholeheartedly with relish and impeccably.

The hard part of writing this review is to say it in a way that might have someone who is otherwise not inclined to pick this title.

And I fear I am not doing a good job. If reading about how a holy man strives to make the world a better place for everyone doesn’t pique your curiosity, then a review inviting you to try it anyway won’t make it so. Yet giving this one a listen could have the world be a better place, even if only for a moment where you see it was possible for the characters in the story, and the folk putting on the show.

I got lifted and buoyed and it occurs easier for me, now, to go about making the world a better place for all. And if you don’t pick up this title, then please go on making the world a better place, your way, anyway! Thank you!

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57 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Get ready for a collection of cliches

finally glad the audiobook is over. it is a collection of cliche's presented in a highly improbable, absurd and shallow story. stuck with it until the end hoping to find something worthwile. it seems like the creator read all the self help books in a bookstore shelf and jammed every lesson into this play that turned out shallow and agonizing. even though this is 'free' to download as part of my membership, I feel I should've chosen something else.

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54 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Good for falling asleep

I like this book because it’s got short stories within the story and for some reason the voices make me fall asleep. Exactly what I was looking for.

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52 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Should have read description more closely

This series of lessons or metaphors or whatever this is was totally cliche. Stopped listening after 30 minutes. Glad it was free and I didn’t waste a credit on it.

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48 people found this helpful

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What a Waste of Time

I am so disappointed with the quality of the books in Audible's free monthly listening section. This is a prime example. This book is a sophomoric look at many of life deepest struggles. If you are an alcoholic, walk up a mountain many times and you will see the world in a new light. With your new found outlook, you are cured. If you are trying to find the meaning of life, just don't think about it. This book reminds me of the good old days when young college students would sit around drinking wine and discuss how to make the world a great place. When they have impressed their collages with their great wisdom, they would go home to their parent's basement.

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40 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Not my cup of tea

Not that bad, but also not that amazing. Since it's included in the subscription of audible, it's okay. But I found essentially pretty boring with some little nice messages that would make the world a better place if it was practical. Finally it's just some cute metaphor far away from reality, unfortunately.

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35 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Cliche-laced trite tale

This story is about a man who dispenses advice to one and all. Everyone goes away happy.

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34 people found this helpful