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Living a Life That Matters: Resolving the Conflict Between Conscience and Success Audiobook
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(3.09) - 476 listener ratings
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From the author of the huge bestseller When Bad Things Happen to Good People, a profound and practical book about doing well by doing good. In this timely and compelling book, Harold Kushner addresses our craving for significance, the need to know that our lives and choices mean something. We do great things, and occassionally terrible things, to reassure ourselves that we matter to the world. We sometimes confuse fame, power, and wealth with true achievement. But finally we need to think of ourselves as good people and are troubled when we compromise our integrity to be successful and important. Rabbi Kushner suggests that the path to a truly successful and significant life lies in friendship, family, acts of generosity and self-sacrifice, as well as God's forgiving nature. He describes how, in changing the life of even one person in a positive way, we make a difference in the world, give our lives meaning, and prove that we do in fact matter. Persuasive and sympathetic, anecdotal and commonsensical, Living a Life that Matters inspires and uplifts.
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"This is the third (I think) of Kushner's books I've read now in the past year. He has a knack for taking literature and Biblical references and applying them to contemporary daily lives in a way that is both thought-provoking and inspiring. I found much of what he wrote to be affirming; it's easy to see why he's been so successful as both a rabbi and a sort of "self-help" author. This particular book helps one understand why knowing oneself is critical to being able to move forward in life, and why living one's own life rather than trying to "copy" someone else's is vital in feeling that "I'm ok, you're ok" (though he would never use those words, I don't think) as we move through life."
— Jane (4 out of 5 stars)
Living a Life That Matters Listener Reviews
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" Good insite I really liked this author. "
— Treasure, 2/16/2014 -
" So far this book is a little "airy"..I haven't highlighted much and that's a bad sign, but the jury is still out. "
— Jessi, 2/10/2014 -
" Did John recommend this to me? Amazing insights and though I do not typically care for proverbial stories, I really enjoyed the insights I gained from the bibical stories and short personal reflections from Kushner. I highly recommend! "
— Elizabeth, 2/10/2014 -
" Pretty interesting all and all. Wouldn't read it again but it would be a good book to have by your beside table. "
— Marie, 2/5/2014 -
" Couldn't get through this. I thought it would offer more advice, not just rehashing of dozens of Bible stories that I could not relate to my present day life. "
— Julie, 1/27/2014 -
" Another well-crafted sermon by Rabbi Harold Kushner. "
— Alex, 1/27/2014 -
" This was a good book - just not exactly what I expected. I think I was expecting more of a "this is how you should do it," but it was more indirect and used a lot of parables. I'd recommend it if you're searching for meaning. "
— Elizabeth, 1/16/2014 -
" While I didn't enjoy it as much as Kushner's other books, I still took pleasure in reading it. "
— Kaye, 1/1/2014 -
" We do matter in the world. "
— Kris, 12/2/2013 -
" More excellent advise about life balance and finding meaning, this gentle book provides some countercultural and timeless messages. "
— Jeanine, 11/7/2013 -
" A good book to listen to on tape. Written by a Jewish Rabbi I believe. Don't remember much about this one. But the title says what it is about, something I'm sure we're all concerned with. "
— Heidi, 10/21/2013 -
" thoughts on what matter and thus being responsible for your own life. nice ideas and a great reminder that in todays world ideals still should not be abondend, as we have to look in the mirror every now and than. "
— Natasa, 9/15/2013 -
" I love the words of Harold Kushner. Though, I am not Jewish what he writes is timeless and for anyone who truly wants to become a better person. I finished this book last month but I already have started to reread the book. The book definitely should be read many times. "
— Paul, 4/15/2013 -
" Not much new here, but the message is a great reminder. "
— John, 3/21/2013 -
" Great book! A very interesting take on life from a religious perspective "
— Alexis, 11/14/2012 -
" Thought-provoking meditation on the nature of goodness and the meaning of life...no small questions, but some interesting answers. "
— Beth, 8/5/2012 -
" I loved this book. He stated the facts just plain and simple so you didn't have to look for the hidden meaning, or try to figure out what he meant. Plus he used examples that we can ALL relate to, not just certain groups of people. "
— Bri_laughs_a_lot., 8/4/2012 -
" One of my favorite books by probably my most favorite writer. "
— Rebecca, 5/24/2012 -
" This was a great book led me in a direction of inner peace I have so desperately sought sincne the death of my mother a few months ago. "
— Elizabeth, 12/26/2011 -
" Excellent book! Much wisdom imparted. Very well written. The material in this book is encouraging, comforting, and could benefit anyone who is open to life's lessons. "
— Denise, 12/13/2011 -
" Loved it! Kushner has a way of making all of us feel better about ourselves yet want to strive to be better. His use of the biblical Jacob to explain the internal conflicts within us all was fascinating. Kushner is an intelligent yet thoughtful writer. "
— Annie, 12/10/2011 -
" Wonderful integration of spirituality and purpose. I could read this again. Kushner incorporates many Old Testament references, especially regarding the story of Jacob. "
— TurtleneckGirl, 12/4/2011 -
" Has a lot of great examples of morality and meaning. Enjoyed Jacob's wrestling with the better angel of his Nature. "
— Duane, 9/9/2011 -
" the best book by kushner i've read. a study of the life of jacob. "
— Brian, 7/25/2011 -
" I picked this book to read for an English class. It is full of great stories and ideas, but it seemes a little hard to get the authors point because of all the stories. I liked it, however. It is written by a Jewish Rabbi. "
— Lynette, 7/7/2011 -
" Kushner's book uses biblical stories and personal experience to tackle the question that composes the title of his work. I found his insights poignant. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the finer points of life. "
— Brian, 4/6/2011 -
" Good book, full of wisdom and common sense by well-known and much-loved Rabbi from Massachusetts. Required reading for Whole Health Education Certification program through the National Institute of Whole Health, which I enrolled in March 2009. "
— Beverly, 4/6/2011 -
" Kushner's book uses biblical stories and personal experience to tackle the question that composes the title of his work. I found his insights poignant. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the finer points of life. "
— Brian, 3/15/2010 -
" Not much new here, but the message is a great reminder. "
— John, 2/19/2010 -
" Loved it! Kushner has a way of making all of us feel better about ourselves yet want to strive to be better. His use of the biblical Jacob to explain the internal conflicts within us all was fascinating. Kushner is an intelligent yet thoughtful writer. "
— Annie, 10/21/2009 -
" One of my favorite authors. He is most famous for writing "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." This book weaves philsophy and religion in a common sense practical approach that is applicable to everyday life. "
— Angela, 9/13/2009 -
" This was a good book - just not exactly what I expected. I think I was expecting more of a "this is how you should do it," but it was more indirect and used a lot of parables. I'd recommend it if you're searching for meaning. "
— Elizabeth, 9/6/2009 -
" Another well-crafted sermon by Rabbi Harold Kushner. "
— Alex, 7/9/2009 -
" I love the words of Harold Kushner. Though, I am not Jewish what he writes is timeless and for anyone who truly wants to become a better person. I finished this book last month but I already have started to reread the book. The book definitely should be read many times. "
— Paul, 6/28/2009 -
" Excellent advice from a kind and wise man "
— Jason, 4/1/2009 -
" I loved this book. He stated the facts just plain and simple so you didn't have to look for the hidden meaning, or try to figure out what he meant. Plus he used examples that we can ALL relate to, not just certain groups of people. "
— Bri_laughs_a_lot., 3/27/2009 -
" More excellent advise about life balance and finding meaning, this gentle book provides some countercultural and timeless messages. "
— Jeanine, 1/2/2009
About Harold S. Kushner
Harold S. Kushner is the author of several bestselling books on coping with life’s challenges. He has been honored by the Christophers as one of the fifty people who have made the world a better place. He is Rabbi Laureate of Temple Isreal in Natick, Massachusetts.