Living a Life That Matters

Resolving the Conflict Between Conscience and Success

From the author of the huge best seller When Bad Things Happen to Good People, a profound and practical audiobook about doing well by doing good.

In this timely and compelling audiobook, Harold Kushner addresses our craving for significance, the need to know that our lives and choices mean something. We do great things, and occasionally 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.

©2001 Harold S. Kushner (P)2001 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Top-notch pastoral counsel." (Booklist)

"Another Kushner juggernaut." (Publishers Weekly)

Inspirational

Rabbi Kushner shares what matters - what is important to living a full life . Inspiring to all

OVERALL---thoughtful book.

Where does Living a Life That Matters rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've listened to about 9 or 10 books so far. I'm a "newbee". However, I've physically read several books; I cannot even begin to count how many books I've read! This book is one of those "thought provoking" books. What I like about it is that it doesn't tell you how to think, but it makes you answer the questions that arise introspectively. This may be a disadvantage for the "hungry soul" such as myself. I'm not satisfied with only questions, I want to hear answers! I know that no one can tell you all of the answers, but this book will leave you thirsty. The thoughts are pretty interesting at the end, but there should be a part two or a workbook. Nevertheless, this book is about moral and ethical codes. If you're one who thinks about why they do what they do, or why they feel how they feel- you'd like this one!

Would you recommend Living a Life That Matters to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes. Most of my friends value the "ethics system".

Have you listened to any of Harold S. Kushner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I also have Psalm 23 in my library. Looking forward to it!

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

The one who is really sincere, will perform with integrity even without witnesses. Well, those were not the exact words, but that is the point! :)

Good not Great

I love the references to the biblical stories and their relevance to a life well lived in practical terms. I think the reader and his mono tone rhythm of descending notes did not do the message justice

Living a Worthwhile Life

I like Rabbi Kerschner. He touches my life with spiritual truths; I listen to his teachings and am blessed for the remainder of the day.

An eye opener

The purpose of life is to learn and to love, all the time balancing two burning desires: to be important - to matter and to be good - ethical and moral.

Simple yet Profound

Another wonderful book by Rabbi Kushner. He presents profound material in a simple manner that you can understand. I think this was the best of his books. I highly recommend this book club f you are wrestling with forgiveness, death, or just feeling insignificant. Rabbi Kushner eloquently covers all of these topics in an easy to understand manner

A refreshing pause from self-indulgence

So much of what passes for advice on living revolves around self-esteem and improved performance. Fortunately, the sages of Jewish tradition, and their modern-day inheritors like Rabbi Kushner, still are relevant and on-target, even to this Christian man. What makes us significant is not our accomplishments, but our loving contributions to those around us. I encourage you to read, enjoy, be filled, and go and do likewise.

Brilliant!

A heart-helping, uplifting, surprising listen. Not what I thought a book about living a life that matters would be about but so happy to be wrong.

Definitely worth a second listen for me.