The Divine Arsonist

A Tale of Awakening

By: Jacob Nordby

Narrated by: Jacob Nordby

"Burn This Book...". In his postscript, the author asks listeners to destroy this book. Why? Find out as you follow the main character in an adventure of the mind and spirit. A burned-out businessman takes an unplanned vacation to his mountain lodge and meets a strange visitor who issues a startling summons. He is to leave his whole life behind and journey into the unknown on a mission which may have world-changing impact.

Faced with the agony of this decision, he realizes that he may not have any choice against the hand of destiny. Join him on the path to discovery as he encounters teachers, guides and ragged shamans who change the way he sees the world forever. Who knows? You may emerge from this tale with a different perspective, too.

©2012 Jacob Nordby (P)2013 Cherry Hill Publishing

A Message For Us All To Wake Up

Through a beautifully written narrative the author shares a story of his own shift in awareness that he seems to want to share with the world, hoping more people will wake up and do something to make a difference. The world is on the brink. Destruction has begun but it's not fatal yet. The outcome is unclear. It's up to us to respond to this call. Thank you, Jacob.

my favorite book of the year!

What did you love best about The Divine Arsonist?

this was a wonderful relatable story of one man's spiritual awakening. He walks away from the material kingdom he built and discovers a depth within.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked all the character's back stories. Each character had a story about how they arrived to where they were at which is true in life as well but I loved the characters and their respective stories.

Which character – as performed by Jacob Nordby – was your favorite?

I liked Jack part of me likes the idea of off the grid living. Freedom fun and adventure!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I enjoyed the cathartic experience Jacob experienced in the cave visiting the dark side and the epiphanies that were shared.

Buy it

Brilliant. Buy it. Listen to it. Think about it. Listen to it again. Remember it…………need more like this.

Divinely Inspired!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Divine Arsonist to be better than the print version?

I would consider the audio version to be better than the print version, because I could close my eyes and let the author paint pictures of "awakening" in my mind.

What other book might you compare The Divine Arsonist to and why?

This book is one of a kind.

Any additional comments?

"The Divine Arsonist" was an excellent read (or listen)! Jacob Nordby gives us a glimpse of one man's experience of remembering who he is, why he is here, and how to apply that knowledge to his everyday life. He does a wonderful job of putting the every day "trials" into perspective, as it pertains to the overall "oneness" of everyone and everything. Don't pass this one up!

An Absolute Must.. Audio is best

I have been on my own journey of awakening for about 8 years but had reached a division in the road that I was unsure which direction to go. to be honest, I don't have the words to describe what this book means to me.. but it has catapulted me into another dimension of understanding myself better and which direction I want to pursue. All I can say... the author reaches into your soul for this one..

Good but not great

Interesting story but really nothing new. The same messages you can find in everything from castenada, ruiz, tolle, etc to even fight club. The audio editing leaves something to be desired with retakes and duplicate reading. I got all the way through it and surprised i did.

It was alright.

If a Wrinkle in Time and The Shack had a kid, it would be this book. There are so many similarities between the three stories, it was hard not to think of comparisons while listening to it. Well written but I felt like it was a story already told.

if your mind is open, then read this book.

If teachers arrive when the student is ready the then this book was right on time.

Be careful

Be careful, reading this book may shake you up a bit. It has me. And I am grateful to the author for the revelations.

A New Hero's Journey

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. My review of the book on Amazon (I have the Kindle version) reads, in part:

The Divine Arsonist is a classic Hero's Journey as described by Joseph Campbell. In that, comparisons to everything from Homer's Odyssey to Star Wars can be drawn; however, don't expect swordplay, dragons and buxom princesses in need of rescue. (There is some nudity and bodily fluids, if that's your 'thing.') This is one man's inward journey from one place in life to a new, broader truth. It's a lot more Carlos Castaneda than George Lucas.
From a purely technical standpoint. Mr. Nordby uses words, sentences, description and all kinds of trippy metaphor brilliantly. It's very succinct, not too flowery.
The style is raw and honest and the story moves at a good pace, only threatening to drag at a couple of points. I never found myself bored with the story itself.
Being a writer myself, I found a few instances where the main character said, "I had no idea what was to come," hilarious, I kept yelling at the book: "Come on, dude, they're going to ____________." (I wasn't disappointed.) Those scenes are a part of all such stories, so this isn't a fault of the author's. It's just obvious that the main character has never done much reading!
The book doesn't require a degree in literature or comparative religion to understand. It both shows and talks about the themes and ideas, often doing both of these for each step of the journey to reinforce the point.
Also, the story is simple, straightforward. There's no clutter or side-trips along the way. Some will see this simplicity and label it naive, trite or cliche. In my opinion, it is no such thing. It is a focused narrative, all in service to the book's theme.

That theme is also simple. The Divine Arsonist is designed to show (or remind) the reader, through the vehicle of the main character, that there is another way to define and live your life. Simple.
If that idea resonates with you, then read the book.
Will it change your life? Only if you let it.

What other book might you compare The Divine Arsonist to and why?

The Way of the Peaceful Warrior comes to mind, but only as it's a story of awakening to another way of life.

What does Jacob Nordby bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I'm not a big book listener; I'd rather read. In this case, I wanted to hear Jacob's voice reading the book. Had it been anyone else, I probably wouldn't have bothered. (Well, maybe Patrick Stewart, but that's another story.) I didn't know what to expect.
I like it.
He doesn't try to "act" the book, he reads it to you: so if you're looking for a theater production, you won't find that here. Jacob Nordby has a very good voice; not something put-on, but real. Not deep and imposing, and (thankfully) not high or nasally. Like the Little Bear's porridge: just right.
He reads it as you might imagine your father reading to you before bed. Masculine, no nonsense and somehow intimate.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

At 8+ hours, no. I did listen to it over two nights, though.