• The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

  • A Spirituality for Real Life
  • By: James Martin
  • Narrated by: James Martin
  • Length: 14 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (826 ratings)

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The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything  By  cover art

The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

By: James Martin
Narrated by: James Martin
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Publisher's summary

St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Society of Jesus (aka the Jesuits), was known for his practical spirituality. The "way of Ignatius" has helped millions of people - from the doubtful seeker to the devout believer - find freedom, make friends, live simply, work sensibly, fall in love, experience joy, and enter into a relationship with God.

The Ignatian goal of "finding God in all things" eans that every part of our lives can lead us to God. The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything shows us how this is possible, with user-friendly examples, humorous stories and anecdotes from the heroic and inspiring lives of Jesuit saints and average priests and brothers, as well as examples from Martin's twenty years as a Jesuit. The traditional wisdom that Jesuits use to help other people in their daily lives is easily applied, but not often explained well to the general public. The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything translates these insights of St. Ignatius for a modern audience and reveals how we can find God - and how God can find us - in the real world of work, love, suffering, decisions, prayer, and friendship.

©2011 James Martin, S.J. (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

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What listeners say about The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

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Changed My Life

What did you love best about The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything?

I bought this book in the Laguardia Airport book store. It resonated with me on my spiritual life, how to pray and my relationship with God. I am not Catholic so I was not prepared for the practical Christian spirituality that James Martin conveys in this book.

I was headed in the wrong direction, away from God and this book literally turned me around. I am in a much better place and on a better path because of the impact this book had on my life.

I bought the audio book to re-listen to it for more insights I may have missed on the 1st reading.

The title of the book is absolutely true.

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39 people found this helpful

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Excellent Christian spiritual guide

I was raised atheist, though I attended catholic school in primary and secondary. I did not realize it at the time but it was Jesuit. I never experienced the horror stories of catholic school like so many. My experience was quite favorable. Though never confirmed, I was even an alter boy for several years which I enjoyed, yet never fully understood.

Flash forward through decades of vacillating between radical atheism and agnosticism, I was a broken and hopeless soul. Not rhetorically but literally. I eventually found God- or perhaps more appropriately, God found me and let me know in a manner that I would understand him.

Though still not catholic and probably never will be, nevertheless the Jesuits helped me bridge the gap between Buddhism and meditation which has been so transformative in my life. They do not see an incongruence and nor do I. Through them I learned of Christianity's deep and profoundly rich and deep history of spirituality.

This book is a great introduction to Christian spirituality. Perhaps more importantly was the ignatian focus on discernment and spiritual warfare. It's highly practical and can be utilized by any spiritual seeker. The author is engaging and lively...and sincere. I truly enjoyed his method of instruction and I hope to read his other works. It's with heartfelt gratitude that I highly recommend this book.

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18 people found this helpful

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My Favorite Book by My Favorite Author

Would you listen to The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything again? Why?

Absolutely. It is so centering to hear Fr. Jim read this wonderful book. I use it before sleep, in the car, while working on other projects. It helps me practice Ignatian Spirituality daily.

What did you like best about this story?

Every section is helpful in it's own way, but what I find myself returning to again and again, are the sections on poverty, chastity and obedience. That doesn't sound glamorous on the surface, but revisiting these values in a new form is so liberating.

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

Oh, yes.... but you can't. It must be savored, a little at a time!

Any additional comments?

This book will change your life!

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Highly recommended, not a Catholics book only

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

This is not a book for one sitting because it has a lot of point to think about and reflect on. Its better to take it little by little.

Any additional comments?

In the whole, the book shows you how to watch thing from other point of view, in a way that makes you grow as a person and realize what is really important in life. The points are very simple and well founded, but sometimes not that easy to follow.
It is very remarcable how J. Martin reinforces his points not only on catholic belives, but also in other christian, buddhist and muslim believes.
The examples of people he uses makes you want to read several other books and biografies (I have done it already).

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14 people found this helpful

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Relevant for everyone

Any additional comments?

Eventhough I'm a lifelong Catholic, this book goes beyond Catholicism. Father Martin brings in all sorts of literary, historical, cultural references and spiritual practices from other faith traditions all to illustrate how anyone can develop his/her own spirituality. This is a book I will come back to again and again because it will always have some fresh insight.

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12 people found this helpful

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Just what I needed

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

yes, it is a good representationm of Jesuit philosophy and anyone working on their spiritual well-being would benefit from this instruction.

Which character ??? as performed by James Martin ??? was your favorite?

James Martin

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

couldn't imagine such a thing

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8 people found this helpful

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Tedious

Tedious and uninformative
Definitely not recommended
A bland history of questionable authenticity.
The narrator is uninspiring.

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5 people found this helpful

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universal appeal

Would you listen to The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything again? Why?

yes- will get a deeper perspective the secod time through/

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything?

how non-believers can also bebefit from the book

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Mediocre pop-theology

Fr. James Martin dose it again! In his approach to deep theological concepts are watered down to the point of it becoming tasteless. His story telling techniques seems to be more of the book then anything else. It is truly not a good source for theological reflection. Long drawn out chapters that are really truly pointless. It is just awful!

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3 people found this helpful

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A useful introduction for people from many (any?) spiritual traditions

I have never been a Roman Catholic, but I have been vaguely interested in the order based on what little I know about their focus and accomplishments (the movie “The Mission”) as well. I enjoyed learning more about their philosophy and practices. The author even made a pretty good argument for the benefits of their vows - poverty, chastity, obedience. I am especially interested in trying two of the types of prayers the Jesuits regularly use: the Examen and active contemplation.

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2 people found this helpful