Jacob's Journey: Wisdom to Find the Way, Strength to Carry on

By Noah benShea

Book Overview

"Heartwarming...A message of deliverance and fulfillment...A cause for joy and celebration." Father Malcolm Boyd As readers of Noah benShea's beloved international bestseller JACOB THE BAKER already know, Jacob's humble life changed when his neighbors discovered his great wisdom, for everyone wanted to draw upon it to solve their problems. Now, once again, Jacob's life is changing. The villagers propose that he give up baking and become their holy man. Instead, Jacob sets out on a journey, alone without destination. What he learns is shared in this treasure of plain-spoken wisdom.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394589904
• ISBN13: 9780394589909
• Release Date: September 1991
• Publisher: Villard
• Length: 116 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Inspiring

This is a great sequel to the original Jacob the Baker. Jacob has found that he cannot be himself in his hometown so he must go on a journey. He sets out alone and ends up meeting many along the road, some whom he helps and some who help him to understand himself. This book is filled with just as much wisdom as the original, though not in the short snippets found in the first book. This story has the wisdom woven into the narrative form. But no matter how far Jacob traveled, his wisdom was there with him and others would find it. "Late that night, stories of what the parents had asked and what Joseph's guest had answered were whispered from door to door. Rumors ran like the river that flowed through the village. Tales were told about the stranger named Jacob." p. 67 Eventually, the rumors of Jacob's wisdom get back to his hometown. Samuel his good friend comes to find him, but will Jacob return home?

A beautifully narrated theme of humility and fulfillment.

Dr. Shea has once again, through his caricature of Jacob shown us that man needs to seek and refine those gifts we have from within and leave behind most if not all of our material goals.

Sweet, insightful, and well crafted

I received this book as a companion gift to the first Noah benShea book in this series, Jacob the Baker. Both volumes complemented one another, and I recommend reading them in sequence. They are both exceptionally quick reads.The lightness of the text, however, is deceptive. benShea's writing style is outwardly simple, but every word is well chosen. Each chapter functions as a sort of mini-parable. With minimal language, he creates beautiful imagery and strings along a series of profound philosophical observations. Because these books have a decidedly jewish flavor to them, their reading audience will likely be limited. That's too bad. These are precisely the kind of books that most readers regardless of religious persuasion will revisit periodically throughout life.