The Great Good Thing cover art

The Great Good Thing

A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Great Good Thing

By: Andrew Klavan
Narrated by: Andrew Klavan
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $23.99

Buy Now for $23.99

About this listen

How did a New York-born, Jewish, former-atheist novelist and screenwriter - a winner of multiple Edgar Awards, whose books became films with Clint Eastwood and Michael Douglas - find himself at the age of 50 being baptized and confessing Jesus as Lord? That's a tale worth telling.

From his childhood outside New York City through his years as college-dropout wanderer and on to his growing success as a writer, Andrew Klavan consumed stories. From novels and plays to movies and the Bible, literature helped him interpret the world and understand his place in it. Dropping out of college to wander the country as an itinerant journalist, he met the woman who became his wife - and tales of marriage have been central to his writing ever since.

Wrestling with severe depression that took him to the brink of suicide, his readings of Hamlet and even Freud became crucial life-giving supports. And lying in bed reading Patrick O'Brien's seafaring tales, he found the courage to say a prayer - "thank you" - that overturned his life and led, inevitably, to his baptism in New York City a few days after his father's memorial service. The stories of Western literature led Andrew Klavan to Jesus. This is Klavan's story of that journey.

©2016 Andrew Klavan (P)2016 Thomas Nelson Publishers Christian Living Christianity Marriage New York
All stars
Most relevant
I loved listening to this book. Andrew Klavan writes with honesty , candour and humour. The joy he writes about is hard won ...the life journey is fascinating all the way.

This is a book to read more than once.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Andrew Klavan and the Great Good Thing came as a true breath of fresh air. The story is constructed in a way that you don't get caught listening to a chronological tale of a mans life, rather you are caught up in his internal struggles. As a reader I could relate to a great many things even though I am not an artistic person. If you like seeing the world and faith from others' perspective then this book is for you.

Refreshingly truthful, remarkably relatable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is the most engaging audio book I've listened to. Having Andrew Klavan read it adds an extra layer of engagement and enjoyment and I'm looking forward to listening to it again soon enough

Can't recommend highly enough

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I love Andrew Klavan"s honesty and intellect. He is perhaps the best Christian author since CS Lewis.

A wonderful honest account

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I have long enjoyed Klavan's podcasts. While interested enough to wish I had read this book, I wasn't sure if I could go through with actually shelving other books and spending the time to listen.

Well, I have listened. And I'm glad I took the time.

Often, and at startling points, I found myself relating to this digital mentor's openness, even vulnerability as he opened his life experience to us.

Though I don't have the same life experiences, I can relate to your the internal world. And in it's way it has changed me.

Thank you Andrew.

You like the podcasts but will you like the book?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Fascinating, gripping, beautifully read.
An interest part of the wider Jewish-Christian-secular western story.

Great story, wonderfully written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I am a big fan of the Andrew Klavan podcast on the Daily Wire and this is the only book of his I've read so far, as I'm not into murder mysteries (his usual genre). I really enjoyed it! He's a great storyteller and his faith and insight into Christianity and modern culture is something I really appreciate and look forward to listening to every week. And it was a great treat to listen to him for longer than his usual Friday episode's duration, even with the members segment. It helped me stave off the despair of 'klavanslessness' :) Next, I'll listen to his book The Truth and Beauty, which I think is his other non-fiction and promises to be as good as this one.

Great listen, especially because read by the author

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Told with Andrew Klavan’s characteristic mix of humour and gravity. It’s not just his story but a work of Christian philosophy and theology

A beautiful story of one man’s conversion to Christianity

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I've been a fan of Andrew Klavan for a few years now, and have procrastinated getting this book without any good reason - what a mistake. Truly an excellent work. It will appeal to almost anyone interested in a deep conversation.

A great book by one of the best in the business

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In this beautifully written memoir Andrew bares his soul for all to see and provides a sense of perspective on life which is truly moving and imbued with his characteristic wit. The joy of my joy indeed!

A thing of beauty

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.