A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ - The Great Good Thing

For seekers and believers alike, this memoir stands as an authentic and moving account of one man's path to faith as well as an investigation into what formed the author into the person he is now. Klavan beautifully draws the reader through an internal and personal search for truth and ultimately to God in Christ. Along the way he deconstructs the barriers to faith so present in the postmodern world, and he does so with the focus and clean prose Klavan's fans have come to expect.

Klavan is a surprisingly excellent writer. His prose has such a wonderful sense of clarity and flow to it, which made reading this book an easy and pleasant experience. This book is not a work of apologetics or theology; rather, it is one man's detailed analysis of his own complex inner life as it evolved over the years, leading up to his conversion. Klavan's story/autobiography is rich in detail & description, insightful, honest, and full of moments of beauty and inspiration.

Andrew is a talented and very skilled writer. But in this work he is inspired. This cathartic and deeply personal memoir of his life's journey is moving. Andrew holds nothing back, giving the details of a sometimes tortured soul who struggles through the "Valley of Death" to find joy and peace upon the other side.
I recommend it strongly -- to Christians, Jews, Agnostics/Atheists, or anyone else. It is thought-provoking and makes on look at his own life.

Great book. Andrew Klavan is a man who really thinks. This is why he faced problems - difficult questions and even more difficult decisions. The way he resolved those problems demonstrates that he is not only very intelligent, but also wise and intellectually honest. Kudos to the author.

What a wonderful book! He explains his conversion in a logical way. And everyone can understand his thoughts, as he progresses from Jew to agnostic to atheist to believer. And then he shines a bright light on the joy that is found in Christianity.

Mr. Klavan succeeds in integrating with his spiritual autobiography discussions of the centrality of Christianity to Western culture in general. He does not avoid what is perhaps the most difficult topic of all - the claim, which hopefully is largely confined to the past, that the Jews, from the first century to the 21st, are collectively responsible for the death of Jesus.

Enjoyed the systematic development of Mr. Klavan's search for truth in Christ. For those of us born into the faith, it made me appreciate his continual search for righteousness that maybe we take for granted.

Andrew descibes a world in which I have trouble relating. I was raised in a Christian home so what he went through seems very foreign to me. This is not your typical conversion story and it has great potential to reach those who would not be receptive to other similar books.

What joy to read! Andrew Klavan recounts a life's journey through difficulties and despair finding along the way love, triumph, and ultimately redemption. Mr. Klavan's deeply introspective account is marked by self discovery, time and again revealing uncanny insight and truth. This is a truly inspiring read that touches the heart with its brutally honest portrait of the human condition contrasted with the interweaving of God's love calling him to joy and salvation. Mr. Klavan's humor and wisdom shines through this highly enjoyable memoir of his faith. Thank you for sharing this wonderful journey with us!

Klavan's journey to Christianity was merely the process of discovering what is real, he claims. Every professing atheist ought to read it just to reinforce the arsenal. Searching people need to read it because a very very intelligent man has come to the conclusion that only Christianity makes sense out of everything and only the empty tomb grounds reality in the sure hope of everlasting joy.

I found this story of conversion and finding Christ to be deeply moving. It is a bit ponderous and even tedious in parts or I would have rated higher. But powerful and well thought through description and analysis of life’s deepest mysteries

Fantastic read from a fascinating person! I absolutely loved it! I had high hopes (I listen to The Andrew Klavan Show all the time and wanted to know more about his life) and this book exceeded my expectations.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Klavan has a way of explaining and detailing scenarios that make you feel as if you were present. I now have a deep understanding of his life and the questions and answers that defined him as he is today. There was great clarification on questions I myself have had about God and religion, and he just seems to operate and think the same ways I do, making it very valuable for my own improvement. I highly recommend this book!

I first heard Mr. Klavan on the Eric Metaxis show. His story sounded so good, I decided I would read it myself. Besides being every bit as good as I thought, it was very well written. I enjoyed it greatly, and have decided to buy it for a Christmas gift for several people.

Andrew Klavan is a very entertaining author and speaker. His joy comes through in this book.

I love a book that pulls me into the story while also transporting me above the story to bigger ideas, and Klavan does that here.

I have followed Andrew KLAVAN and his work with the Daily Wire for a few months a now, and after reading this book, am eager to read some of his fiction.
PS: Pay the 10$ for the audio book. Klavan's soft and silky voice is more than worth it.

Great read. Andrew is a little mystical at times, but has a great testimony. Pages 205-207 show how morality in the secular realm is arbitrary and no one (rather, few) lives according to evolutionary theory. The image of God is in everyone.

A great, good story of the journey the author (Andrew Klavan) takes to becoming a Christian. I originally chose the book out of curiosity as my husband and I were great fans of Gene Klavan's (Andrew's father) morning radio show ("Klavan and Finch") during the 70's, and I wanted to know more about his (Gene's) life. Turns out, Gene Klavan was a very different man in life than the comedic characters he portrayed on the radio show. However, I was intrigued by Andrew's partial autobiography and all his mental suffering throughout his life until he finally "came to Jesus." This is a very intelligent writer; the book follows the journey step by step in a clear, concise manner. At times, I felt I had just been psychoanalyzed! I will read more of Andrew Klavan! (Maybe he will write a book about his father!)

A compelling meticulously detailed story of a special life that despite looking everywhere else, ultimately came to a beautiful process of understanding Christ's unconditional love! This book brought great insight into understanding Jewish culture in America along with the stigmas associated from inside the culture and the outside.

... will stir emotions and uplift the reader....especially after following the author through years of torment and terror. Andrew Klavan's story is a pilgrimage through faith and culture and the beauties and grandeur of both...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I appreciated Klavan's sense of humor and emotional honesty. The book left me wanting more like when you've been to a restaurant with uniquely delicious food you've never experienced before and say, "I cannot wait to return to see what the Chef prepares next."

This was enjoyable to read because it was honest and because Klavan is so different from me. I've had an intuitive faith since I was a child. I loved experiencing someone else's journey. I'm grateful for the opportunity.

This book was absolutely amazing, a must read!!

I could not put it down. It was riveting. The story is really captivating from cover to cover because you take the wild ride through Andrew's life journey. It is extremely relatable on so many levels.
Loved it.

JW

This book was absolutely amazing, a must read!!

I could not put it down. It was riveting. The story is really captivating from cover to cover because you take the wild ride through Andrew's life journey. It is extremely relatable on so many levels.
Loved it.

JW

Agony and ecstasy. Brilliantly written, Klavan's account draws you in and pulls you along to the glorious finale you know is coming, but in a way you could never have predicted. I finished it yesterday, and I am still overflowing with the joy that is communicated through his story.

A well written biography by the author with a intense look into many parts of his childhood, the ideas he originally accepted and how life experiences changed his perspective on himself and his place in the world.

What appears to be an honest account of his journey to Christ. Also honest after his acceptance -- didn't hit us with common platitudes currently in general use in Christian circles. He kept it real.

I was thankful to hear of God's mercy to the author and to his father.

Would recommend this to anyone dealing with the question " Is God real?"

Not too many memoirs read like a thriller but this one does. Here Dashiell Hammett meets John Keats. This is no apologetic, just a tale of a pilgrim progressing from a torn and damaged soul into one filled with deep joy and gratitude.

We know what Andrew Klavan can deliver with his crime thrillers. Heck, even his 'Werewolf Cop' proved a terrific genre romp. This is different. It's illuminating and heart-shattering all at once. Best of all, it provides a hopeful message above and beyond his faith journey. Not every child who grew up in a dysfunctional household is doomed to repeat that cycle.

My own path toward understanding has been a good deal less traumatic, but it's also been slower - and I'm not done yet. The book has given me a number of useful insights, and much to think about. That's about the highest praise I know how to offer.

The Great Good Thing is fantastic read. You can tell that the author is a writer by trade and not just trying to force out a quick autobiography to make money. It is a compelling and inspiring story that will give even the most lost individual some motivation. It is the best book that I have read in the last few years. I think most people can relate to his story in some way or another. Definitely worth the read.

If books are supposed to entertain, draw emotion, confirm things you hope are true and make you question things you thought were true, educate and make you see things from a different perspective, this book did all of those things for me. I have gained hope to overcome a few challenges and some ideas to do it. I have made commitments to myself to move toward God. Thank you Mr. Klavan.

A great story of coming to faith from an excellent writer. Andrew Klavan has quickly become one of my favorite public figures, he has a perspective that is irreplaceable. He is now my second favorite secular American Jew to become a Christian, the first being Art Katz.

and I'd recommend checking out his podcast (The Andrew Klavan Show, Daily Wire) before starting this book. For the uninitiated, I think it will help you to hear his voice, mannerisms and sense of humor before diving into this memoir.

Very well crafted, funny and well reasoned. There are lines and passages that made me want to highlight and come back to.

Andrew Klavan is an excellent story teller. This autobiography is well-written, witty, and compelling. I appreciated the openness with which he tells his story. As one who has been a follower of Jesus for a long time, I was both challenged and encouraged by this book.

Really enjoyed the journey the author went on. He draws some very insightful conclusions from his experiences and studies. The book resonated deeply with me but it was also just plain enjoyable to read.

Faith is not something we are necessarily born into. It is a life long journey, a discovery, much like both falling in love and staying in love. I enjoy the transparency, the intellectual honesty, the highs and lows of this journey. Quick, easy biographical read for the intellectually curious.

I just thought this book was the best thing since sliced bread. I've always been a follower of Klaven through his political material via videos and such. How wonderful to hear his story. I have such respect for this man. The read was somewhat tense, but heartfelt and so refreshing. Klaven is one my favorites in popular culture and a great author.

This book is perfect. All the humor and wisdom that Klavan writes with is amazing in itself. However, what strikes at my heart is just how heartfelt the entire memoir is.
There are a thousand other reviews that describe it better than me, but for what it's worth, I think is book is a must buy.

Excellent book, thought-provoking and beautifully written. I read the Kindle edition, and when finished, listened to it on Audible. Andrew's descriptions of faith, and journey to Christ are spiritually uplifting, and through this narration were made more tangible for me. i am grateful he shared such personal experiences.

Well written story but I found it less enjoyable than I expected. I didn't know anything about the author and still don't beyond what he wrote. I found his objectifying and using fellow humans to advance HIS story to be incredibly offputting. His nonstop psychoanalyzing his family members, tying things up in neat bows of cause and effect (I am this way because they were that way and they were that way because this event happened...) and condescending tone just didn't do it for me. After reading this, I think I might enjoy some of his novels but his personal journey, as described in this book, left me unmoved, which surprised me. Who doesn't like a tale of spiritual growth/evolvement, even if their journey takes them to places you don't care to go? Well, apparently me because I found his self absorbed lack of humility, respect and charity to be profoundly tedious. Still enjoyed the writing, just not the writer. Giving it 4 stars because it is well written and that seems fair, to me.

Great writing, as usual. Andrew Klavan thinks about his life, in the process helping everyone think of their own. I did think it was a little short, and ended somewhat abruptly. Perhaps the editors trimmed too much. Still well worth the read.