Father Joe: The Man Who Saved My Soul Paperback – Illustrated, May 31, 2005

I bought this book with the highest hopes. It turns out that it's not a recollection of salvation, but a sad reminiscence of a man who lacks whatever Christian faith he may have once had.I don't feel comfortable reviewing this, since I stopped reading after a few pages (I wasn't getting anything "redemptive" about it), and skipped to the end to see that it wasn't about his return to the Church at all. Sorry, Tony! God bless you in spite of yourself.I hope I haven't misjudged Mr. Hendra. God bless him.

It’s not that I think the writing is particularly brilliant, because it’s certainly not. There are a few passages that I found very powerful emotionally, but perhaps not more than a couple memorable ones worth quoting. What is compelling, however, is the frank exploration of one man’s quest to find his calling, and the love of a brother Benedictine whose unconditional love brought him to faith. For that reason alone, the book is a post-modern spiritual classic.

Excellent book. Purchased it when original published and released. Also purchased at Audible as audio book. Have purchased for friends as gift over the years. Autobiography but great life lesson and study of character and relationships.

This autobiography of conversion, unconversion and reconversion is amazing. During his remarkable life, Mr. Hendra has run the gamut of spritiual conditions: aspiring monk, exuberant pagan, guilt ridden lapsed-Catholic, suicidal pagan, spiritual dreamer, cynic, re-aspiring monk...Though it all, the one constant was this shy, soft-spoken monk, Father Joe, a humble man who carries the spirit of God so profoundly that it goes almost unnoticed.The narrative, like Mr. Hendra's life, runs the gamut, from intensely personal reflection and confession to philosophical speculation on the meaning of life. I particularly enjoyed a long segment near the end where he talks eloquently about the positive value of the Church in our lives and our world: his rich appreciation of the past, his belief that the past exists in the present, his understanding that rational thought can take us only so far, his affinity for mysticism, all display a refreshingly human outlook in the face of a world that is increasingly material and cynical.This most modern of men, a leader of cultural revolution, a wicked satrist of all that is holy, a man prone to excess of all kinds, turns out to be in his heart precisely the what his behavior is not. This conversion story gives hope to all who feel angst because of their contradictory feelings and behavior--in other words, pretty much everybody! I found this book fascinating, uplifting, impossible to forget.

Someone loaned me this book years ago. I read it. I reread it. And I copied out many quotations. It was that good!It's about the author's checkered life. And it's about a monk who remained an anchor in his life. And how he finally turned his life around.I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I read this book because of repeated word of mouth recommendations and perhaps I expect too much. I was not familiar with the name Tony Hendra. As a young teen, Tony was introduced to a monk, Father Joe and his monastic lifestyle. The book is a worthwhile and very amusing biography of Tony growing up in Britain. He eventually became successful in the States becoming involved on the editorial staff of the National Lampoon magazine and Spinal Tap. He crossed paths with many celebrities. This was an easy fast paced book, and the farther one reads the more engrossed one becomes to discover the final outcome. A man that probably could have found inner peace with a monastic calling is living "Life in the Fast Lane" in LA and New York and seeks out Father Joe and monastic peace periodically when his life takes a downturn. I was a little disappointed because I thought the wild, out of control times, would be wilder and more out of control, but that is not fault of the author. The final chapter does contain a twist giving the book a feeling of completness. All in All, an story that is at once , amusing, informative, and has some seeds sown in for some deep thinking.

The problem with this book is the grief the reader feels at not having known the divine Father Joe. And then intense frustration at the author for not having moved heaven and earth to spend more time with him. Hendra is not a particularly good writer, but his story is a great one and the episodes featuring Father Joe are deeply moving (elsewhere his prose withers or become so densely knotted as to be unreadable, but that serves well the narrative of how unclear life became when he was away from the monastery: basically, it all coheres).

This is one of my favourite books, a wonderful story all the better because it is true. It is made even more poignant as I have connections with The Isle of Wight and have visited Father Joe's grave. Father Joe comes across as a very wise but humble being who benefited many. It is a feel good book that restores one's faith in humanity. Highly recommended.

my faith took a dive but this book made me come alive with my faith

fantastic novel about serenity, getting to know oneself and what really matters in life. almost like a self help book but not. they,re rubbish

An inspiration to anyone doubting life - religious or not. I defy anyone not to identify with some part of this book