Audiobooks by Jay Parini

Jesus, Paul, and the Early Christians

"Jesus comes to me and you through thousands of years of imagery and writing—a vast web of material that often does more to obscure than reveal. Now, one of America’s greatest living storytellers retells the greatest story ever told with unprecedented clarity and insight. An accomplished poet and author, Jay Parini has earned widespread recognition as an innovator in the genre of biographical fiction. Among his books on towering literary figures like John Steinbeck, William Faulkner, Herman Melville, and Robert Frost, he is perhaps best known for his novel about Leo Tolstoy, which was adapted into the 2010 Academy Award-nominated film The Last Station. Now, in Jesus, Paul, and the Early Christians, Parini bends his narrative talents to one of the most storied men in all of history: Jesus Christ. Parini takes what he calls a “mythic” approach to religion. Throughout Jesus, Paul, and the Early Christians, you will contemplate the rise from history to mystery. In a word, this involves viewing myths as tears in the fabric of reality. Parini shows you how the literal events of history take a backseat to the powerful and enthralling symbolic meaning of the lives of Jesus, Paul, and others. Eloquent and introspective, Parini proves an entertaining guide to early Christianity, its root meanings, and its life-changing possibilities. As you gain deep insights into Jesus’ humanity, you will transform your relationship with God and the eternal life. This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide."

Jay Parini (Author), Jay Parini (Narrator)

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The Way of Jesus: Living a Spiritual and Ethical Life

"Renowned poet and novelist Jay Parini's The Way of Jesus is a book for progressive Christians and spiritual seekers who struggle, as Parini does, with some of the basic questions about human existence: its limits and sadnesses, and its possibilities for awareness and understanding. Part guide to Christian living, part spiritual autobiography, The Way of Jesus is Jay Parini's exploration of what Jesus really meant, his effort to put love first in our daily lives. Called "one of those writers who can do anything" by Stacy Schiff in the New York Times Book Review, Parini-a lifelong Christian who has at times wavered and questioned his beliefs-recounts his own efforts to follow Jesus's example, examines the contours of Christian thinking, and describes the solace and structure one can find in the rhythms of the church calendar. Parini's refreshingly undogmatic approach to Christian thinking incorporates teachings from other religions, as well as from poets and other writers who have helped Parini along his path to understanding."

Jay Parini (Author), Ronnie Butler (Narrator)

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West Mountain Epilogue: A Reading by Jay Parini from his New and Collected Poems: 1975-2015

"A reading by Jay Parini of thirty-three of his most celebrated poems. Jay Parini's readings are always an event, but too rare. For the first time, Parini has recorded his best known and most recent poems in an audiobook that welcomes the listener to enter his universe, which revolves around his deep connection to nature and underlines his concerns about the impacts of pollution and climate change. The audiobook follows the pattern of his popular readings, with the poet introducing each poem with context and comments, invariably revealing and often amusing. In these beautiful, haunting poems, Parini writes about the landscapes of mining country, of the railroads of Pennsylvania, of farm country, of worlds lost, families dispersed, faith tried and contested."

Jay Parini (Author), Jay Parini (Narrator)

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