Audiobooks by Judith Valente

The Italian Soul: How to Savor the Full Joys of Life

"The Italian Soul is a pilgrimage of the heart, a journey toward change that will allow its readers to approach life with a more contemplative stance and recreate a sense of la dolce vita—the sweet life—wherever they might be.   The Italian Soul offers practical guidance into how we can transport a taste of the Italian “good life” into our own homes. Additionally, it explores the contemplative practices and attitudes that seem to come naturally to a people who have made an art of living and working joyfully. A cross between a travel dispatch and a spirituality guide for seekers who eschew traditional religious practices but are yearning for ways to bring more balance, sanity, and a greater sense of the transcendent into their daily lives.   Written by veteran journalist Judith Valente, who has lived and traveled extensively in Italy, The Italian Soul shares personal stories and insights into the Italian way of life, focusing on the attitudes, traditions, and practices that make the people of Italy role models for experiencing delight amid the demands and distractions of ordinary living. Readers will feel as though they are walking along, peering into windows, glimpsing activities as they unfold.   The Italian Soul is a book for lovers of Italy, those considering visiting Italy for the first time, and anyone who is interested in learning more about the art of living joyfully.   The Italian Soul will share how Italians: - Have a deep appreciation for quality and aesthetics  - Value slowness and savor the little moments in life - Show a strong sense of community and make room for leisure and personal care - Honor their dead and have a deep respect for tradition - Find beauty in the everyday and are able to laugh at themselves The Italian Soul is a book that will change the way you look at life. It is a book that will inspire you to live more joyfully and to savor the simple things."

Judith Valente (Author), Daniela Acitelli (Narrator)

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How to Be: A Monk and a Journalist Reflect on Living & Dying, Purpose & Prayer, Forgiveness & Friend

"The spiritual seeker’s guide to living with authenticity and integrity in troubled times. This book is a dialogue between two spiritual seekers—one a Trappist monk and the other a married professional woman. It is two people 'stuttering to articulate life's universal questions from diverse contexts and perspectives.' Brother Paul writes as one steeped in silence and the daily rhythms of the ancient prayer practices of monasticism. Judith Valente writes as a professional woman attempting to bring a sense of prayer and contemplation to a scattered life in the secular world. Valente uses the story of Brother Paul's interview for a PBS documentary as a jumping-off point: When asked the purpose of the Trappist life in the modern world, he said that it is 'to show you don't need a purpose.' The purpose of life, he said, is life. 'You're to live your life.' How to Be offers a window into two people living their lives on purpose (or not) and struggling to come to terms with the big issues everyone faces: faith, mortality, mystery, prayer, and work. It is a book that provides insight and inspiration for those walking the spiritual path—particularly for those interested in the contemplative path."

Judith Valente, Paul Quenon OCSO (Author), Pam Ward (Narrator)

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How to Live: What the rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community

"The Rule of St. Benedict (the rule) arose in an era when a great civilization was threatened by violence, economic forces that favored the wealthy, political leaders that lacked the trust of the public, and rampant xenophobia. The events that occurred in sixth-century Rome were much those like on the nightly news. Benedict was not a priest or religious official. He was just a young man disillusioned by a corrupt society that lacked compassion. He had a vision of a society in which human values reigned supreme; a vision of compassion, harmony, and hope. This is a book about living—not just surviving. It is a book about how to live a balanced, meaningful, and conscious life rooted in the ancient and time-tested wisdom of the rule. Valente's book reflects her training as a journalist. The narrative is engaging, conversational, and filled with anecdotes. It reflects the sensibility of someone who has struggled with balancing work and family with finding true meaning and happiness that is not dependent on externals. In 21 chapters, she explores the key elements of the rule and clearly demonstrates how incorporating this ancient wisdom can change the quality and texture of our lives. Included here are discussions of humility, waking up, silence, simplicity, trust, prayer, forgiveness, building consensus, listening, and living with awe. These fresh and profound explorations are inspiring, thoughtful, and motivational. This book is aimed at beginner and mature spiritual seekers alike. It should also appeal to non-traditionally spiritual people—the so-called “nones” (people who list “none of the above” as their formal religion), who are seeking a saner way to live in an increasingly violent, divided, and confusing world."

Judith Valente (Author), Antonia Beamish (Narrator)

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