Have a Little Faith: A True Story

by Mitch Albom

Overview

What if our beliefs were not what divided us, but what pulled us together?

In Have a Little Faith, Mitch Albom offers a beautifully written story of a remarkable eight-year journey between two worlds -- two men, two faiths, two communities -- that will inspire readers everywhere. Albom's first nonfiction book since Tuesdays with Morrie, Have a Little Faith begins with an unusual request: an eighty-two-year-old rabbi from Albom's old hometown asks him to deliver his eulogy.

Feeling unworthy, Albom insists on understanding the man better, which throws him back into a world of faith he'd left years ago. Meanwhile, closer to his current home, Albom becomes involved with a Detroit pastor -- a reformed drug dealer and convict -- who preaches to the poor and homeless in a decaying church with a hole in its roof.

Moving between their worlds, Christian and Jewish, African-American and white, impoverished and well-to-do, Albom observes how these very different men employ faith similarly in fighting for survival: the older, suburban rabbi embracing it as death approaches; the younger, inner-city pastor relying on it to keep himself and his church afloat.

As America struggles with hard times and people turn more to their beliefs, Albom and the two men of God explore issues that perplex modern man: how to endure when difficult things happen; what heaven is; intermarriage; forgiveness; doubting God; and the importance of faith in trying times. Although the texts, prayers, and histories are different, Albom begins to recognize a striking unity between the two worlds -- and indeed, between beliefs everywhere. In the end, as the rabbi nears death and a harsh winter threatens the pastor's wobbly church, Albom sadly fulfills the rabbi's last request and writes the eulogy. And he finally understands what both men had been teaching all along: the profound comfort of believing in something bigger than yourself.

Have a Little Faith is a book about a life's purpose; about losing belief and finding it again; about the divine spark inside us all. It is one man's journey, but it is everyone's story.

Ten percent of the profits from this book will go to charity, including The Hole In The Roof Foundation, which helps refurbish places of worship that aid the homeless.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781401310462
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	03/29/2011
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	13,727
Product dimensions:	4.70(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Mitch Albom is an author, playwright, and screenwriter who has written seven books, including the international bestseller Tuesdays with Morrie, the bestselling memoir of all time. His first novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, was an instant number one New York Times bestseller that has since sold more than six million copies worldwide. Both books were made into acclaimed TV films. Mitch also works as a columnist and a broadcaster, and serves on numerous charitable boards. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.

Hometown:

Franklin, Michigan

Date of Birth:

May 23, 1958

Place of Birth:

Passaic, New Jersey

Education:

B.A., Brandeis University, 1979; M.J., Columbia University, 1981; M.B.A., Columbia University, 1982

Table of Contents

In the Beginning… 1

Spring

The Great Tradition of Running Away 6

Meet the Reb 9

A Little History 11

Life of Henry 15

The File on God 17

The House of Peace 25

The Daily Grind of Faith 34

Ritual 42

The End of Spring 46

Summer

The Things We Lose… 55

Community 62

A Little More History 67

The Greatest Question of All 77

Why War? 86

Happiness 96

The End of Summer 103

Autumn

Church 107

What Is Rich? 112

Church 118

Old 123

Church 132

A Good Marriage 141

Your Faith, My Faith 156

The Things We Find… 164

Thanksgiving 168

The End of Autumn 177

Winter

Winter Solstice 189

Good and Evil 194

Life of Cass 200

Saying Sorry 209

The Moment of Truth 215

Heaven 223

Church 228

Goodbye 232

The Eulogy 235

…The Things We Leave Behind 243

Epilogue 248

Acknowledgments 253

What People are Saying About This

Bishop T.D. Jakes

"Albom helps show the true definition of ‘Church.' It is not the building, it is the people and their faith."
--Bishop T.D. Jakes, Chief Pastor, The Potter's House

Scott Turow

"An absolute wonder—tender, transporting, and deeply moving."
--Scott Turow, author of Presumed Innocent

"The nonfiction equivalent to Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist."

Editorial Reviews

"The nonfiction equivalent to Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist."

Sydney Morning Herald

"Everybody should read it."
--Hoda Kotb in PeopleBest Book of 2009

People

"Clear some space on your bookshelf for Mitch Albom's, Have a Little Faith, the story of a faith journey that could become a classic. Those who were born into faith, have lost faith, or are still searching will all be engaged and challenged by this powerful story of "finding faith" in relationships with others and with something greater than ourselves. Never satisfied with easy answers or soft platitudes, Mitch explores some of life's greatest mysteries and unanswered questions with great honesty, depth and self reflection."—Jim Wallis, CEO and Founder of Sojourners and author of The Great Awakening

From the Publisher

"Clear some space on your bookshelf for Mitch Albom's, Have a Little Faith, the story of a faith journey that could become a classic. Those who were born into faith, have lost faith, or are still searching will all be engaged and challenged by this powerful story of "finding faith" in relationships with others and with something greater than ourselves. Never satisfied with easy answers or soft platitudes, Mitch explores some of life's greatest mysteries and unanswered questions with great honesty, depth and self reflection."

Jim Wallis