The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness - by Joel Ben Izzy (Paperback)

About the Book

Storyteller Joel ben Izzy tells about his experiences trying to regain his voice after a vocal chord was paralyzed during cancer surgery, and weaves the tale of his experiences with relevant fables from around the world.

Book Synopsis

"Wonderful!" (Grace Paley).

"Heartwarming and smart and wonderfully written" (Detroit Free Press).

"Provides edifying advice, intimately given, like the best-selling Tuesdays with Morrie" (the Dallas Morning News).

"Altogether original" (Dr. Laura Schlessinger).

"This story will speak to the humanity of the reader" (Jewish Book World).

The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness is that rare, magical book--a book that tells a good story but also shows us how the tales we learned when we were children shed light on our adult lives. Joel ben Izzy had the unusual opportunity to relive those lessons when he lost his voice and reconnected with his old teacher, Lenny, a retired storyteller. Through his meetings with Lenny, Joel rediscovers the wisdom of ancient tales and takes us on a journey into a world of beggars and kings, monks and tigers, lost horses and buried treasures--and in the end tells us the secret of happiness.

From the Back Cover

The Beggar Kind and the Secret of Happiness is an altogether original true story about a storyteller who loses his voice and believes he's lost everything. An encounter with his old teacher shows him that, in fact, he's been given a great gift. Their meetings lead him on a journey into the timeless wisdom of ancient tales--a world of beggars and kings, monks and tigers, lost horses and buried treasures--and, ultimately, toward the secret of happiness.

Review Quotes

"Invites readers to see their own lives as stories, overflowing with meaning and never predictable."
--San Francisco Chronicle