The Book of the Shepherd: The Story of One Simple Prayer, and How it Changed the World - Hardcover

Joann Davis

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0061732303 ISBN 13: 9780061732300

Publisher: HarperOne, 2009

Synopsis

When a rare antiquarian book is discovered in the disheveled study of an old Vermont farmhouse, the house's new owner feels obligated to get the volume translated. It takes nearly a year, with help from experts at great universities who can discern the strange hybrid language in which the text is written. But when the translation is finished, the result is "The Book of the Shepherd". Set in a mythical time, in an unnamed land, "The Book of the Shepherd" opens with a small boy being mercilessly beaten by his father in the market. A shepherd who witnesses the beating knows it is done in accordance with the law of filial infractions. But the shepherd wonders if there is another way besides the harsh code of 'an eye for an eye' that guides this world. Called by a dream, the shepherd sets off on an uncertain journey to find 'the new way'. Accompanied by Elizabeth, a former slave who radiates a spirit of relentless goodness and 'reckless generosity'; and David, the boy beaten in the market who must learn to walk in new shoes, the shepherd leads his new friends over hills and dale, through villages and towns, guided by an old map given to Elizabeth by her dying grandfather. The travelers press on, motivated by the prediction of Elizabeth's grandfather that 'an age of miracles' will come when the new way is found. But the journey is long and not without incident. As Joshua, Elizabeth and David head toward a treacherous cave beneath the cliffs near the Great Inland Sea, they meet a cast of extraordinary characters, including The Story Teller, the Apothecary, the Blind Man and the Stranger. Each imparts an important story and lesson that pushes the travelers toward their encounter with destiny. Reaching the cave, where profound secrets have long been hidden, Joshua will be severely tested to see if he can 'bring forth what is within him'. But he, Elizabeth and David will also discover an important truth...sometimes the treasure we seek has been inside us all along.

About this title

Review:

“The Book of the Shepherd, a timeless story about one man who is seeking “the new way,” is an inspiring and moving fable.” (Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist)

“[this book] carries readers to a place too rarely visited in this hard world, a place where love and forgiveness triumph over our worst instincts. We are better people for becoming our own guides on this journey. Read The Book of the Shepherd and discover an untravelled highway.” (Meredith Vieira, co-host of the Today Show and Richard M. Cohen, author of Strong at the Broken Places)

“In The Book of the Shepherd, Joann Davis presents us with an insightful tale that cuts through the noise and truly inspires. At a time when many people write about changing the world, she offers a simple journey that vividly demonstrates the importance of every act. An energizing read.” (James Redfield, #1 International bestselling author of The Celestine Prophecy)

“From time to time, great teachers have used parables to instruct the human heart. The Book of the Shepherd is such a tale - a luminous book full of revelations of love and forgiveness. I’m going to buy a case for friends and family!” (Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind and Your Soul’s Compass)

“A simple and profound parable that engages the heart. A delightful story that even children can enjoy and yet full of deeper meaning and direction for all truth seekers. The Book of the Shepherd should become a classic in every home.” (Hyrum Smith Co-founder of FranklinCovey, Founder of Galileo Initiative and author of 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management and What Matters Most: The Power of Living Your Values)

“A timeless and engaging tale reminding us of the infallible guideposts by which we should steer our lives. Buy this book for your grandmother and read it to your children.” (Two Seekers, authors of No Jesus, No Peace—Know Jesus, Know Peace: Timeless Wisdom for Living a Life That Matters)

“A scribe writes the story. A reader takes it to heart. The world, upon hearing it, is changed forever. The Book of the Shepherd is more than just a poignant and lovely story. It is truth.” (Lynne Hinton, author of The Arms of God, The Friendship Cake, and the forthcoming book The Christmas Cake)

“A beautiful demonstration of the ‘Power of One,’ offering readers important lessons of Truth many are searching for today.” (Kathryn Adams Shapiro, author of Wisdom’s Choice)

“The Book of the Shepherd is a thematically rich parable about conscience, the importance of dreams, the challenges of bringing forth what is within us,...and a buoyant belief that compassion, love, and peace can transform the world.” (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, www.spiritualityandpractice.com)

From the Back Cover:

Stone the builder who erects a house that falls on its occupants. Sever the hands of the criminal who pilfers livestock or grain or another's garment. Whip the child who defies an elder. For such is the law and the law must be obeyed.

For generations, these ironclad rules had governed the people. Nobody questioned whether it was right to humiliate a child or execute a murderer. An eye for an eye was the way of the world.

But was there another way?

When an antiquarian book is discovered in the disheveled study of an old Vermont farmhouse, the house's new owner has the volume translated. The result is The Book of the Shepherd, a timeless story full of life lessons for us all.

Set in a mythical time, in an unnamed land, The Book of the Shepherd tells the tale of a shepherd, Joshua, who is troubled by the harsh code of "an eye for an eye" that governs his world. Called by a dream, the shepherd sets off on a journey to find "the new way."

Accompanied by Elizabeth, a former slave who is kind and generous, and David, a boy who must learn to walk in new shoes, the shepherd knows that "an age of miracles" will come when the new way is found.

But the journey is not without incident. En route to a cave near the Great Inland Sea, the travelers meet a cast of extraordinary characters, including the Storyteller, the Apothecary, the Blind Man, and the Stranger. Each imparts an important lesson that pushes the travelers toward their destiny. At the cave, Joshua must see if he can bring forth secrets long buried. But he, Elizabeth, and David will also discover that sometimes what we have been searching for has been inside us all along.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperOne
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0061732303
• ISBN 13: 9780061732300
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 208