The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness

von Joel Ben Izzy

This inspiring memoir by a storyteller who lost his voice, and gained some unexpected wisdom, is "nothing less than a spiritual odyssey" (San Francisco Chronicle). "Heartwarming and smart and wonderfully written," this 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 (Detroit Free Press). An award-winning professional storyteller, Joel ben Izzy had the unusual opportunity to relive those lessons when he lost his voice after undergoing surgery for thyroid cancer, and reconnected with his old teacher, Lenny. 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. "This is a beautiful book full of old tales-from China, India, Persia, Jerusalem-that help storyteller Joel ben Izzy through dark times of silence and back into light and sound once more. Wonderful!" -Grace Paley "Heartfelt . . . This brief book speaks to people in trouble. It provides edifying advice, intimately given, like the best-selling Tuesdays with Morrie." -The Dallas Morning News "What a gift, what a blessing, funny, brilliant, wise." -Anne Lamott