The Only Thing That Matters

Worth the credit...

I am a HUGE fan of Neale's having read most all his previous works. The contents of this book still have me a fan but several times I did have to turn it off and 'digest' what he was saying. He gets his point across about 'the only thing that matters' but sometimes in an annoying way. Maybe its just the pace I learn at (slowly!). I found myself getting frustrated with his comparisons that ran on FOREVER and how the topics swirled back on each other. With all that said this book is definitely worth the credit and time taken to listen to it. You will learn a lot and have MANY 'ah ha' moments. As usual Neale is very comforting in one segment and then knocks you off your base in the next only to steady you again in the following one. I will listen again soon (after my head quits spinning from this round!)

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Really Great, and better than I expected.

What did you love best about The Only Thing That Matters?

The best thing about this book is the thoroughness and attention to detail. Although the content of the book may bring up some "deep" questions for you, the author seems to cover everything the book advertises and more. I would say he over-delivered...which is a very good thing and much appreciated. Some authors leave out important information or hint around at it, to keep you hanging for their next book, but Mr. Walsch doesn't employ that tactic in this book.

What does Neale Donald Walsch bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His raspy voice that also sounds like Casey Kasem takes a little getting used to, but after you adjust to it, it's quite soothing and pleasant. He reads with passion and enthusiasm, but is never loud. Very nice.

Any additional comments?

I get it. I completely understood and resonated with the content in this book. I listened to it in a very focused way. While I was listening, if I found my mind drift to something else, I would hit the 30 second rewind and listen to what I missed while my mind went to other thoughts. Sometimes I had to rewind two or three times in a row, but I didn't want to miss a thing, and I'm so glad I didn't.

This book is full of lots of great information... much of which I already consciously knew. The book solidified what I consciously knew and brought forth into my mind other things my soul knows.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

A life-changing book packed with loads of wisdom

This is the first book that I have read by Neale Donald Walsch, although I've heard of his books for years. This book is full of simple, yet extremely deep insights about life, God and everything. I dare say that this one book, if its messages are taken to heart and lived out, could indeed change the world. I am now listening to the book that precedes this one, The Storm Before the Quiet, and intend to read (or listen) to all of Walsch's books soon. The messages of this book, while very straightforward and sensible, are radical shifts from consensus reality and will take lots of serious inner work to properly digest and integrate them into my life. I look forward to the journey ahead.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Another Good One

I listen to Donald at night to get my mind right before bed. I listen to Donald in the morning to validate my beliefs to help keep me straight through the day. I feel connected to the bright side of my hearr.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A lot to think about & a lot of repetition.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, but first I would say they should read "Conversations with God", then I think they will understand this book better.

Would you be willing to try another book from Neale Donald Walsch? Why or why not?

Yes, I always take something away that helps me.

Have you listened to any of Neale Donald Walsch’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, most of them. I find it is easier to read them than to listen,especially because I am usually driving.
I wanted to race ahead, because it seemed that he took along time to get to the point. In a way this turned out to be a good thing. I realized I needed to hear everything to fully understand what he wanted me (us) to learn.
I listened to his first book on tape with Ellen Burstyn & Ed Asner and they were terrific !
An easier listen.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from The Only Thing That Matters?

How the soul,mind & body are integrated, and how they work together. Why gratitude is an important part of enriching our life.

Any additional comments?

If you are searching for the meaning of why you are here, this can help you get a glimmer, maybe even get you to recognize what your path is.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Waste of ear noise!

What disappointed you about The Only Thing That Matters?

This is just a slow paced waste of ear noise get to the point same old stuff everyone knows ''Love and gratitude.'' See three words done! I listened up to the first hour then fast forwarded the other chapters. Glad I didin't listen to the whole thing waiting for some huge revelation! Yes the message is important and it is the way to a happy and fullfilled life. But this gibberish non-ending I'm about to tell you something important but not right now, sounds like a terrible over exhasting infomercial.

What was most disappointing about Neale Donald Walsch’s story?

The needless length.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

It sounded more like he needed to fullfill a signed legal contract for another book he didn't want to write.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Only Thing That Matters?

Most of it.

Any additional comments?

First time I regretted a purchase with Audible.

8 of 12 people found this review helpful

If you want to continue your elevated journey, this is a must!

Neale Donald Walsch is both a master at simplifying what appear to be the complexities of this life and a great deliverer of this message from God.

The only thing that matters!

Just what we ALL should be listening to, RIGHT NOW to help us understand our challenging times!

All that matters is you and you and you.....

This old world will pass and we shall be born again. Not in the distant future but NOW. Do we want to be part of this new creation? or do we just want to settle in for second best? The wind blows where it will, we do not know where it comes from or where it goes.

If we wait for our lives to change for the better, we will wait forever because we are the force that will change our situation. If you think you can do this alone, you will get more discouraged day by day. But yes, you do have to do some self reflection and Neale Donald Walsch will help you get through it, around it and give you that little push to move forward.

But wait! This is not an accomplishment, this is getting back on track, getting your life in order and many times you have to start from the beginning and many times you have to start over and over again. It's the circle of life.

It took many years for you to get where you are and it will take maybe just as many for you to return to your true self (soul). Beginning will bring you the peace that passes all understanding. It's not going to be at the finish line, there is no finish line.

You will slowly remove your mask(s) and become like a child again. Your inner child will resurrect and you will be on the road to discovery once again.

So you had detours along the way, everybody has. Like in the movie: Moonstruck "Get over it.".

We tell ourselves: "It's a Jungle Out There." Yes, it is and that is why we need people, we need friends, we need support. But even beyond friends and familiarity we need to reach out and get out of our comfort zone or we will wither away. We love our independence but we were made to become interdependent. It really takes a village. We can't afford to fly solo, this will destroy us, we will become fearful and doubtful. We will not be able to grow and eventually our spirit will die.

In the movie: "The Man from La Mancha", Don Quixote is on his death bed, he has fought the good fight and he is very much distraught about how his life is ending and that his dreams have not been accomplished. he withdraws into himself and accepts his fate. But there are a few of his closest friends who remind him that he (Don Quixote) was responsible for them to see their dreams come to fruition, that he was the force that awakened them from their own death, the death of their spirit. Don Quixote raises his head and starts singing: "The Impossible Dream" and his physical body completely worn out, expires. Quixote didn't accomplish his dream alone.

Just like Jesus, Quixote needed a response to his own reality and every day we must be born again. Everyday we put aside our differences and we begin again looking at our lives through the eyes of the other. This might cause some discomfort. By placing ourselves into another person's shoes, another person's biases, beliefs, attitudes and convictions but this is what it means to accept our dilemma together and this is what it means to rise above it, together.

We are transformed together not in isolation. We are light for one another. We are co-creating a new world.

Good follow up for CWG series.

Listen Ed to twice and learn something new each time I listen again. A good companion on my morning walk.