What do you think?
A Place at the Table: A Journey to Redicover the Real Jesus with Guidance of Various Teachers, from Billy Graham to Deepak Chopra
A mixture of Studs Terkel's oral histories and the Dalai Lama's The Art of Happiness , this charming chronicle of William Elliott's quest to understand Jesus interweaves his personal, often quirky epiphanies with the insights of well-known men and women of every spiritual tradition.
Raised in the Catholic Church, William Elliott's faith was shattered at the age of twelve when both his parents died. Many years later, he embarked on a journey to find answers to the questions that continued to haunt him-What is the purpose of life? Does God exist? What happens after death? His travels resulted in Tying Rocks to Clouds , an engaging narrative about the renewal of faith he achieved through the simple act of presenting his questions to a broad spectrum of thinkers and spiritual leaders. The review in Publishers Weekly summed it up this "This invaluable record deserves to be a bestseller, not only for its inherent wisdom but also for its clarity and respect for the many ways there are to be and to believe."
A Place at the Table is an account of Elliott's latest pilgrimage, and like its predecessor, it is a magical blend of humor and idealism. Triggered by the memory of praying for his dying mother beneath an ornately framed painting of The Last Supper in their living room, Elliott set out to discover the role Jesus plays in people's lives. Over the course of several years, he interviewed such spiritual teachers and icons as Deepak Chopra, Neale Donald Walsch, Marianne Williamson, and Billy Graham. He went to Jerusalem to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, and even conceived of a bold (if ultimately unsuccessful ) plan to meet with Pope John Paul II in Rome. Each encounter illuminates another facet of Jesus' teachings, but it is Elliott's wry and sincere commentary on his own spiritual journey that reveals the most insight.
A Place at the Table is at once down to earth and rich in spirit. The story of one man's persistent search for answers, it provides invaluable guideposts for everyone seeking to understand Jesus' centrality in Western civilization and the meaning of Christianity in today's world.
Raised in the Catholic Church, William Elliott's faith was shattered at the age of twelve when both his parents died. Many years later, he embarked on a journey to find answers to the questions that continued to haunt him-What is the purpose of life? Does God exist? What happens after death? His travels resulted in Tying Rocks to Clouds , an engaging narrative about the renewal of faith he achieved through the simple act of presenting his questions to a broad spectrum of thinkers and spiritual leaders. The review in Publishers Weekly summed it up this "This invaluable record deserves to be a bestseller, not only for its inherent wisdom but also for its clarity and respect for the many ways there are to be and to believe."
A Place at the Table is an account of Elliott's latest pilgrimage, and like its predecessor, it is a magical blend of humor and idealism. Triggered by the memory of praying for his dying mother beneath an ornately framed painting of The Last Supper in their living room, Elliott set out to discover the role Jesus plays in people's lives. Over the course of several years, he interviewed such spiritual teachers and icons as Deepak Chopra, Neale Donald Walsch, Marianne Williamson, and Billy Graham. He went to Jerusalem to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, and even conceived of a bold (if ultimately unsuccessful ) plan to meet with Pope John Paul II in Rome. Each encounter illuminates another facet of Jesus' teachings, but it is Elliott's wry and sincere commentary on his own spiritual journey that reveals the most insight.
A Place at the Table is at once down to earth and rich in spirit. The story of one man's persistent search for answers, it provides invaluable guideposts for everyone seeking to understand Jesus' centrality in Western civilization and the meaning of Christianity in today's world.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 21, 2003
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
September 12, 2026
I would challenge everyone who is interested in studying Jesus to read this book. It is an incredible undertaking and extremely enlightening.
This is the second in a series of 3 books authored by a man on a spiritual quest. The author began a personal spiritual journey to address a crisis in faith. This contains supplemental interviews and thoughts collected while he traveled the world seeking truth. I consider this one of my prized possessions.
This is the second in a series of 3 books authored by a man on a spiritual quest. The author began a personal spiritual journey to address a crisis in faith. This contains supplemental interviews and thoughts collected while he traveled the world seeking truth. I consider this one of my prized possessions.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review