Walking With Arthur: Finding God On My Way to New York [A Spiritual Memoir]

by James O'Donnell

James O'Donnell was contemplating divorce. Something was missing in his marriage and his life. His daily commute partner into New York City, Arthur, never preached to him or handed him a tract. They just walked ... and God worked. Written in a frank and inviting style that will make you feel like you are taking a journey right alongside him, Jim draws readers in with his gritty and honest candor. A great prequel to Letters for Lizzie.

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Yibbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very elegantly personal little book. While it is a book about a conversion, it’s more a story of friendship and personal influence. The title says it perfectly; it’s the author’s spiritual walk as it was inaugurated and guided by Arthur. He highlights the gentle questions and suggestions that Arthur used to prompt him to question his life and goals.
Despite the title saying it was about how he found God. There really isn’t any Gospel presented. There is no mention of Christ’s sacrifice for our sin. There is no mention of Christ’s resurrection. There is no Scripture. Rather there are vague references to Bible reading, prayer, and meeting God. Once the author has a deeply moving experience at a retreat, we are told how his life changed. He became a better person, his marriage improved, he was not consumed with money and self, and he started living for God. Those are the high points, but other than quotes from Arthur as they discuss what God expects of them he doesn’t go into great detail about any subject. God is mentioned, but more about how the author is trying to obey God now and how Arthur helped him do that. It’s really Arthur’s story of influence for good.
Could someone find God through this book? Not directly, but they would be pointed toward the Bible. What does O’Donnell believe beyond that should let faith permeate every aspect of our lives? I have no idea.
It was very well written, clean, and interesting. There was one section that dealt with marital intimacy, but it was done delicately.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book, James O'Donnell, was a very successful financial manager. But his private life was a mess. As he walks to catch the train into New York City, he meets Arthur, another highly successful man. They develop a friendship, and James notices that there is something different about Arthur, something which attracts him. Arthur asks him thought-provoking questions that make him take stock of what is important in life and of his personal priorities. He invites him to church events, and along the way, James' life begins to change. To me, this was a beautiful little book about mentoring and friendship.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was touched by this book, how a dual-degreed Harvard lawyer, named Arthur, gently showed the Lord to another highly-successful New York City executive and intellectual, the author, who had thought faith/relationship with Jesus Christ was for the weak or the foolish. Though wealthy and esteemed, the author had had to admit the emptiness of his life, the brokenness of his relationships, and the shallowness of the philosophies floating around Manhattan's boardrooms and gyms....all of which made him hungry for the sincere embrace of truth which characterized Arthur's life. A genteel tone characterizes this writing. Very nicely done.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple yet profound memoir about finding faith through a friend. Jim was lost in his marriage and search for meaning in a high flying job in finance. He found God and meaning in his life through a new friend named Arthur.
The epilogue by Arthur is perhaps the most profound chapter in the book. Arthur quotes Oswald Chambers:"The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing."

This is a book about what evangelism should look like. Arthur did not seek to convert Jim. He was just a true friend and allowed the Holy Spirit to work through him.

[Charlene Mathe · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a very personal tone; the author subtitles it "A Spiritual Memoir." Readers generally rate it well, as it seems to nourish the inner mystery of our busy lives. I just never trusted the narrative based on the author's improbable relationship with a senior executive named Arthur who took the same commuter train. The theme of the book has to do with balancing high-demand performance lives with time to build relationships with spouse, friends and Faith.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Memoir by Huntington University professor, former Wall Street executive who came to faith through the friendship of a man he met while commuting from Long Island into the city each day. Lovely testimony of the power of a transparent friend relationship to change someone's life. But truthfully, not a terribly well-written book.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book for a man. Real insight on finding God from a male perspective.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

love, love, love