The Listening Bench: What Would You Tell a Stranger in Confidence?

by Randy Judd

What would you tell a stranger in confidence? What secret have you held within yourself that needs to be released?

After early retirement, Jonah Freeman finds himself unsure of his next chapter in life. His corporate career had not been especially fulfilling. He hoped his next stage would help him find more purpose and self-actualization.

To his surprise, he stumbles upon a need that he works to fulfill. After some serendipitous events, Jonah begins listening to strangers’ personal stories on a bench in a city park. Those that confide in him find comfort in telling Jonah their secrets that they cannot tell family, friends, or even spouses. The stories he listens to include such heart-wrenching topics as personal tragedy, family secrets, regrets, and loneliness. They also are stories of hope and change.

The Listening Bench is not only about the people who confide in Jonah on the bench, but about his own external conflicts. His new life on the bench causes him to recollect his own history and prepares him for the events of his future.

The Listening Bench leaves the reader with a desire to listen more intimately to the people in their own lives and to seek out ways to make a difference in the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Book Club

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2022

About the author

Randy is an American author residing in the Salt Lake City Area. He lives with his wife, Connie and near their five kids and their families.

He grew up in the Ozarks of Arkansas and earned his B.S. in Math from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. Later, he earned an M.B.A from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT.

Randy mostly enjoys reading works which are strongly character driven.

Reviews

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! It draws you in at the very beginning and holds your attention all the way to the end. It will make you laugh and cry. It will make you think about life. I really hated to see it end, I highly recommend reading it. You will not be sorry you did.

[Julie Walker Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book, a beautiful concept. One of the few books that truly brought tears to my eyes. I rarely give a book 5 stars, but this one deeply touched me.

I believe in what the author had to say about people just needing to unburden themselves to someone who doesn’t want to fix the problem, doesn’t want to give advice, just wants to listen, someone who is not emotionally invested in the person or the situation.

I believe that one of the biggest issues in our country right now is loneliness; people don’t have someone just to “unload” their troubles with. Although, even people with good support systems don’t always have an unbiased ear in which to unburden themselves. If a person shares a story with someone they know the information is always there, always between them. I think this is why so many people overshare info to seat mates on planes; they know they won’t see that person again so they feel safe confiding their thoughts or secrets.

I would love to wear a purple name tag with an ear on it. I wonder if others have done so.

I can’t recommend this book enough. It made me stop and think about how I can be a better listener, a better person.

———
One word choice error that bothered me, use of the word dissolved instead of resolved (page 113 on my Kindle).

“I can’t imagine how many of the world’s issues would be DISSOLVED if more people acted like you.” (Think it should be RESOLVED.)

[Venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful

This is a really sweet story. I just wish it had a better cover. That’s the only thing that kept me from giving it five stars. The things you tell strangers in confidence… What a fantastic idea. And things so many of us can relate to. It touches on every subject from religion to relationships and everything in between.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has got to be one of, if not the lamest book I've ever read. Full of sociopolitical statements. It just slapped together almost not coherent at times. Needs a lot of editing. I dont see how it has so many good ratings. I am not against self published books.. but this is so obviously self published.. my guess is those 5 star rating must be from people the author knows. With a lot of work this could be a nice story. As it is don't bother

[Kimberly Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I bought it in ebook but now would also like to order a physical copy just so I can have it to revisit when I want to. Brought me to tears a couple of times. This is what everybody wants and needs is just someone to listen.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was partly what I expected and then what I didn’t even see coming. I enjoyed it. I would’ve liked some parts to be shorter and other stories to be more detailed but all in all it was a good read.

[Dani G Owre · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Listening Bench

This is a simple book but grabbed me from the beginning. It's a love story, a human interest story and much more.

[Beth Dahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read. Love lesson we should learn to listen, really listen to hear not to answer.

[Cynthia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Sandra Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read. I liked it.

[Jane Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really loved the book at the beginning. Later it read like the author was throwing in things to pull at hearts. So much did not make sense. Why did we have to know so much about Jonah’s brothers? Why did we need to know about the first girl he dated? So much was not developed. The concept was unique. The medical review was ridiculous. The story was the bench. Every chapter could have been a story told. Disappointing!
To the people saying this was one of the best books they have ever read, expand your reading base. This is fluff. I enjoy fluff. It has a place in reading. Relaxing, stress releasing. It cannot be compared to great books.
I never give a two star review. I did this time. I would have given a 3. I gave it a 2 because there are too many 5 stars. It is not possible that so many people gave this 5 stars. You must have a large family.

[Diane Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful.

This story touched me deep in my soul. The feelings Jonah experienced in losing his wife, are the way I am feeling since my husband passed. The loneliness is hard to get use to.
But what he did by really listening to people brought such hope. Sometimes you don’t want advice. You just need a listening ear.

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I checked to see if this book was a debut novel, but this author has published other books and his writing ability shows his talent. However, his writing is slow and saccharine, lacking the fire needed to express the deeply psychological and social issues discussed in this book. I really enjoyed the premise of needing to share deep hidden secrets with an unbiased and unconnected stranger, without judgement or unsolicited advice. While I understand allowing the reader into the point of view and of the main character, I felt that too much of the book covered the relationship between Jonah and Michelle. In addition, the continuity was broken when Jonah sought to help one of the “fides”, named such from the word con-“fide”. It seemed trivial to me that this case was the one Jonah could not resist helping. I feel that speaking from a voice other than one’s true voice in order to counter stereotypes is a slippery slope to traverse. The author defended the “African American” main character by proving that Jonah met all the typical criteria by which white characters would be judged, which in itself shores up discriminatory viewpoints, as if Jonah should be treated as a white person, because he can check off the same boxes as a white person. His parents were well educated and he had adapted and assimilated into a white community, even marrying into a white family. These skewing may be the reason that the story did not feel real and raw, but rather a sleepy view of hot tensions in our society. In fact, many times the writing turned into a forum for the author to give voice to his own thoughts, by preaching. Still, maybe I am taking this book too seriously. Maybe the point was that Jonah intended to listen, without commenting about religion, race, relationships, right, or wrong. The writing made me feel detached. Had the author used the first law of writing, “Don’t tell it, show it”, then this book would have felt more fleshed out. Since the author did not show me the sights on this trip that I had expected to see, I do not recommend this book.

[JenBsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. If you read the blurb ... that is exactly what you are getting in this story. I think this popped up in a FB group or ad or something. It was random, but a free copy of the audiobook was being offered in exchange for an honest review. I noticed the author (and the book) was based in Utah (my hometown) so I figured I'd see if there were still review copies available and I snagged one. I was able to also access the text as I have a KindleUnlimited subscription at the moment.

Thumbs up for the narration - and in most cases where there is a prologue, the Audible copy and the Kindle copy are off kilter, but happily that wasn't the case here (I was popping back and forth a bit between the audio and the text, although I couldn't access the audio FROM the Kindle app like I usually can when my library has both).

In all honesty, this does come across as a self-published book. From the cover, to the title, to the writing ... I wasn't sure it was going to click for me, and while it isn't best-seller material and won't appeal to everyone, for a target audience ... those looking for something clean, without violence/profanity/sex and nothing really heart-stopping ... despite the first line of the book ;) it does bring up some interesting points to ponder. It could even be good for a book club discussion ... especially in Utah, as there are a lot of references to local places (maybe too much? I was extra aware, recognizing pretty much all of the places and trying to think if other random books in other settings give as many details, if that gets boring if you aren't familiar).

Just some general notes - the Audible chapters (Table of Contents) provided more information than the Kindle copy. The Kindle copy just has "Chapter 1" on the TOC page, whereas the chapter heading is "Birth of the Listening Bench" and Audible included that heading on their TOC. As I reader/listener ... I really appreciate a good Table of Contents. With the Audible TOC I can look and remember exactly what each chapter was about (helpful when reviewing) because the chapter heading is listed, and these chapter headings were informational.

I loved a line in the dedication to his wife "She not only acts as my human thesaurus and spelling expert -- when I can't even get close enough for spell check to recognize the word -- ..." and that just hit me in the funny bone and feels because I'm SO there more than I'd like to admit! Can't even get close enough for spell check to help me!

I'm not a huge fan of the Prologue that presents a scene that is going to happen in the book ... and then the first chapter goes back and builds to that moment (it's used a LOT in books and movies, so I guess not everyone feels as I do). After thinking about this (and I don't think this scene ever happened again in the book, and didn't need to, in fact, I had to flip back wondering if SPOILER if the interaction in the prologue was going to be the "undercover agent" ... but it wasn't ... it did just introduce a number of things, which were then explained.

As the first couple of chapters unfolded, I wondered if that was going to be how the book was going to proceed, each chapter just being a different person's story, everything totally unrelated. And that was partially true, but the "present day" stories would trigger a memory, then we'd have a "memory chapter" and that was like it's own little novel, the life of Jonah through the years.

It was mentioned that Jonah was black - sometimes race really comes into play and other times, that's just one aspect of the character. Here, it definitely had its defining moments, in fact, one chapter heading was "On Being Black". It made me wonder how this might be accepted by the black community (how American Dirt has been criticized because it was written by a white woman, not someone who had actually gone through this). Just a random pondering on my part ... everything seemed to be handled with sensitivity, but then again, I'm not really one to judge.

The character being black was NOT thrown in just to add diversity - it was central to the story. There were other things I did wonder if the author had a checklist of topics to include ;) And even being based in Utah, and religion being touched on a few times ... the LDS church (Mormons) didn't come up.

Shelved as contemporary/realistic - I had my moments of "really??" even though this didn't require suspension of disbelief like some books. Just, would people really come talk to a stranger? It was interesting a little later in the book when some of the questions/concerns I had were brought up and addressed (so other characters in the book were thinking along the same lines).

I didn't expect the ending.

Would I recommend this to my mom/sister? You know, I think I would. Although they are library ladies and this currently is not carried at the local library branches they visit.

I just joined my first book club this year - and I think it makes me approach books a little differently at times. Here, there really are a lot of things that would make good discussion points.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the concept of the Listening Bench itself, but there was more packed into this book besides just that. There appeared to be so much subtext in it.

Here are some of the "lessons" I learned:
1) You can rise above what others feel your station in life is, it all depends on how you use the resources you have and how you carry yourself
2) You never know where life is going to take you, so make the most of the place where you currently are
3) A formal education is not the end all be all for success in life
4) Find someone who completes you to spend your life/time with
5) No matter what, there is good to come out of every situation, no matter how devastating it seems to be
6) EVERYONE needs to be heard without judgement sometime(s)
I could go on and on, but I think everyone can take away different things.

[Helena Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Listening Bench is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve closed the last page. Following Jonah Freeman’s journey after retirement felt so real his search for purpose, his unexpected role as a quiet listener, and the raw, unfiltered stories people shared with him on that simple bench. What struck me most was how the strangers’ confessions mirrored universal struggles loss, regret, hope, and healing.

I loved how the author weaved Jonah’s own inner battles into the narrative, showing that sometimes listening to others can help us better understand ourselves. It’s a touching reminder of the power of empathy, the importance of human connection, and how something as ordinary as a park bench can become extraordinary. This book made me reflect on how often people around us just need someone to truly listen.

[Mary Showalter · Rating 5 out of 5]

it made me want to be a better person!

I read this book in one setting. The whole premise really intrigued me. Of course there are so many people in this world who just need someone to talk to. A listening, sympathetic, and nonjudgmental ear. I want to be that person! This book reminded me of how important it is to get out of ourselves, open our hearts, and give of our time to someone who desperately needs to unburden themselves.
Thank you, Mr. Judd, for this warm, caring, even needed book. I highly recommend it. It definitely held my interest. Funny at times, I laughed out loud; yet poignant. I even picked up some tidbits of wisdom I’m filing for later use.
Read it! You’ll be glad you did.

[Terry Polston · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a glaring error about the hotel used in The Shining movie. I' m unclear about the timeframe in the story where a new minivan is $20K and smartphones are ubiquitous.
There was a lot of detail about Jonah and Michelle's budding romance and relationship. There are just a handful of stories he listened to.
Neither Jonah or Patrick thought to check if the sleazy lawyer was the one to set the law on Jonah. It's something he would do.
I was okay with the sappiness of the story until the end. With no vetting they are setting up 'listeners' who could be in it to blackmail the people who want to unburden themselves. It's not easy to listen and not judge or try to make them feel better or give advice.
It's a great concept though. Like people who go to public places and give hugs.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh.....

I know my rating is very different from most others who gave this book very high ratings. For me, it was just okay. It would have benefited greatly from editing! There were errors that just took away from the story. The flitting between Gabriel / Gideon.....took me a bit to realize that it was an error in name. Stick with 1 name! There were some grammatical errors as well. The dialogue was very clunky. The whole trial portion, I found absurd. For me, this book was just okay. I read it through kindle unlimited. Had I paid for it, I would have been very disappointed. Just my opinion.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Listening Bench is a beautifully written book about a man’s life that finds meaning in giving a listening ear to strangers. This book gives us a glimpse into Jonah’s life, along with how various people feel the need to share something heavily weighing on their hearts. A bench in a park starts something special among people and brings along a mystery that Jonah helps solve. The ending of the book left me with a wow…didn’t see that coming.

[Vadonna L. Randolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Active Caring

Even though a fictional book, it seemed very believable. I like that in stories I read. Randy did a great job of drawing in his audience. I find the idea of a listening bench in the park inspiring. People reaching out to other people just because they want to be nice is refreshing!

[Barbara Meintjes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for every reader.

Such a beautiful and uplifting story.Not only is it well written, but it shows how easy it is for everyone to stop for a minute and really listen seriously to what a person has to say. We all need to feel validated and this is an easy way to do just that.

[Jo-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was inspiring and definitely give one food for thought.

I enjoyed the book, when we speak to our First Lady the only thing she ask did you read your Bible. And than what did God say 🤔
Sometimes a listen ear is all that is needed.
I personally recommend this book for all to read.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen

The story is wonderful. Romance life good and bad and everyone between. The basic idea is a man finds his passion late in life, as he builds on this adventure he recalls his life. As it is for most of us life has a lot to offer.
As i read I felt this should be required reading in high school.
Great story

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this needs to happen in real life. Someone should be on a bench in a park listening to people who just want to talk.
Heck. I think we could all take lessons from Jonah. Genuinely listen to people rather than trying to compose our next thought.
I loved reading what made Jonah tick and his genuine concern and love for others.
You’ll want to read this one.

[Lindy Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tender Tale on the Power of Listening

A gentle reflection of life's values and questions. The book is not overly preachy, but does guide the reader to consider the meaning their own lives hold with the unspoken to charge to change the things they can to assist in healing a fractured world.

[Jacquelyn Schingeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very unique topic. An elderly gentleman had recently lost his wife and had no children. He used to go to the park regularly with his wife and dog and so he continued to go to the park with his dog. A stranger approaches and sits on the bench and asks if he might tell the gentleman something in confidence. Thus starts the listening bench. Very enjoyable and very believable.

[Monica Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening

Who can I call immediately and tell to read this charming , thoughtful and inspiring book… I will be thinking of this book for a very long time. It is so amazing how books find us when we need them. Thank you Mr Judd….

[Cheryl Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing book couldn’t put it down.I loved the way it was written so easy to just

Way it was written so easy to read . I recommend it to anyone , especially some one who is retired.

[Gayle Padfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

You MUST read this.

By far one of the top 5 books I have read in my lifetime. Each of us has a level of understanding and compassion, but this exemplifies a wonder way to express and share those qualities. Thank you, Randy.