Journey Through Heartsongs

Muscular Dystrophy Books from Amazon

Journey Through Heartsongs

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Average Customer Rating:

(54 reviews)

Editorial Review: Mattie J.T. Stepanek takes us on a Journey Through Heartsongs with more of his moving poems. These poems share the rare wisdom that Mattie has acquired through his struggle with a rare form of muscular dystrophy and the death of his three siblings from the same disease. His life view is one of love and generosity and as a poet and a peacemaker, his desire is to bring his message of peace to as many people as possible.

Customer Reviews:

0 of 0 found this review helpful:

Journey Through Heartsongs, 2008-05-27
Mattie Stepanek was a very remarkable young man - wise beyond his years. I have all the books he wrote and I still enjoy reading them. The World lost a beautiful soul when Mattie left us.

1 of 2 found this review helpful:

Mattie was insightful, 2006-05-24
I recently completed my new copy of Journey Through Heartsongs, by Mattie Stepanek. This book deserves a close and relaxed reading due to its healing message and Mattie's incredible insights. Mattie, was born with dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, a disease which led to his death in June of 2004. However, I am firmly convinced that Mattie was born with more: this book (and his other books) show clearly a precocious mind which borders on genius.

His insights, and his honesty about life, pain, lonliness, death, global issues, joy, war, true happiness, and daily challenges often defy description. Former President Jimmy Carter was not joking when he said (in his funeral eulogy for Mattie) that Mattie was the most amazing person whom he had ever met.

What this book conveys is clear understanding of what life is REALLY about, and Mattie has the taste to say it with grace, with wonder, gratitude, as well as a gentle spirit. But, you also see a boy who is also perplexed at times, fearful, sad, and even frustrated. But, in the final analysis, Mattie has faith in God and this faith is not mere "religious talk."

This book showcases the mind of a young boy who has seen death upclose and can talk about it with honesty, while maintaining the joie de vivre (the joy of life). Among his first poems, were those lamenting the death of his brother, Jamie, who wrote those poems at age 3. This book is about the Joy of Life, and pain and close-to-death experiences are among the only things which can create such a rare and wondrous attitude. "Attitudes are contageous" as Mattie states, and this book is contageous. Change your life by reading about a boy who was magnificently changed by misfortune ... forever!

---Jesse
By the way, Mattie's surname ( Stepanek ) is pronounced :
Ste - PON - ek. He states his own name at the beginning of all of the audio versions of his HeartSong collections, as he is the reader for all of his audio books.

2 of 8 found this review helpful:

To An Athlete Dying Young, 2006-04-27
Leave the poetry writing to masters like A.E. Houseman.
Mattie might have been charming and charismatic, as many
children are at times, but he was not a poet in the literary
sense. If he had enjoyed robust health, his maudlin letter
writing would not have gained any great notice. His junior
high school English teacher might have taken note, and his
mother of course, but not the New York Times. Mass media is
always on the lookout for another "celebrity". Mattie was the
perfect "human interest" story. His "poetry" books seem to
be inspirational, but so are many Nike sportswear advertisements. Jimmy Carter is the consummate politician and
perhaps saw Mattie as wonderful political capital,a great photo
opportunity for a leader in the Democratic Party. JFK used his
own children in like fashion while living in the White House.
What has happened to literacy in America? Does anyone read
real poetry? Have we become a nation suffering from Hallmark cards sentimentality? Mattie's poetry is the stuff of Sunday
school drivel. Perhaps that is why former Pres. Carter liked his poetry. He's
a retired Sunday School teacher. Mr. Carter did little when the
Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in l979, which led to the deaths of over one million Afghan men, women, and children.
Ronald Reagan stood up to the evil empire, Carter, like a
Neville Chamberlain, tried to placate them. Mattie sounds too
much like Rod McKuen, the pop poet of the sixties.

2 of 4 found this review helpful:

Great reading for your children, 2005-10-04
Makes one feel humble...plan to pass it on to my nephews.

9 of 12 found this review helpful:

True Heartsongs - A very special gift, 2004-11-13
"Every day,
everyone in the world
should do at least
one thing nice for others.

Doing so can help each person
believe in himself or herself
more fully, and
give confidence that may
inspire each person

To do more and
more new and good things
for the self,
for others, and
for the world."

I bought this book right after having seen Mattie Stepanek in an American television show. Matty Stepanek, poet and peacemaker. Messenger of love and hope. Such a wonderful, truly-wise young boy.

"Do you know what
language God speaks?
God speaks Every-Language.
That's because God made
everyone and gave
everyone different languages.
(...) God's favorite language is
not grown-up's language,
but the Language of Children.
(...) Children know how to share,
and they never lose their Heartsongs."

His heartsongs are so moving and clear that anyone may understand them. I love Heartsongs. And especially these.

I found this book also a nice present to give to special friends, so I ordered several copies more. It is nice to share such a special gift.

"I have a song, deep in my heart,
And only I can hear it."
- Matty Stepanek

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