The Stranger in the Lifeboat
Mitch Albom
Adrift in a raft after a deadly ship explosion, ten people struggle for survival at sea. Three days pass. Short on water, food and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves. more
271 pages, Hardcover
First published Harper
4.12
Rating
76944
Ratings
7033
Reviews
Mitch Albom
86 books 110236 followers
Author, screenwriter, philanthropist, journalist, and broadcaster Mitch Albom is an inspiration around the world. Albom is the author of numerous books of fiction and nonfiction, which have collectively sold more than forty million copies in forty-eight languages worldwide. He has written eight number-one New York Times bestsellers — including Tuesdays with Morrie, the bestselling memoir of all time, which topped the list for four straight years and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022. He has also written award-winning TV films, stage plays, screenplays, a nationally syndicated newspaper column, and a musical. He appeared for more than 20 years on ESPN, and was a fixture on The Sports Reporters. Through his work at the Detroit Free Press, he was inducted into both the National Sports Media Association and Michigan Sports halls of fame and was the recipient of the Red Smith Award for lifetime achievement.Following his bestselling memoir Finding Chika, and Human Touch, a weekly serial written and published online which raised nearly $1 million for pandemic relief, he returned to fiction with The Stranger in the Lifeboat, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestsellers List after being #1 on Amazon. His much-anticipated new novel, set during the Holocaust, is coming in the fall of 2023.
Albom now spends the majority of his time in philanthropic work. Since 2006, he has operated nine charitable programs in southeast Michigan under his SAY Detroit umbrella, including the nation's first medical clinic for homeless children. He also created a dessert shop and popcorn line to fund programs for Detroit’s most underserved citizens. Since 2010, Albom has operated Have Faith Haiti in Port-au-Prince, a home and school to more than 60 children, which he visits every month without exception.
Community reviews
Mitch Albom has made a literary career out of discussing and examining the concept of "faith. " We read his books, we discuss them in book clubs, some make movies out of them, and some deride them because they would rather follow science or logic and leave emotion or hope - or whatever it is that drives humans to cling to a deity - out of the equation for the grand scheme of things. (I sometimes wonder if the latter group isn't right: we humans seem, in our worst moments, to resemble a germ or virus that has devoured so much of the beauty in this world. ) Despite centuries of documented wars and other misdeeds to serve as examples to guide us down a different path, we humans have become even more greedy, more materialistic and impossibly desensitized to each other's fates. Money - paper from a tree, or, now, a typed number in an online bank account - determines your worth in this world. more
How do we answer those who question God's existence in the midst of suffering. In this new release from Mitch Albom, the Lord is a fellow passenger on a drifting lifeboat. One passenger named Benji is chronicling their days at sea in a small notebook. A second thread gives us a reporter's view of the original luxury craft and the aftermath of the accident. In a third thread the notebook is found when the boat washes up on a beach. more
Oh my gosh — I thought this was dreadful. My skin was itching - my eyes rolling - just not for me. ONCE AGAIN…. I have not read a FICTION book written by Mitch Albom that I’ve liked. His NON FICTION books are much stronger and powerful. more
Best-selling author Mitch Albom is back from heaven and ready to consider the mystery of divine intervention on earth. God help us. Albom’s latest inspirational melodrama is called “The Stranger in the Lifeboat. ” It’s a survivor story about 10 people trapped on a raft with a young man who announces, “I am the Lord. ”Think of it as Tuesdays with Yahweh. more
In a Nutshell: Intriguing concept, detached implementation. Add to this a reader with zero philosophical understanding and the result is utter confusion. Story:Nine people (unrelated to each other) are struggling for survival on a life raft after the yacht they were cruising in exploded. Three days later, they see a man floating on the waves and they drag him in. When asked his identity, he replies, “I am the Lord. more
I think this book, like a number of Albom books, will stay with me for quite some time. I don’t know how to put into words the comfort I feel after reading this book. The chapters are numbered, but also titled as Sea, Land and News. The reader immediately knows which part of the parallel storyline is to follow. The Sea: where the survivors and their struggles while floating together on a life boat. more
This book was amazing. 🙏Things I want to remember:“When someone passes, Benjamin, people always ask, ‘Why did God take them. ’ A better question would be ‘Why did God give them to us. ’ What did we do to deserve their love, their joy, the sweet moments we shared. ”“This world can be a trying place, Inspector. more
I don't consider myself a religious person at all. I do have a lot of faith and belief in a higher power though. Sometimes life is just hard so occasionally a feel-good story with an inspiring message is just what I need. What would you do if at a time of desperation, you called upon God and he appeared. After a luxury yacht named the Galaxy sank into the ocean, 9 survivors end up on a lifeboat. more
It’s truly an outstanding book. In many ways it brings out with how do people deal with death. This is not a spoiler, but it is interesting that God is supposed to be in the boat and people are trying to deal with why God won’t save them from the boat. It brings up very interesting questions of faith and why were here. Typical Mitch Album – – very very good book. more
Reading spiritual fiction is weiiird because I am a believer so it kind of puts pressure on me "hey you should appreciate this" AND I DO. But I didn't find it very gripping until the last 25%. I was listening to the audio and I had a difficult time focusing on the story even though I was doing NOTHING (was on the bus). Luckily, it got better in the second half but I also know I'll be forgetting about this by tomorrow, unfortunately. more
Having read "Tuesdays with Morrie" multiple times as well as some of his others, I expected to be inspired by his latest. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. Toggling back and forth between news reports about the sinking of the super yacht, Galaxy, and journaling of a life raft member, we're immersed into a tragedy, which is common among Mitch's books. Reading excerpts of the life raft member's journal, we learn of another 'passenger' who's picked up on the raft. Upon entering, he informs the others that he's "The Lord". more
I haven't read this author before and I was immediately struck by the beautiful simplicity of the writing and the way it involves you in the story unfolding with seemingly no effort. A group of survivors in a lifeboat rescue another from the water. He claims to be the Lord and what follows is a tale of faith in adversity and of the individual nature of humanity Hugely compelling with an ending that each reader will absorb in their own way, The Stranger In The Lifeboat is evocative, strange and wonderful. more
Adrift n a raft after a deadly ship explosion, nine people struggle to survive at sea. Three days pass. Short on water, food and hope. they spot a man floating in the waves. They pull him in. more
Mitch Albom’s books always seem to come into my life right when I need them, and “The Stranger in the Lifeboat” is no exception. A quick, uplifting read, Albom once again delivers a thought provoking and emotional story of faith, love and survival. After a deadly ship explosion, nine people are stranded in a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean. With limited water, food and emergency supplies, the strangers become desperate for help, but there appears to be no land in sight. When three days pass, the travelers come across a lone man in the ocean, and pull him into their lifeboat as well, saving him from the waves. more
This was the right book for me to read at the end of this crazy year of pandemic during which my husband passed away. It is so easy to question and wonder why did he needlessly have to die, but Mitch Albom and this book helped me to see that the better question is why did God show me so much grace as to have had that great man in my life for nearly 45 years. It is a short book but one packed with so much wisdom. The themes of revenge and of ultimate faith juxtapose in this one for a big impact. . more
I was disappointed in The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom. Over the years, I have read many of Mitch Albom’s books and so I was looking forward to reading The Stranger in the Lifeboat. I was able to borrow the audio CD from my local library. It excited me to discover that Mitch Album narrated his own book. My initial thoughts as this book began were positive. more
Really different organization of this book. Separate chapters back and forth set in land (Montserrat where lifeboat wound up), sea (lifeboat adrift with survivors), and news (telling the story behind the yacht, it's passengers, and the mysterious sinking and search and recovery efforts etc. ). There was also the story of the man (Jarty Le Fleur, inspector) and setting around reading the notebook journal, and the story within the journal. The story is about the survivors of a 200 million $$$ yacht called the Galaxy (like my phone lol) after it exploded and sank. more
What I like most about Mitch Albom's books is feeling immersed within the story. Relating to the human condition and character development. The Stranger in the Lifeboat is no exception. My first exposure to this author was Five People You Meet in Heaven. This story deeply touched and moved my heart for a variety of reasons. more
After yawning my way through two past books by Albom I had pretty low expectations and yet this somehow failed to even meet that low bar. more
Whoa. What a story. At first, I was afraid this might not end up being so great. The story seemed so far-fetched, but I really should have known better. Before long, that crazy story just burst into life, the tension amped up, and I was holding my breath, eyes wide as saucers. more
read Life of Pi instead - seemed like a bit of a rip off. Very Jesus-y for me (no offense) - didn't hit home the way the other books did. Also, huge gaps in logic but perhaps this wasn't a book for logic. It does have some good writing (quotable lines as always) and solidly paced. But it ultimately felt empty. more
Like a warm comforting hug. This was an easy and engaging tale. A sentimental mystery of sorts. So glad I decided to pick it up on a whim. . more
I have not read any books by Mitch Albom before but, I was intrigued by the blurb, so I requested it on NetGalley. Billionaire James Lambert decides to set sail on his luxury yacht called the Galaxy with some of the richest and famous and influential people in the world. But something goes wrong, and the yacht explodes. The stranger in the lifeboat is story of the 9 of the survivors on a life raft when they see a person in a water. They bring if onto the raft and they find out that this person is GOD. more
Yep - enjoyed that. In fullIt's a while since I read any of Mitch Albom's books and I thought I'd give this one a try. A very expensive "executive" craft has sunk. Nine people are still afloat 3 days later on a lifeboat having seen no one else. They see a man in the water and manage to get him onto the lifeboat. more
I always find something inspiring in anything written by Mitch Albom. What I took away from the story is that God hears our prayers and if our hearts are open a stranger just may hold the answers and grace we seek. When in a place of desperation some turn to God and some blame God, yet God's love for us remains the same. Filled with thought provoking insights, hope and finding a pathway to forgiveness of yourself and others. Beautifully written with a message desperately needed in today's broken society. more
Perhaps I was enamored with "Morrie" and wasn't prepared for a story like this. Or, the religious overtones in the book, I've not been in a church in decades and it's not that I don't believe there is a God, but this just seemed a stretch towards the end with Benji and Alice & their discussions in the boat when it was discovered Benji was not responsible for the sinking of the boat. It was a nice blend of well-crafted characters Mr. Albom created for the book and their interactions with each other reminded me of those in the movie The Poseidon Adventure (I favour the original and how they had to overcome those differences to get out of he sunken ship to be rescued) until each of those in the raft meet their own untimely demise, with the exception of Benji. . more
4 Stars for The Stranger in the Lifeboat (audiobook) by Mitch Albom read by the author. The author really explores some deep topics in this book. Faith, betrayal, and forgiveness are a few examples with a rather small cast of characters. The plot seems simple but hang in there for the ending. There’s a little more to the story than it appears. more
An Evocative and Intriguing Story Of Asking For Help and Not Getting What You WantSUMMARYNine people have been adrift for three days in a lifeboat without food or water. The luxury yacht they had been on had exploded, and now they have lost all sense of hope. When they spot another man floating in the water, they pull him in. He says he is the Lord. But is he. more
In turmoil, strife, and just trying to survive, who do you turn to. Do you believe there is a God that will save you. Do you believe that if there is God why would He let all these bad things happen. However you think, this story will put both of those sides into perspective. What would you do, if a man claiming to be God came to you and offered you safety if only you believe in Him. more