Preview
  • Tattoos on the Heart

  • The Power of Boundless Compassion
  • By: Gregory Boyle
  • Narrated by: Gregory Boyle
  • Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (988 ratings)

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Tattoos on the Heart

By: Gregory Boyle
Narrated by: Gregory Boyle
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Publisher's summary

“Destined to become a classic of both urban reportage and contemporary spirituality” (Los Angeles Times) - Tattoos on the Heart is a series of parables about kinship and redemption from pastor, activist, and renowned speaker Father Gregory Boyle.

Thirty years ago, Gregory Boyle founded Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and reentry program in Los Angeles, the gang capital of the world. In Tattoos on the Heart, his debut book, he distills his experience working with gang members into a breathtaking series of parables inspired by faith.

From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JC Penney fresh out of prison, you learn how to feel worthy of God’s love. From 10-year-old Pipi you learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Lulu you come to understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the dark - as Father Boyle phrases it, we can only shine a flashlight on a light switch in a darkened room.

This is a motivating look at how to stay faithful in spite of failure, how to meet the world with a loving heart, and how to conquer shame with boundless, restorative love.

©2010 Gregory Boyle. All rights reserved. (P)2011 Highbridge, a division of Recorded Books. All rights reserved.
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What listeners say about Tattoos on the Heart

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Beautiful

This book is beautifully written and beautifully narrated. It will both horrify you and move you to tears of pure joy, illuminating the fact that there is still good and love in humanity. It’s one of those books that you keep thinking about days after you’ve finished it. These stories will stay with me. I will remember the compassion and change how I judge other people forever.

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Powerful! Insightful! I cried, I laughed...

Loved this book and the voice of the author is the only way to hear it properly. This book is far from just a story of someone reforming LA gang members. It is a guide to how we should and shouldn't treat each other!!

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A must read

Incredible book by an incredible man helping an incredible group of people in LA. Highly recommend!

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Simply amazing

An incredible story, by an amazing man. It challenges, enlightens, informs. I laughed, I cried, i am so glad I listened to Fr G read it.

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Powerful and thought-provoking!

Plainly put, book is a Masterclass in Humanity!! Lesson we can all use to own our responsibility of seeing each other.

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Tattoos On The Heart

Love this true story of those who long to belong, and need to be loved and nurtured.

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Excellent Book: Both gripping and emotionally moving.

I found this book to be filled with wisdom that is conveyed through the power of story telling. It has solidified thoughts and emotions that I have had about the gospel of Jesus for quite a while.

Jesus did not come to create a perfect church or religion. He came to dhow the goodness of God by reaching out to the marginalized and showing that every person has worth and that sharing our love without judgement affords us the ability to experience joy that is not attainable through the material world.

Father Boyle has been living this and in telling his stories has given us a modern day example of how to live the gospel and at the very least, how to treat people.

He is a 21st century St Francis!

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Beautifully written, examples of amazing compassion

Wonderful
Story - beautiful compassion — examples for all of us in how we all can make a difference and lead a better life

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Heartfelt.

Heartfelt. Laugh out loud moments. Crying in other parts. Fabulous storytelling. A man serving God authentically in a community where most would never dare to walk.

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So so good

This is one of the best books I’ve listened to in a long time. G has a way of showing us God’s love through the greatest ups and downs life has to offer. Simply beautiful.

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