#236 Review of "Theo Of Golden" by Allen Levi

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Sometimes the most meaningful discoveries come when we venture beyond our usual preferences. Having just finished "Theo of Golden," by Allen Levi. a book far removed from my typical action-packed thrillers, I found myself profoundly moved in unexpected ways.

When Eric Rostad, host of Books of Titans podcast and a friend whose literary judgment I trust implicitly, recommended this book, I took notice despite my hesitation. Where Brad Thor novels offer adrenaline and espionage, "Theo of Golden" presents something entirely different—a slower, more contemplative journey filled with grace, mercy, love, and kindness. These qualities feel increasingly rare in our world of endless online anger and division.

What struck me most was how this book addressed our universal longing to be truly seen and acknowledged for who we are, not what we accomplish. It made me pause and consider: When was the last time you felt completely seen? How often do we overlook opportunities to extend kindness to others? These simple acts cost nothing yet mean everything. The enjoyment I derived wasn't from heart-racing suspense but from slowing down and letting the story's wisdom sink deep, leaving me with something thrillers rarely provide—genuine hope.

I encourage you to read "Theo of Golden" and give yourself permission to take it slowly. Don't rush through it; let it breathe and work on you. After finishing, I'd love to hear what resonated with you and whether it reminded you of times when someone showed you unexpected grace or kindness. Reach out and let's continue this conversation about the books that don't just entertain us, but transform us.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the Scott Townsend Show brought to you by
Dietzoman Productions.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Today I want to share a book with you that I just
finished yesterday, and it's onethat really moved me in ways I
wasn't expecting.
The book is called Theo ofGolden, and I found out about it
through a recommendation frommy good friend, Eric Rostad.
You may know Eric as the hostof Books of Titans podcast.

(00:32):
I've had him on several timeson my show.
Eric reads more books in a yearthan most of us will in a
decade, and he doesn't just readthem, thinks about them, talks
about them and recommends themthoughtfully.
So when eric told me, scott,you need to read this one, I

(00:52):
listened.
Now I'll admit this isn't thetype of book I normally go for.
I'm more of a brad thor kind ofa guy.
Page-turning thrillers, youknow action, espionage, high
stakes that's usually my jam.
Po Golden is nothing like thatand it's slower.
It's more reflective, moreabout the heart and the soul,

(01:17):
and maybe that's why it hit meso deep.
I didn't race through it.
In fact I went slowly,sometimes just a few pages at a
time, because the words had away of making me stop and think
and by the time I finishedyesterday I knew I needed to
tell you about this book.

(01:37):
So what's so special about Theoof Golden?
Well, without spoiling anything, I'll just say it's a book full
of grace and mercy, love,goodness, mystery and kindness.
Those aren't always the thingswe find in abundance these days,
are they?
If you spend any amount of timeonline, or even just scrolling

(02:00):
through headlines, you'll seeplenty of anger, division and
cynicism, but here's a storythat reminds us of what we long
for to be respected, to be known, to be seen and to be
acknowledged.
That got me thinking, andhere's a question for you when
was the last time you felt trulyseen, not for what you do or

(02:23):
what you achieve, but for whoyou are?
It's rare, isn't it?
And yet it's what we all crave.
That's one of the reasons thisbook hit me so hard.
It reminded me how powerfulthose simple acts of
acknowledgement and kindness canbe.
Another thing that struck me ishow unusual it felt to read a

(02:45):
story like this for fun.
I'm used to action,cliffhangers, that heart racing
pace, but with Theo of Golden,the enjoyment came from slowing
down, reflecting, letting thestory sink in, and, I'll tell
you, it left me with something.
Thrillers rarely do a sense ofhope.

(03:05):
So let me ask you this when wasthe last time you read
something outside of your usualcomfort zone?
Did it surprise you?
Did it open you up to somethingnew?
For me, the surprise wasdiscovering that this book was
actually what I needed right now.

(03:26):
Not that I thought I wanted,but what I needed.
Here's another thing worththinking about.
The book made me consider howoften we overlook opportunities
to show grace and mercy ineveryday life, whether it's with
coworkers, family or evenstrangers.
We're given these small chancesevery day to extend kindness.

(03:50):
How often do we take them?
How often do we miss them?
To you, of golden is more thanjust a story.
It's a reminder, a reminderthat the world still needs
goodness, still needs mercy,still needs love, and maybe that
reminder is exactly what you'vebeen looking for.
So my encouragement to you issimple Do yourself a favor and

(04:15):
read Theo of Golan.
Take your time with it, don'tskim, don't rush.
Let it breathe, let it work foryou, let it work on you.
I think you'll find yourselfwalking away from it with a
little more hope and maybe evena little more resolve to bring
kindness into your dailyinteractions.

(04:35):
And once you've read it, I'dlove to hear from you what stood
out to you.
What did it make you feel?
Did it remind you of a timewhen someone showed you grace or
kindness that you didn'tdeserve?
Send me a message and I'd loveto keep this conversation going
and to my friend, eric Rostadthank you again for pointing me

(04:56):
toward this book.
You knew what you were talkingabout.
This is Scott Townsend.
Thanks for listening to theScott Townsend Show.
Have a great day.
Everything's going to be allright and we'll talk to you
later.
And we'll talk to you later.