Gregory Boyle's Tattoos on the Heart: Unconditional Compassion's Life-Changing Power

M.A.H.: The stories mentioned reveal the heart and model of HBI. The stories challenge you think differently about others and see everyone in the light of God’s eyes. Beautiful book. Highly recommend it.

United States on Oct 01, 2023

orlando calderon: Thank you

United States on Sep 24, 2023

NPE Alicia: Book came in great condition. Good stories.

United States on Sep 14, 2023

S. Hershberger: Everyone should read this book! We never know what someone else has endured until we walk with them. This book helps to get glimpses into a world that I have never seen, and helps me to see how we all belong to each other.

United States on Sep 06, 2023

Denise G: I reluctantly went to the interfaith worship service the author led last year at Chautauqua and have not been able to stop thinking about what he said. Greg Boyle is the conduit of grace for not only the thousands of former gang members for whom he has created job opportunities but for any reader who takes in the magnitude of the unconditional Love that creates and sustains us in an often violent, despairing world.

United States on Jun 29, 2023

Policywonk: If you arent sure about the challenges that other lives face, wonder whether your life is too staid - read this. It is funny, honest, factual and revealing. It brings into the open the struggles that human lives face, the mistakes they can make so easily and what they can achieve when given the right help. The rest of the books in this series are just as funny and gripping.

United Kingdom on Aug 28, 2020

Anne Oliver: If I picked any religion it would be Buddhism ,so I'm far from a fan of religious books .BUT ...this book isn't ramming God, the church or any religion down your throat, infact it references all kinds of people . It's sort of more one mans philosophy, in that it's how he interprets his job, beliefs ,concepts like compassion and how they translate into the life around him. I saw the documentary a few years ago and liked him, I found him not just an inspiration but a breath of fresh air. He has a genuiness that makes him so real unlike characters like mother Teresa . I did however cry many times, and laugh , and smile and just love the way it read. It's lots of short stories and incidents so really easy to pick up and put down. When it ended I felt pretty sad, like he was a good friend who I would miss gabbing to. I've bought it for several people I know, I plan to re read it in the winter as I might remember more of the stories if I do ! But my overall best thing was it didn't preach, leave me feeling drained or wrung out. Instead I feel lifted, my hearts fuller, I'm still laughing about some stuff and somehow Greg is now in my head when I'm faced with crazy situations at...

United Kingdom on Jun 28, 2018

Jonathan Green: Wow, just wow! Tattoos on the Heart is a brilliant book that shares story after story of the life of a Jesuit Priest who spent the majority of his adult life working with gangs in the gang capital of L.A.

The author has the ability to plant little truth bombs that explode in your heart and mind and cause you to see people and situations in a different light. The story is also a real inspiration for anyone who wants to do something daring but feels discouraged. This is a story of faith and little steps that amount over 20 years to a miraculous ministry. Thousands of lives have been impacted, yet you get the sense that Gregory Boyle just turned up day in day out and related to the people who came across his path.

I don't want to spoil the book for you, but do yourself a favour and read it. I love too how all the proceeds from the book are going to Homeboy Industries - one of the great stories that runs through most of the pages. A real inspiration, a real eye opener, a really good read!

United Kingdom on Dec 25, 2016

S. Perry: I bought this as I'm researching gang life and rehabilitation. On receiving the book, I realised that Boyle was a minister and American, I had a sinking feeling that it would be like a lot of terribly written, preachy Christian books.

How wrong I was, Boyle is so honest and humble with compassion that frankly would probably put most Christians, nay Jesus to shame. I think I cried through 95% of the book, precisely because he didn't ham up the tragic stories that fill the pages. I think his amazing honesty also comes from the gangs he works with, which is what makes it a beautiful rollercoaster of emotions. As a non-christian/religious person, I didn't find his references to the teachings of Jesus tiresome, in fact they were reflective and thought provoking. Moreover, Boyle seemed as likely to uses the words of Emily Dickinson, William Blake and Buddha as he is the bible.

Kudos to Boyle, Homeboy Industries, his belief in people that lets them believe in themselves, and the recurring idea of standing next to the people we demonize. This is a guy who practices what he preaches (and still thinks he doesn't do enough). What a story.

United Kingdom on Dec 23, 2011

Linda j: I have read thousands of books in my life, including hundreds of spiritual books, and this is right up there with the best. I thought it was going to be a compilation of interesting stories, but it is much more than that. It is a book that operates on many levels. It is story, it is poetry, it is contemplation, and it contains the deepest and yet most practical of wisdom. It is a book that changes perspectives and in this process you will both laugh and cry.

The primary teaching of the spiritual path I've been on for the last 25 years is that God dwells within us, as us. This is not news to Father Greg Boyle. Not only does he see the divine in all, he somehow manages to serve within the heartbreaking reality of people he loves killing other people he loves. And in the midst of this, his heart is still able to expand instead of contracting. He is the rarest of human beings and I am in awe of his gift and the sheer heart and beauty of this book. It is certainly a book to gift to others. No one who reads it, can look at the people pulled into this lifestyle in quite the same way again.

Canada on Nov 26, 2011