The Psalmist
About this audiobook
A recovering alcoholic who, reeling from his mother’s death and his sister’s disappearance, finds unexpected community and grace while raising his sister's baby in this piercing, inspirational story of love and transformation from a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
"Intimate, tender, moving.” -James K. A. Smith, author of Make Your Home in This Luminous Dark and On the Road with Saint Augustine
When Mark returns to his hometown in rural Vermont for his mother’s funeral, the last thing he expects is to find himself raising his sister Beth’s newborn baby. But with Beth gone and with no one else to take responsibility, he has no choice but to put his life in Boston on hold. Caught between worry about his sister's disappearance, anger from knowing his sister's absence is driven by addiction, and stress over his newfound position as a guardian, Marks finds his life turning into a whirlwind of uncertainty.
Struggling, yet knowing he can’t break down, Mark turns to the Psalms. Every day he finds a random psalm to read, one that can help him to make sense of his chaotic life. As a radio producer, it seems only natural to record himself reading these psalms aloud, along with any other snippets of noise he can catch throughout the day, be it the sound of the wind or the yet-to-be-named baby crying. As the days go by, Mark finds a world reconfigured by love—for his niece, for his friends, for the blossoming world around him—and a grace that he never imagined he'd experience.
"A painfully gorgeous and deeply wise book about the families we make and the responsibilities we have for one another. John West is a writer of immense talents, and he’s given us all a gift with this novel. Here is a story of love and surrender, filled with truth and light ... a wonder." -Stuart Nadler, author of Rooms for Vanishing
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About the author
John West is a writer and technologist. He reports the news with code at the Wall Street Journal, where his work has received multiple awards including two Pulitzer Prizes. The Boston Globe called his first book, Lessons and Carols, “lyrical and crystalline.” His second book, The Internet Will Die, and So Will You, a digital memento mori, was published in September 2026. He holds an MFA in writing from the Bennington Writing Seminars and degrees in philosophy and music performance from Oberlin College. He lives outside Kingston, New York, with his partner, children, and unruly cat.
