Heaven Is For Real book cover

Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo Summary

Heaven Is For Real
Todd Burpo
4.04 (335011 Reviews)
Biography
Inspiration
Philosophy
Overview
Key Takeaways
Author
FAQs

Overview of Heaven Is For Real

When a 4-year-old Colton Burpo visited heaven during surgery, he returned with impossible knowledge - meeting his miscarried sister and describing his great-grandfather. This #1 USA Today bestseller challenges skeptics and believers alike, sparking a Hollywood film and global conversation about what awaits beyond death.

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Key takeaways

1

A Glimpse Beyond the Veil

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When four-year-old Colton Burpo began talking about sitting in Jesus's lap during his emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix, his parents were stunned. How could their son describe heaven with such vivid detail? How could he know where each parent was during his surgery - his father raging at God in a small hospital room, his mother crying on the phone in another? The Burpo family's journey began in March 2003 in Imperial, Nebraska, when what seemed like a simple stomach flu nearly took their son's life. What emerged in the months and years following was something no one could have anticipated - a child's matter-of-fact descriptions of heaven that would eventually captivate millions worldwide. For the Burpos, Colton's illness was the culmination of months of suffering. Todd, a pastor and garage door installer, had already endured a devastating leg injury, excruciating kidney stones, and a breast cancer scare. Financial strain mounted as medical bills piled up while income disappeared. Their fellow pastors had begun calling Todd "Pastor Job," referencing the biblical figure who suffered one affliction after another. Just when things seemed to be improving, their family vacation to Colorado was interrupted when Colton fell violently ill. After days of misdiagnosis, a surgeon finally discovered Colton's ruptured appendix. As Colton was wheeled away screaming "Daddy! Don't let them take meeee!", Todd fled to a small room where he finally broke. "Where are you?" he raged at God. "Is this how you treat your pastors?!"

2

Heavenly Revelations

3

Family Healing and Connections

4

The Face of Jesus

5

Living with a Glimpse of Heaven

6

Beyond the Veil: The Theological Implications

7

Hope Beyond the Horizon

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@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
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@djmikemoore
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@Pitiful
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@Jaded_Falcon
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@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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@Cashflowbubu
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@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
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likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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201
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16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
likes
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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