By RILEY VAN HEUKELUM ’27
Updated 11:50 a.m. EDT, 16 Oct. 2026
Though the printed word no longer dominates the cultural landscape in the way it once did, since being supplanted by the television and subsequently the internet, every once in a while, a rare novel is able to break through, striking at the hearts of readers. “Theo of Golden” is one such novel. Originally self-published in 2023 by Allen Levi, it has since spread rapidly through word-of-mouth, was picked for wider distribution by Atria Books, and now sits as a New York Times bestseller.
The book follows the arrival of a mysterious elderly man named Theo to the fictional town of Golden. Shortly after arriving he visits a coffee shop where dozens of hand-drawn portraits of local residents hang on the walls. During his year in Golden, Theo purchases each of the portraits and hand delivers them to the people they depict. In exchange, all he asks is to hear about each person’s story: their triumphs, regrets and losses, their hopes and dreams. Through these unexpected conversations, Theo swiftly becomes a beloved figure in the community, building powerful relationships with all manner of residents.
Theo remains a central mystery for most of the book. It isn’t until much later in the story that we start to uncover more about his past and until then we are left to wonder, what could inspire such greatness? Ultimately, we learn that this joy and loving kindness comes from a long, difficult life of hardship and loss. Often the weight of the world can feel unbearable, like life is out of our control and we can barely hold ourselves together in its wake. “Theo of Golden” is about how we can either let that pain destroy us, or be transformed by it and let it grow out into great love. As Theo says, “Sadness can make us bitter or wise. We get to choose.”
Over the course of the novel, the reader feels not just Theo’s love and compassion for the people of Golden, but also that his compassion somehow extends beyond the novel itself to encompass them as well. Through the simple act of sitting, asking questions and listening with intention, Theo reaches beyond the masks we often wear and embraces what lies beneath with warmth and empathy. Sometimes the simple act of listening can be the most powerful tool we have for reaching people. The ability to stand alongside someone else in the chaos of life without the need to offer empty platitudes, hollow advice or unhelpful suggestions takes wisdom and time to cultivate but bears great fruit in our relationships.
Despite its simple premise, “Theo of Golden” is a truly special and joyful book, something that stands out as so much more than the sum of its parts. Theo is an inspiring depiction of the kind of Christ-like love we are called to showcase to the world, and the tremendous impact it can have on others. “Theo of Golden” is about giving and receiving, about seeing and being seen and how that transforms us. ★
