COMMENTS NOW CLOSED SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR DRAWING. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Happy Tuesday, friends!
We are going to do a fun little giveaway today!
For the last several evenings I’ve been reading Eric Metaxas’ biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer until the wee hours of the night. I was going back and forth between reading Metaxas’ biography (Thomas Nelson, 2010) and Eberhard Bethge’s (Revised Ed. Augsburg Fortress Press, 2000). Bethge’s book obviously has the advantage insofar as he was Bonhoeffer’s close friend and he also married Bonhoeffer’s niece, Renate. In the end, I decided to go with Metaxas’ biography because I heard great things about it from a good friend, and, well, it is 591 pages and not 1049. Seemed like reason enough to me.
For those of you who are not familiar, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Christian theologian who was executed for his involvement in a conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Among his writings are well-known books such as The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together. He was murdered on April 9, 1945, evidently under Hitler’s direct command. I thought that I knew quite a bit about Bonhoeffer since I have studied some of his theology in the past, but now I realize that I knew so very little about this extraordinary man. Did you know that his older brother worked on splitting the atom with Albert Einstein? At age 23? Crazy, huh? Metaxas, in my opinion, is a particularly meaningful person to have written this Bonhoeffer biography as he is half-German. His grandfather was one of many unwilling soldiers who nevertheless lost his life in the war. Metaxas’ own background plays a poignant role in the intimacy with which he tells his subject’s story.
I’m not typically a biography reader, but this one may convert me. Since I am a little over halfway through with this book, I’m already thinking about the next one I may want to read. I asked my Mom, the biography enthusiast, what her favorite one is and she said one of her “many favorites” is A Chance to Die, Elisabeth Elliot’s biography about the life and legacy of Amy Carmichael.
So, what about you?!
Are you a biography reader?
Tell us what your favorite biography is, along with your first and last name and you will have a chance to win your choice of either Eric Metaxas’ book, Bonhoeffer: Pastor Martyr, Prophet, Spy:
OR, Elisabeth Elliot’s book, A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael:
We’ll do a random drawing and report *ten* winners on Thursday afternoon, along with further instructions.
Now, talk to me.
What is your favorite biography?
I have recently read “Lost Boy”-Greg Laurie and it was GREAT!!!-Denise Untersee
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
and I also really like Elisabeth Elliot
Although I love several biographies written by David McCullough, my all-time fave is The Autobiography of George Mueller.
My favorite is Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place. I re-read it every year.
I love biographies!!!
As a teenager growing in my faith I read and reread JONI,about Joni Eareckson Tada, which technically may be an autobiography. Either way, it changed my life.
And now, as an adult, The End of the Spear by Steve Saint about his father, Nate Saint.
Right now I am reading Heartbeat, which is a biographical/autobiographical by the Tuoy’s…(family from the Blindside). I’m loving this…my kids are really into sports and it really is hitting home!
I would love to win, A chance to die!
This a great idea!!!!
Barbara Bush’s, I have just stated reading biography. Love the blogs…..I will be sure to use the list often.
I was also perusing the books and wanted to purchase the biography on Bonhoeffer as well! I’ve read Amy Carmichael’s, Corrie Ten Boom’s and Count Zinzendorf-the history of the Moravians really touched my heart and convicted!
I’m a huge reader, but not a big biography reader.
The 2 I’ve really enjoyed in the last few years Heroes of the Faith biography of Samuel Morris “The apostle of simple faith” (amazing story!!!) and Eric Liddell biography by Catherine Swift.
Corrie Ten Boom-House is in Haarlem-Holland. It was made into a place dedicated to their lives in Christian service to the people who needed their help during the war. There is pictures, documents, and other mememtos from over the years. The Clock and Watch shop has been refurnished and it is located downstairs. In the tour of the home, we were shown where they hid the Jews in the bedroom, behind a closed door that looked just like part of the wall itself.
Pam Rosewell Moore wrote “Life Lessons from the Hiding Place” and she was Corrie’s companion (someone who helped her) during the last seven years of her life. She tells more about Corrie’s life and some things that are not mentioned in her previous books.
1323 Hazel Street, Texarkana Texas 75501 supports the Corrie Ten Boon museum and publishes her books etc.
Just thought I would pass that information on to others that might be interested.
My favorite is “The Hiding Place” by Corrie Ten Boom.
I have Laura Bush’s book waiting at the Library.
This is an exciting blog post for me! Not only do I love to read but I love biographies! I recently “graduated” our homeschooled daughter into college and for the last couple years of her highschooling we read aloud many bios and autobios. There is so much to be learned by studying the lives of others and we are never to old to learn. I just finished reading Laura Bush’s book Spoken From the Heart and found it very moving…but the 2 biographies that have stayed with me the longest are the ones my daughter and I read about George Mueller and Mary Slessor. What I find most interesting is how the people we read about change the world but they become profoundly changed in the process. Thanks Melissa for the opportunity to share and many blessings to you and your family. Tina-KY
Hands down, No Compromise – The life story of Keith Green. I have read it over again, and it still means so much to me each time. He was an amazing and passionate man, we need more people like him.
I don’t read a lot of biographies, but loved “The Hiding Place.”
I hope you are counting autobiographies too. God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew and John & Elizabeth Sherill. I read it as a teenager and still remember many details vividly.
I love all of the reccommendations- I just now put The Hiding Place and A chance to die on hold at the libray!
I haven’t read a lot of biography’s but one that I really enjoyed was My life in France by Julia Child- she inspires me to want to be a better cook!
Becky Geiser