Book Review: Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas

This time around, I gave my husband Joe the opportunity to review a book for my blog, since I knew the subject would be right up his alley!    Here are his thoughts on the book “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” by Eric Metaxas.

This book was a biography chronicling the life and message of Dietrich Bonhoeffer from his childhood to his execution.  Bonhoeffer lived in Germany during the second World War and the story details his transformation from a theologian to a pastor to a conspirator against Hitler and the Nazi regime, as well as the inner and outer turmoil that he endured as he struggled to figure out God’s will in a time of godlessness in his country.

I thought that the information was very clear and at the end of the biography, I felt like a had a good understanding of the life and thoughts of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  The author made a great effort to include multiple excerpts from letters and historical documents to support the telling of the story, which was very informative, but which at times felt excessive and more detail than was perhaps necessary.  I didn’t find the book deeply riveting and it was sometimes difficult to continue to plow through, but because of my interest in World War 2 and the compelling nature of Bonhoeffer’s journey, it is still a very interesting read.  If the author was seeking to be thorough in this telling of Bonhoeffer’s life, he was definitely successful, but it may have been more compelling had it been more concise and fast-paced.

I was deeply impacted by the insights I gained from understanding the Church’s struggle in Germany leading up to and through World War 2.  As a theologian, Bonhoeffer’s Biblical revelation and his stand on various issues, including his thoughts on what the role of the Church should be in the midst of an evil governmental regime, were very thought-provoking and probably ahead of his time.  It was sobering to see the parallels between that era and the day we live in today and the necessity for the Church to be deeply founded in prayer and operating in power.  I would recommend this book because of the detailed knowledge of living in a time of war and Church persecution from the perspective of a Christian leader that would be difficult to find elsewhere. 

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller.