Terry Delaney says:

I thought the parallel between Edwards and Ben Franklin was extremely helpful given most people are more familiar with Franklin than with Edwards. It was also helpful to see how Edwards was influenced by the Puritans given he lived decades removed from their influence. Ultimately, I was struck by Marsden’s focus on Edwards’ short-comings.

A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards deserves to be read or listened to by anyone interested in 1) Christian history, 2) Reformed Christian history, or 3) American history. It can be said that Edwards impacted every area of American history during his journey on this earth. It can also be said that he is still influencing countless Christians to this day. Was he a lightning rod for conflict? Yes, but then again so was Moses. If you have not read or listened to this book, you should add it to your “read immediately” pile.

Terry Delaney, ChristianBookNotes.com #

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Library Journal says:

Marsden’s condensed retelling of his definitive 2003 biography, Jonathan Edwards: A Life, highlights the key moments and overriding themes of the life of the New England evangelist best known for his role in the Great Awakening of the mid-18th century and for his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Grover Gardner, Publishers Weekly’s 2005 Audiobook Narrator of the Year, anchors Marsden’s solid, succinct text in a seamless and engaging reading that balances the depth of the subject matter with the book’s length. Recommended for those interested in a concise exploration of the theological underpinnings of American society. #

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Audiofile says:

Marsden's biography of Jonathan Edwards (most famous for the sermon "Sinners at the Hands of an Angry God") is not intended as an abridgment of his lengthier JONATHAN EDWARDS: A LIFE. Instead, it's meant to provide insight into Edwards's life and influence to a wider audience. Marsden places particular emphasis on the profound cultural and social shifts that were occurring during Edwards's life and how those shifts influenced his development as a man, scholar, and clergyman. Grover Gardner narrates with a crisp, businesslike attitude, which only works part of the time. He moves along swiftly, the prose buoying him up with clever anecdotes of Edwards's life. But at times Gardner sounds like he's simply reading the text, rather than narrating, a choice that sometimes makes Marsden's insightful, sensitive biography sound like a brittle history textbook. A.A. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine #

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