Bonhoeffer

An excellent book regarding an intriguing, godly man. Dietrich Bonhoeffer challenges me to be a more active, intentional, involved, and passionate Christian daily. His example is profound and Eric Metaxas is pure, captivating, and comprehensive as usual.

Riveting account, especially towards the end of the book. I found the beginning of the book a little bit more tedious but still interesting.

Love this book! Well written, well researched, and well paced - this is a great book for a long road trip or daily commute. Would recommend to anyone interested in theology, WWII history, or church history.

Someone lent me this book to read. I never got to it and I know now I never would have finished it. Long and very detailed particularly with respect to the development of Nazi Germany and the war. But excellent if you have the time, I enjoyed it commuting to work.

Excellent read and detailed background in the life of a man who was willing to stand against the nazi regime. I thought the narrator did a great job rendering the story.

A must read. Great book to understand the full life of Bonhoeffer and the events surrounding Hitler and WWII. Will give you an excellent understanding behind his writings.

I've owned a physical copy of this book for years, but was always too intimidated by the size to get started. Today I have long commute to and from work on the train and so I bought this audio book to help get me started. I'm really glad I did.

Malcolm Hillgartner, the narrator, does an excellent job and is very easy to listen to. He also pronounces the names and other German words/phrases in this book with a good accent, which is nice because I'm living in Germany and it would probably bother me if he said everything with a strong American accent.

The book itself is well written and fascinating. I find myself looking forward to my commute to and from work every day just so I can read again. I'm still only half way through the book, but I can say that if the author finishes as well as he began then this is a top quality book all around.

So through, moving, and well-written. The audio version was perfect because I could have never pronounced all those German names.

Outstanding, honest, insightful bio of a great Christian and human being. One of the best books I have ever read.

Great book gives history of time and shows his courage and devotion to his faith

This book isn't intended to be a portrayal of the events of WW2, but an account of the life and martyr's death of one of Christendom's most noble saints of the 20th century. I speak in respect to a previous reviewer's comments.

In light of this fact the book is a gargantuan success. This work is astoundingly detailed; the research and preparation to write must have taken the better part of a year.

As a result of this book I feel as though I know the man having vicariously been through his struggles and triumphs. Furthermore Bonhoeffer's devotion to his faith has stirred in me an introspective search for faith of the same stellar quality.

An excellent work, well worth the time to listen to this masterful narration, hats off to Eric Metaxas!

My bias - I'm British and I studied history.

It feels like the author was not going to let historical facts get in the way of a good narrative.

The German resistance achieved little of any value, which is why the British were not interested in it. The German resistance could have and should have done more to stop the holocaust, but they were reluctant to attack their own side. They contributed little to the defeat of Nazism. Stauffenberg bungled the plot. He had the access to kill Hitler but would not pull the trigger.

When White Rose organisation was prepared to take a real stand against Hitler, the British celebrated it. The British did not want Hitler killed because Hitler was seen as a liability to the Germans, he harmed the Nazi war effort - which is equally why some Germans wanted him killed. The British believed that the only way to rebuild Europe was for Germany to be totally defeated but not destroyed. It is difficult not to argue that history proves them right.

Churchill spoke about liberating the Germans, and even praised Rommel. Rommel thought killing Hitler (the plot to kill Hitler is ultimately why Bonhoeffer was killed) would make Hitler a martyr and was counter-productive. This is why the British were not interested.

The story does not confront how the idol worship of the ideal of Germany led to WW2, and that the German church's guilt in this.
The madness of Bonhoeffer's students fighting the very people who were actually trying to end Nazism, and killing their Christian brothers and participating in atrocities to preserve their lives and the inconsistency of this with the Christian faith is glossed over.

The problem is our spiritual enrichment is based on truth, and therefore I found myself more disturbed than edified. Bonhoeffer is interesting and at times insightful, but this book concerned me.

Also Bonhoeffer's contribution could have been greater if rather than going home because he was home sick, he had waited the war out and helped to rebuild Germany. A living sacrifice would have been more useful.

Saying all that for all Bonhoeffer's failings, we have to ask ourselves how much are we prepared to follow Christ rather than the Spirit of the times. In that atmosphere Bonhoeffer sincerely tried to do his best.

We must always follow Christ, and be very wary of making an idol out of our nation. There are lots of lessons to learn from Bonhoeffer.

A wonderful biography of an outstanding man who challenges us to be thoughtfully faithful to God and to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, however that plays out, no mater what it may cost! The reason why I picked up this book was because I knew something about Bonhoeffer, but what I learned caused me to realize just how little I really knew. His was an utterly fascinating life. Anyone who isn't intrigued, will be by the end of this book. Thank you, Eric Metaxas for this wonderful work! Malcolm Hillgartner, does an excellent job bringing his story to life.

A Wonderful book and audio book

Metaxas brilliantly draws out the essence of this man of faith and conviction. Bonhoeffer lived his life fully alive to his Lord and fully engaged in the world. His courageous example will be a constant reminder to me that we have nothing to fear in this life: that the only thing that matters is our obedience to His call.

it helps to get a real picture of Bonhoefers life Teaching and the history of that time. very challenging on many ethical issues

I love the detail Metaxas goes into with this book on Bonhoeffer. Metaxas has a point of view on the events and people he describes and I appreciate hearing his take on them.

I have the printed book, but would never have gotten through it in this decade. The audio format is ideal for people like me.

Even being from German background and knowing much of the history, this book gave me insight from a whole different perspective - that of the church - on the events of the Third Reich.

The only criticism I have is that they should have chosen a reader who is better familiar with the German language pronunciation. This way people like me could actually understand the names and places, whereas the way the book sounds it is hard to guess what the names are. That is unfortunate and a disadvantage to actually reading the book.

The steady, consistent proclamation of true and real faith in Christ despite horrendous circumstances and inner turmoil sets a high standard for today's American Christians. The faithfulness and unwavering obedience to the Lord was very convicting. The audiobook is a gripping, thrilling and devastating true story. YOU MUST LISTEN!!

This is one of the best books I've ever read. What a wonderful man Mr. Bonhoeffer was. Eric Metaxas is a wonderful writer, I'll read anything he puts out. If you want to be inspired, read this book.

This is the bracing account of a prophet's valiant efforts to be faithful in the midst of the death of German Christendom. He developed a theology of resistance and called the church to step in line with Christ rather than with the Third Reich. Unfortunately, many found capitulation and inaction more convenient than martyrdom. I fear the same may befall the American church except we all likewise repent of our dereliction of duty and obedience in the areas of education, charity, and family life. May the Lord not let this literary seed fall to the ground without bearing forth fruit a hundredfold in return.

Some on the left have attempted to co-opt Bonhoeffer for their own agenda. Metaxas sets all that straight. Bonhoeffer was a true man of God AND the inerrant Scriptures, unusual in his short life of integrity and devotion.

The book also provides a sympathetic view of the many in Germany in the years leading up to the war and through the ordeal who rejected Hitler's third Reich.

Finally, I found the book chilling in its parallels to our own political war here in the US where Capitalism is assailed by Socialism to the general effect of the erosion of heretofore unquestioned freedoms. Even so, we find in "Bonhoeffer" that no matter how bad things might get, our God is a very great God and the struggle is both worth it and redounds to His glory.

the story reads like a historical thriller. What he tried to accomplish was magifigant and his love for the lord showed no bounds. Thoroughly enjoyed the book

This is an amazing biography of a great man of God! I have been very inspired by listening to this book - it's long, but well worth it. Bonhoeffer reminds us to go back to God's Word and the Cross as the essentials of Christianity. After listening I bought a hardcover to give to my dad-in-law.