Monday, December 07, 2015

Seven Women And The Secret Of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas – An Interesting and Challenging Read




After hearing author Eric Metaxas interviewed on several radio shows talking about his latest book, Seven Women And The Secret Of Their Greatness, I wanted to read about these influential women who impacted their generation, nation and beyond.  This is the first book I’ve read by this author.

The book focuses on the lives of Joan of Arc, Susanna Wesley, Hannah More, Saint Maria of Paris, Corrie ten Boom, Rosa Parks and Mother Teresa.  Eric did a lot of research and went into great detail about their lives and the culture in which they lived and the impact they made.  Other than Corrie ten Boom, I knew precious little or nothing about their lives and how they influenced the world of their day. 

Eric Metaxas is a Christian who is intelligent and well-informed.  As such, I wish he had included a brief chapter telling why he selected these women.  Based on his choice of women, I don’t believe this book is apologetic in nature. 

I really enjoyed the chapters on Susanna Wesley, Hannah More, Corrie ten Boom and Rosa Parks.  I found my faith was encouraged, challenged and strengthened by these women of great faith and strong conviction who endured much.  I struggling reading about Joan of Arc and Saint Maria of Paris, two very unconventional women, I think in part, because I was distracted by their theology and wondered how Biblical Christianity would respond them.  I knew of Mother Teresa, but didn’t know much about her life until I read this book.

This book is not a quick read, nor a light read.  But if you like to learn history through biographies, you will like this book.  This book gives the reader an appreciation for what women in the past had to endure, without the freedoms we have in this country that people fought for and the modern conveniences we can easily take for granted.

I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to read Seven Women by Eric Metaxas in exchange for an honest review.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

No comments:

Reagan: His Life and Legend by Max Boot – Reads like a 1,300 page indictment

When I saw that Max Boot had written Reagan: His Life and Legend , I was excited to read this biography.  Reagan is a leader I had come adm...