alixkade's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.75
ferris_mx's review against another edition
1.0
This was some hagiographic bullshit about a person whom, however philosophically pure, was ultimately completely ineffective in his goal of saving Germany. I'm not saying Bonhoeffer wasn't heroic. He took chances others didn't, and for the right motivations. Metaxas's discussion of his theology is shallow, most particularly as regards the apparent difficulty of reconciling Bonhoeffer's later theology with his earlier. And his treatment of Bonhoeffer's relationship with the much younger Maria was pathetic. Ultimately in the last pages Metaxas quote Hildebrandt's eulogy "One of the happiest, freest, bravest homes in Germany has been bereft of its children - this is where the real victims of this war are to be found." Bonhoeffer's not responsible for what was said at his funeral. But Hildebrandt is responsible for what he said, and Metaxas is responsible for presenting this tripe without comment.
emcdonnell's review against another edition
2.0
Good Lord, this book was just so unbelievably boring. I have heard so many interesting stories associated with Bonhoeffer as well as his theology during WW2 and was excited to learn more, but I could not have been more disappointed. Each page was dreadful to get through, and everything that could have been remotely exciting was not. It is a 600 page book that should have been 300 pages. I thought I would like this considering my favorite genres to read are ww2 and theology, so i figured this would be an epic crossover episode between the two….. It was not. Unless you are seriously interested, I would strongly advice you skip to the next book on your TBR list.
lindasdarby's review against another edition
4.0
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was an amazing man with an intellect I can't even being to imagine. I didn't totally know what I was getting with this book -and it's a lot to unpack. Bonhoeffer was brilliant and did a lot in his short life. This book is filled with A LOT of scripture and christian theology and sometimes it was a lot to process. This is one of those books that I could listen to repeatedly and learn something new each time. Learning about Bonhoeffer and his family was so interesting and once again I was astonished by how some people are blessed with such amazing brains and intellect! Bonhoeffer was an incredible thinker and a truly christian person - his dedication to his studies, his prayers and especially to Christ are remarkable.
elizabeth_noel's review against another edition
4.0
"Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the dinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of His Son: 'ye were bought with a price,' and what has cost God so much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon His Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered Him up for us. Costly grace is the incarnation of God." - Bonhoeffer
upawulu's review against another edition
3.0
Includes interesting historical information about Nazi Germany.
pagesofpins's review against another edition
3.0
Almost too comprehensive in places. It seemed to ramble a bit, especially because there were so many unfamiliar names and titles to keep track of, and I am unfamiliar with the hierarchy of the German church/government. Nonetheless, I did enjoy learning more about my favorite pudgy anti-Nazi theologian, especially how the faith and social injustice he witnessed in Harlem affected his opposition to the oppression of the Jews, and how seriously and without self-interest he approached the ethical questions and major decisions of his life. It also gave me a context for his statements about religion, which the God is Dead movement rather unfairly hijacked. I would be interested to compare this biography with another, because Metaxas has a very black and white worldview: everyone is either pure evil or pure good in this world, and little is said about any faults of Bonhoeffers.