In Eric Metaxas' book "Bonhoeffer," readers are taken on an inspiring journey through the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a courageous pastor and theologian who stood up against the horrors of Nazi Germany. The book's main point is to show how Bonhoeffer's faith in God led him to take brave actions against injustice, even at the risk of his own life. Metaxas paints a vivid picture of Bonhoeffer's unwavering commitment to his beliefs and his willingness to fight for what he knew was right.

While reading "Bonhoeffer," I was deeply moved by the challenges that Bonhoeffer faced and the choices he made. He lived in a time when speaking out against the government was dangerous, yet he believed it was his duty to oppose the evil of the Nazi regime. This book taught me that sometimes, doing what's right might be difficult or even risky, but our faith and values can give us the strength to make a difference, just like Bonhoeffer did. It's a powerful reminder that our actions matter, especially in the face of injustice.

I recommend "Bonhoeffer" to anyone who wants to be inspired by a true story of courage and faith. Whether you're interested in history, theology, or just enjoy reading about remarkable individuals, this book will captivate you. It's a story of standing up for what's right, even when it's not easy, and it shows how one person can make a significant impact on the world. Bonhoeffer's story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of holding onto our beliefs, no matter the circumstances.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a key figure in bringing down the Nazis. He was a pastor and author. He was also a spy. He lived in America and returned to Germany. He was a part of many of the operations to try to take Hitler down. He was a factor in trying to smuggle Jews out of the country. This was a detailed and fascinating look at Bonhoeffer.

Started slow. Very slow. It did cover a lot in the beginning that did prove helpful later on it just took me awhile to get to that point. I think for me and my reading pace I'd get more out of the audio book for this one. I did like it overall just took me awhile to get there.

An incredible history of an inspiring man. Well- researched and very detailed while remaining moving and easy to read.

I am not a scholar on Bonhoeffer’s life or theology, so I can’t evaluate this book from those viewpoints. However, I feel that I learned so much from this well-researched and well-written book. I was again inspired and challenged by reading about his life. I felt as if I came to know his friends and family and how his life impacted them, too. This book is a call to follow God even in difficult times and when confronted by evil. I’d recommend this one to all who would want to a read biography about a man who fearlessly followed his convictions.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely LOVE stories about people who dismantle something evil. Usually, the protagonists doing the dismantling are doing it from the outside. But when it comes from the inside, it is so much more satisfying! That is why this book, Bonhoeffer, is so good. The real Bonhoeffer is presented here as he was, and they did not 'Hollywood' the ending by making it happy. He died in a concentration camp because his plot to assassinate Hitler was discovered. But what is so wonderful about this book is that despite the unhappy ending, it isn't presented as such. As you read about Bonhoeffer, you never feel sorry for him, and his death is more of a heroic one that people still read about today and marvel about. Yes, its a heavy read. Don't take this to the beach. But it also reminds us that there are good people trying to do what's right, even if they look like the bad guys. It gave me hope, and hope is a good thing, always.

When I was offered this book, it has already been published, but I heard so much about it that I wanted to read it. It is a very long book, over 600 pages, but Metaxes doe a wonderful job of presenting Bonhoffer. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this eye-opening book.

Eric Metaxas takes both strands of Bonhoeffer’s life—the theologian and the spy—and draws them together to tell a story of incredible moral courage in the face of monstrous evil. Metaxas presents the fullest accounting of Bonhoeffer’s heart-wrenching decision to leave the safe haven of America to return to Hitler’s Germany, and sheds new light on Bonhoeffer’s involvement in the famous Valkyrie plot and in “Operation 7,” the effort to smuggle Jews into neutral Switzerland. In a deeply moving narrative, Metaxas uses previously documents including personal letters, detailed journal entries, and firsthand accoubts to reveal Bonhoffer as never before.

Everyone should read this book, not only to learn about Bonhoffer, but of Nazi Germany and how it affected so many people.

This is a lot of book, but I found it very interesting. I have heard of Bonhoeffer but didn’t know much about him. The author does a great job of making a biography read more like a novel. It was very engaging. But it is a loooong book, so there is your forewarning.

Bonhoeffer started off like any one of us, a normal family with struggles but he had a huge impact in the world. What an example for the rest of us. His faith was unshakeable. May we all be as brave as him.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I misunderstood the type of content here, thinking it was more Bonhoeffer, not so much about Bohhoeffer. It read like a textbook, which I wasnt expecting, either.

This rather lengthy book presents Diedrich Bonhoeffer in all his roles not just as a famous German theologian. The strength lies that the book shows the various context in which Bonhoeffer lived and worked and the reader can see how these influenced him. While important sermons and letters are presented and interpreted the main focus rests on the man, not his theories.
However, the writing style is hard to overcome sentences like “ double-barred flatulence”, or “strangle them with their gut of quaint scruples ” are making it difficult to read. The black and white presentation of persons and issues is simplistic. Several historical inaccuracies are annoying.
Such an important person deserves better writing and better research.

An excellent read! There have been many books written about Bonhoeffer. This is one that I will recommend to others.

Around fifteen years ago, I watched a wonderful documentary about Bonhoeffer on PBS. I was intrigued by this Lutheran theologian who defied the Nazis. His integrity, his struggle with the nationalism and racism he witnessed both in his home country of Germany and in the United States, and his sincere desire to share his message of faith and salvation came shining through. While I may not agree with some of his theological points, I admire his actions during WWII.

This is not that Bonhoeffer, at least not entirely. The Bonhoeffer we meet in "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy," is a creation of Eric Metaxas, taking specific writings of Bonhoeffer and filtering them through his personal lens of evangelicalism. Metaxas has a passion for Bonhoeffer bordering on idolatry, and that's a problem in a biographer. Metaxas has little understanding of the social and economic influences during Bonhoeffer's life, and dismisses the prevalence of anti-Semitism.

He also does not curate the work well. Much of the book is a data dump of Bonhoeffer's works, with entire letters filling multiple chapters.

It's a disappointment. It's not the first biography I've read written by someone with an axe to grind, but it's a shame it happened to the story of this wonderful theologian.

I received a free copy from NetGalley and Nelson Books in exchange for my honest review.

Not recommended.

5 stars! If you only read one book this year, it should be this one! Boenhoffer is one of the best books I have ever read. The faith he has is amazing. From learning to teaching to being an enemy of Nazi Germany, he lived a life like no one else. This is a MUST READ.

Bonhoeffer was an intelligent and charming man, pastor, son, brother, teacher, mentor, and fiance. He practiced his faith until the end of his life.
This book tells his story. It ties in the lives of his family, the happenings and beliefs of the Church at the time, and how Bonhoeffer’s theology bent and changed over time. I did appreciate some of the insight into German’s history and the times in which Bonhoeffer grew up and ministered.
In places, this book is very long-winded. It shares many details that I felt were unnecessary to the essence of who Bonhoeffer is. If it were up to me, I’d edit at least 200 pages out.
His message is one the Church needs to hear today. Some of the topics surprised me because the Church struggles in similar ways today as it did 80 years ago. I was also touched by some of his theology and thoughts because I want an authentic faith in God that obeys Him and makes a difference. Before Bonhoeffer’s death: “This is the end,” he said. “For me the beginning of life.”

I really did not know how to rate this book. The book was well-researched and included numerous quotes, excerpts, and entire texts from original sources including the subject's own writing. Admittedly, I was not familiar with Bonhoeffer before reading this book. Parts of his story were absolutely fascinating. However, great sections of this book were stunningly tedious, and I skimmed them. Since this is nonfiction I felt comfortable focusing on the topics that were most interesting to me. In my opinion, this book felt like required reading for a graduate-level history seminar.
I learned about Bonhoeffer's childhood, upbringing, education, theology, etc. Most importantly, I learned about Bonhoeffer's involvement in plots to assassinate Hitler. This is why I wanted to read the book. The author successfully presented Bonhoeffer's ethical dilemmas based on his own writings and those of people close to him. Ultimately, Bonhoeffer is presented as a tragic character. A historical novel based on his life could be an amazing read. But it could not be as dry as this biography.
I have never read this author before. Theology and theological figures are not my area of interest. Bonhoeffer's theology and/ or philosophy were not why I chose to read this biography. However, these topics were necessary because they are fundamental to who Bonhoeffer was and his motivation to make the choices he did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have read numerous books about Bonhoeffer and this one was by far one of my favorites. Definitely a must read for people who are interested in Bonhoeffer and history like that.

Very well written. Thorough and well thought out. I am grateful to have been given the chance to read this book. My kids will enjoy reading it when they're a bit older too.

Letters and Papers from Prison is one of my favorite book so I had high expectations for this book.
Unfortunately I was disappointed as I found it a bit unrealistic and some things could be debatable.
Bonhoeffer is a complex and fascinating characters but this biography misses the point and left me wondering what the author really wanted to achieve.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas is a powerful story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor of the German Evangelical Church before and during the rise of Adolf Hitler and the genocide that took place during WWII. This was one of the best books I've read this year. This book shows how Bonhoeffer was so solid in his beliefs and what was right and what was wrong and he was so strong in expressing these all so clearly. He had a way of seeing through the clutter of everyday life and did not just go along with the status quo. I would love to be so sure of my decisions and would have liked to have met him.

Eric tells this story in an interesting and beautiful way. It is a tough story to tell but he does so gracefully and with thorough details and parts of speeches that take my breath away. I will be buying this book for my son to read as it brought many discussions between us of our beliefs. Any book that can connect us this way needs to be read by so many. I will be recommending this to my friends as well.

I thank Nelson Books, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley for the digital copy and the opportunity to read this powerful book. It will stay in my memory for a very long time. Opinions here are all my own.

Bonhoeffer is at times frustrating, at times mesmerizing, at times confusing. Because in biography the basic "plot" is known, the author's challenge is to make the subject real, to explain why he or she did whatever he/she did, and why others reacted as they did. In Bonhoeffer, Eric Metaxas is a little eratic. I was never quite sure what Bonhoeffer's role in the resistance was, though I do understand that he resisted (as did his entire family) and why. Metaxas also struggles to explain Bonhoeffer's theology, but does an excellent job of including many of Bonhoeffer's quotes - perhaps he was able to pick out the most interesting and explanatory?

Eric Metaxas’ biography Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy offers a full, even epic, portrait of the life of one of the Twentieth Century’s most iconic men. Metaxas accomplishes this by placing Bonhoeffer in Hitler’s Germany with the addition of primary sources: personal letters, diaries, and coded notes. With this addition, Mataxas humanizes a seemingly fearless paradox of a man, a man who followed his fate unflinchingly. Fortunately, the story of this man’s life unfolds through Mataxas’ writing, a life, like few found in our civilization, of “a man for all seasons.”