I admit I requested this book based on its cover/title alone, and did not know until my request was accepted that it was a book about finding faith and not about no faith/leaving faith. So my bad already from the start.
However, I did decide to go into this with an open mind, because everyone finds their way in their own time and on their own particular path - one is not better than the other.
Still, it took me a long time to settle with this one, and I never really did find a rhythm with it throughout, either. The 'stories' veered too close to the author's life - I get this was to showcase his path, but at times, the exposure into his life felt TMI and unnecessary to me. This then led to a feeling of unease around the other discussions, because it just felt a lot like an info-dump on me as the reader...
Sadly, I could not get into this one. Either it wanted to be a memoir or an expose on atheism v/s faith - in trying to straddle both, I felt this one missed the mark on both, unfortunately

From the French Riviera to the beaches of the Caribbean, from the banks of Wall Street to the London School of Theology, Guillaume Bignon’s story is captivating, and this book presents it extraordinarily well. Sometimes apologetics books are dry comparative textbooks, this one isn’t. Sometimes spiritual memoirs are all emotion and experience, this one isn’t. This one is a beautiful mix of serious intellectual study and personal redemption. He moves the reader so naturally through the story of his life and discussions of philosophy that one is hardly aware of the change of subjects. Then again perhaps it doesn’t really change subjects, but rather, it simply takes the time to answer the questions and objections he had at each point in his quest.
This book handles some of the most popular objections atheists throw out to challenge faith in God and the Bible. He quotes numerous philosophers, authors, and historians, some very familiar and others new to me. He shows us how their ideas had influenced his atheism even when he couldn’t put their names to the beliefs he held. I like the way that he quotes from them. He lets them build their own arguments and then shows how the same arguments fall apart. He does this by either using their own words to contradict themselves or by logically evaluating their inconsistent treatment of the Bible in comparison to other historic texts. It was clear yet quick and easily understood.
What I most appreciated about this book though, is the Gospel focus. It is presented in all its logical clarity and personal overwhelming power and beauty. He is very clear, both in his teaching as well as in his personal testimony; head knowledge of the truth of the Gospel isn’t enough. It must become personal. Each of us must accept Christ’s offer to forgive our sins, to change our hearts, and to give us new, eternal life. He shows the Biblical truth of sin and forgiveness. His life, before he accepted Christ, was wicked. He is very discreet, but you get the idea. The Word of God convicted him of the sinfulness of his lifestyle. Then through his personal testimony, he shows us the personal reality of salvation through faith in Christ and its joy. That makes this a powerful book.
If you couldn’t tell yet, I really, really recommend this book. I believe it will at the very least give an atheist something to think about and a chance to find eternal life. And I know it will encourage and enlighten a believer. So read it already.
I received this book as a free ARC through NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers, Tyndale Momentum. No favorable review was required. It was my pleasure to provide my honest opinions.

The true story of a French atheist who studied morality, science and nature and eventually came to the belief that there had to be a creator and therefore God existed. As a Christian and a scientist I so loved the rational thinking and conclusions drawn. This would be a good read for anyone questioning the role of faith in this life.

An insightful read on the journey of a French atheist from a life of total disregard for any Higher Being, to one transformed by the grace of the only living God. Written in a biographical form, Confessions of a French Atheist: How God Hijacked My Quest to Disprove the Christian Faith, not only intrigues the reader with its stories and humour, but also places a great onus on the reader to reason out the facts for the existence of God, and to see why the claims that no God exists are of themselves, invalid.

Reading Confessions of a French Atheist, reminded me of a similar book I read last year, The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. In both books, the authors started off as adamant atheists, although from different backgrounds. Guillaume Bignon grew up in a Catholic family but abandoned his faith in his teen years after concluding that there was no God. The road to his discovery that the opposite was true was unique in every way. 

Mr Bignon's explanation of how he came to the faith reminds me firstly of the power of reason, and secondly of the power of intercessory prayer. So often, we as Christians are told that a disregard for reason is a sign of great faith, but Confessions of a French Atheist brings to death that idea. It is implied in the book that reasoning can help to bring about faith, and throughout the book, Guillaume Bignon wrestles with different arguments against the existence of God and disproves them wittingly.

This book was a great and encouraging read. I will recommend it for those contemplating their faith or seeking to know the truth—whether or not there is a God.

I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publishers of Confessions of a French Atheist: How God Hijacked My Quest to Disprove the Christian Faith in exchange for an honest review. All things stated in this review are my own opinions.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was part menoir, part testimony, part apologetics. I like that there was a lot of specific scientific explinations for the existence of God. My faith is steong but I have kids approaching or already in their teen years, one of which who is beginning to question if God could exist, and I think a book like this could really help answer a lot of their questions.

In Confessions of a French Atheist, Guillaume Bignon tells us the story of his journey to God from atheism while equipping us with an amazing defence of the Christian faith.

Most apologetic books are written in an informational format. the author would present his arguments in a straightforward manner—chapter by chapter—however, Confessions of a French Atheist is not this way.
One major reason I enjoyed this book so much is the combination of essential apologetics and engaging storytelling that the author used to convey his message.

I also appreciated the fact that Guillaume’s arguments were convincing and easy to follow and understand. If you’re looking for a great recourse for apologetics and an absolute delight to read then check out this book! I know already that it will be extremely beneficial in defending the faith.

*I received this book from NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review*

Ever since Lee Strobel’s now-classic The Case for Christ, the atheist-turned-Christian apologetics-themed memoir has popped up from time to time to varying levels of success. Confessions of a French Atheist by Guillaume Bignon is the latest, with the primary hook being Bignon’s French background and Christian by philosophers and theologians outside the American milieu. As such, Bignon offers a sometimes compelling, sometimes dry spiritual memoir that does sufficiently the job it sets out to do.

It's difficult to critique memoir because you are talking about the content of someone’s life, usually a subsection of their life which holds great meaning or value to them. Far be it from me to criticize anyone’s story; however, it is also true that not all stories need be told via a published memoir. The question that must be answer is “Is this story valuable to enough strangers to be published.” It’s not whether the story has value. It does. It’s whether that story’s value can be transposed into a larger context.

This is where Confessions of a French Atheist fell rather flat for me. Bignon’s narrative comes across as stilted and detached from the story he is telling. Maybe it is because Bignon’s first language is not English, maybe it is because his style and tone are more suited to academia, but he often comes across as a third-person narrator to his own story. I always felt like there was an intellectual distance between me and the story.

This feeling was exacerbated by the way in which Bignon interwove the thread of apologetics. The book’s strength was its use of thinkers and writers less-quoted in American evangelical apologetics; however, the way in which Bignon inserted his didactic material further drew me away from the personalness of the story. I was reading half a stilted memoir and half a decent book on apologetics.

It's not that Confessions of French Atheist is bad, but simply that it doesn’t break any new ground or offer a compelling reason to retread the old ground. As a story of conversion, it deserves to be celebrated. As a memoir, it’s only mildly interesting. As apologetics, it doesn’t say much new or appeal to a wide enough audience. I think Bignon would have done better (though perhaps sold fewer books) had he gone all out with the intellectual memoir and not attempted to write it for the popular level. As is, the bar set by guys like Lee Strobel (who wrote the foreword to the book) and J. Warner Wallace just isn’t matched here by Guillaume Bignon and Confessions of a French Atheist.

Highly successful, Guillaume Bignon said, “What’s the point?” He knew how to succeed as an athlete, musician, and software engineer. He even had a knack for attracting female companions. Yet he still found no meaning in it all. “Confessions of a French Atheist,” Tyndale House, June 7, 2022, describes Bignon’s journey from atheist to a guardian of the Christian faith.

The author plotted his life journey in a personable and humorous manner. It’s rare that a philosophical title engages you through narrative, keeping you coming back for more. I expect many will enjoy this. At the conclusion of his book, Bignon said, “I hope I’ve amused you with my story, excited your curiosity by my apologetics, and communicated a ‘discovery which I believe useful’ by my proclamation of the gospel.” He accomplished these objectives. Storytelling is its strength.

Guillaume’s lifestyle typified the secular ethics characteristic of western society. Many readers will see themselves reflected in his story. The lion's share of apologetic work comes at the end where the author answered questions, though he also gave insights throughout his narrative. There was a point midway through the book when I wished he had referenced specific critics less, naming them at the end instead. Most readers will not know nor care about them.

Bignon spoke to the concerns of non-Christians. He compared Christian faith and the secular worldview. How does one prove something? He also addressed basic beliefs, perhaps influenced by Alvin Plantinga. The author’s treatment of these types of topics was accessible and without the airs of a professor. 

“Confessions of a French Atheist” will help reach non-Christians. I am excited to purchase this book for friends. If you are wondering about getting it, then do.

I enjoyed this book because of it's writing style, unique topic, and the fact that it really provided a thought-provoking experience. Recommended for readers who want to read slowly so as to take time to process.

I love Christian apologetics. I wish I was better at it, but when I need help, I turn to Lee Strobel's A Case for Christ or Tim LaHaye's Jesus: Why the World is Still Fascinated with Him. I now have a third reference, Guillaume Bignon's Confessions of a French Atheist.

Mr. Bignon weaves his story into his apologetics so seamlessly, you aren't even aware it is apologetics until you're two-thirds through the book. He wasn't an athiest on a whim or because he didn't like God, Guillaume obviously spent a good deal of time developing his anti-diety beliefs. I love his honesty in sharing his life and the lengths he went to ensure he didn't give up or adhere to any beliefs to please others or fill his own agenda. I believe this is a must read for those who want a balanced view of atheism and Christianity as well as someone who thinks they might want to be an apologist.