This book provides a detailed look at the life of John Wesley. I neither praises him too much nor shies away from mentioning his human faults. It includes numerous citations from Wesley's journal and letters which add to the portrait of the man.

"Crossing the Divide" is a biography of John Wesley (including the beginnings of the Methodist movement). It's based on and included many quotes from his journals, letters, sermons, and various writings. The author provided a balanced view of John Wesley, showing both his strengths and weaknesses while remaining respectful of all he accomplished. The writing flowed well and was easy to read. The author picked interesting things to focus on but didn't get too in-depth on any one topic. I'd highly recommend this book to teens and adults.

The book started with John's childhood, education, relationship with his brother Charles, and their unsuccessful mission to America. When they returned to England, they struggled with "by faith alone" and found personal transformation. John's preaching on this and other topics put him in conflict with the Established church, so he dealt with a variety of theological controversies. His new viewpoint also meant that he pursued those who would normally not set foot in a church.

A friend convinced him to do open field preaching, and John created groups to teach the converts resulting from his preaching. We learn about how these groups worked, problems John faced in keeping the organization going and in his personal life, and how he organized his movement to last beyond his death. We also learn about his teachings on and efforts toward helping the poor and the sick and against social evils like slavery.