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Bonhoeffer

Written by: Eric Metaxas, Timothy Keller
Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner, Eric Metaxas
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Publisher's Summary

Who better to face the greatest evil of the 20th century than a humble man of faith?

As Adolf Hitler and the Nazis seduced a nation, bullied a continent, and attempted to exterminate the Jews of Europe, a small number of dissidents and saboteurs worked to dismantle the Third Reich from the inside. One of these was Dietrich Bonhoeffer - a pastor and author, known as much for such spiritual classics as The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together as for his 1945 execution in a concentration camp for his part in the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

In the first major biography of Bonhoeffer in 40 years, New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas takes both strands of Bonhoeffer's life - the theologian and the spy - to tell a searing story of incredible moral courage in the face of monstrous evil. In a deeply moving narrative, Metaxas uses previously unavailable documents - including personal letters, detailed journal entries, and firsthand personal accounts - to reveal dimensions of Bonhoeffer's life and theology never before seen.

In Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, Metaxas presents the fullest accounting of Bonhoeffer's heart-wrenching 1939 decision to leave the safe haven of America for Hitler's Germany, and using extended excerpts from love letters and coded messages written to and from Bonhoeffer's Cell 92, Metaxas tells for the first time the full story of Bonhoeffer's passionate and tragic romance.

Listeners will discover fresh insights and revelations about his life-changing months at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem and about his radical position on why Christians are obliged to stand up for the Jews. Metaxas also sheds new light on Bonhoeffer's reaction to Kristallnacht and his involvement in the famous Valkyrie plot and in "Operation 7", the effort to smuggle Jews into neutral Switzerland.

Bonhoeffer gives witness to one man's extraordinary faith and to the tortured fate of the nation he sought to deliver from the curse of Nazism. It brings the listener face to face with a man determined to do the will of God radically, courageously, and joyfully - even to the point of death. Bonhoeffer is the story of a life framed by a passion for truth and a commitment to justice on behalf of those who face implacable evil.

"Insightful and illuminating, this tome makes a powerful contribution to biography, history and theology." (Publishers Weekly)

"[A] massive and masterful new biography." (Christianity Today)

"Metaxas tells Bonhoeffer's story with passion and theological sophistication." (Wall Street Journal)

"Metaxas magnificently captures the life of theologian and anti-Nazi activist Dietrich Bonhoeffer.... A definitive Bonhoeffer biography for the 21st Century." (Kirkus)

©2011 Eric Metaxas, Timothy Keller (P)2020 Thomas Nelson

What listeners say about Bonhoeffer

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Exceptional, through and through.

So far I have not come across such a great book combined with such an amazing narrator. The performance was engaged and enticing to keep listening to. The book itself, its quality and honesty and tenacity for information, lives up to the memory of its subject. This last statement alone is amongst the highest praise I can offer in words and if you are unaware of Bonhoeffer such that my words do not communicate effectively, this is the best 22+ hours of listening you will do yourself a favour to access.

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Very moving presentation. Highly recommend.

Amazing story. Had heard of Bonhoeffer and his overall story but didn't have a good understanding of how the pieces fit together. This book truly presented his life in a way that moved and affected me greatly while also filling in all the pieces. I highly recommend this book. The narration was done superbly as well. Thank you Eric for bringing the life of Dietrich to us.

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3 people found this helpful

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Amazing life of Bonhoeffer

Wow! What an amazing real life history lesson! Thank you so much for writing this amazing book of Bonhoeffer’s life! I have been challenged to walk closer to God and hear his voice above all others and to walk uprightly!!! May God strengthen all Christians to examine their own lives and walk with God without wavering!!

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Overwhelming & Inspiring

Running True to Truth knowing where true glory is.

This should be required reading material in secular schools.

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2 people found this helpful

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Excellent Biography

Relevant and sobering biography written for “such a time as this.” A book that needs to be read.

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Bonhoeffer

This book sounds like what is happening in Canada and US right now. Everyone should listen and take heed.

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  • 2021-01-07

sooo good so worth it

learn so much regarding the nazi and the church during this time I highly recommend it I will be listening again to this book

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Deeply Inspired

I am profoundly moved by this telling of a life lived in great faith and service.

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Long but captivating

It was Worth it to get through the set up in the first couple chapters. I cried at the end.

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Excellent!

Very glad I finally decided to listen. It changed my views on quite a few things about the world wars. Very good as a narrative and as a telling of history as well.

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