Seven Men, by Eric Metaxas - Book Review
I just finished a great book over the July 4th weekend: Seven Men by Eric Metaxas. I have heard great things about this book and I am really glad I picked this one up and finally read it!
Seven men is not the story of how to be a great man. It is not seven steps to becoming a better husband, father, or leader. Rather, it is the story of seven great men whose lives inspire us to greatness. Not greatness in the worldly sense (I.e. making a lot of money or finding success in the workplace), but greatness in the sense of doing great things for God. These Seven Men give us a true picture of greatness.
For me, and for many guys, this is an area of huge insecurity. We don’t have stellar models of godly men in our lives, and if we do, we all think we pale in comparison to them.
Confession: I am not a biography guy. I am a guy who wishes he was a biography guy. Reading Seven Men shows me what I am often missing by not reading biographies of great men and women. We lack great models of true manhood, and often our models of fatherhood and husbandhood come from TV - guys like Phil Dunphy and Homer Simpson. Men who are typically aloof, idiotic, and passive.
Metaxas has a writing style that is warm, comforting and personable. He has an ability to bring these Seven Men to life! These men rise above the rest because of their courage, character, and fearlessness. Below is the list of the Seven Men, with one of my key takeaways from each man.
George Washington: Our First President truly believed that God had a purpose for his life. He was bold, courageous, and Americans are grateful for his leadership and sacrifice. Any American knows that we are direct beneficiaries of Washington’s leadership.
William Wilberforce: How have I not heard more about Wilberforce? He had the opportunity to rise to great power and significance in England, and forsake it all in order to fight for freedom for African Slaves. I am looking forward to reading Metaxas' biography on him, Amazing Grace.
Eric Liddell: His story of forsaking Olympic gold because of his commitment to the Lord is well-known as told in Chariots of Fire. However, the second half of his story is probably even greater and more significant. I won’t spoil it, but Metaxas shares about Liddell’s extraordinary second half of his life.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Perhaps no one in the book makes me feel less great than Bonhoeffer! Metaxes tells the story of this bold man who courageously sacrificed personal comfort for the sake of fighting evil.
Jackie Robinson: Jackie broke the color barrier in baseball in 1947. While he was a great baseball talent, what made Jackie great was the fact that he turned the other cheek and rose above the hatred and discrimination furled at him on a daily basis. Baseball didn't need another great talent, but rather one who would boldly go where no one had previously ventured. This was my favorite chapter.
Pope John Paul II (JP2, not to be confused with my personal favorite “JP”): Though he was one of the most powerful and influential men in the world, JP2 consistently placed his hands on and cared for the ‘least of these.’ He was a security nightmare as he ventured into the crowds of people, connecting with the people he led.
Charles W Colson: Chuck Colson is known for his fortitude and ruthlessness which got him into trouble/prison the first half of his life. He then was able to use these same traits for greatness as he fully trusted God with his life and passions, choosing to not compromise in the midst of adversity.
Each of the Seven Men demonstrated different keys to greatness. More than anything, I am inspired to do great things for the Lord and to steward my days for God’s glory.
I don’t expect to leave behind a legacy of greatness like these Seven Men. But, the challenge is clear: How does God want me to use my vapor of a life here on earth, for His glory and greatness? The principles from Seven Men apply to all men and women, and everyone can learn and walk away inspired as you learn from these great men.
If you’re looking for a great summer read, check out Seven Men by Eric Metaxas. I am anxiously awaiting Seven Women, or his second volume of the next Seven Men!
I also encourage you to listen to Todd Wagner's interview with Eric Metaxas from The Porch - fantastic! You can find the audio and video of this message here.
