NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER“Metaxas is a scrupulous chronicler and has an eye for a good story. . . . full, instructive, and pacey.” —The Washington PostFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas comes a brilliant and inspiring biography of the most influential man in modern history, Martin Luther, in time for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation On All Hallow’s Eve in 1517, a … Reformation
On All Hallow’s Eve in 1517, a young monk named Martin Luther posted a document he hoped would spark an academic debate, but that instead ignited a conflagration that would forever destroy the world he knew. Five hundred years after Luther’s now famous Ninety-five Theses appeared, Eric Metaxas, acclaimed biographer of the bestselling Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery, paints a startling portrait of the wild figure whose adamantine faith cracked the edifice of Western Christendom and dragged medieval Europe into the future. Written in riveting prose and impeccably researched, Martin Luther tells the searing tale of a humble man who, by bringing ugly truths to the highest seats of power, caused the explosion whose sound is still ringing in our ears. Luther’s monumental faith and courage gave birth to the ideals of liberty, equality, and individualism that today lie at the heart of all modern life.
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I was one chapter away from finishing this book when I left it at my doctor’s office and no one could find it for me. I was heartbroken. It was my dad’s and had both of our notes in it. I went to Rome during the reading of it and I saw Rome in a completely different light. Metaxas is a powerful autobiographer. I have been consuming his work.
No one writes biography with greater beauty, integrity and feeling than Eric Metaxas. As with Wilberforce and Bonhoeffer, his Luther will inspire and humble you.
Eric Metaxas has written several terrific biographies, including on Bonhoffer and Wilberforce. I’ve learned so much from reading these highly readable accounts that I never knew before. Speaking for myself, my grasp on some aspects of history has often been a little sketchy. These books have really filled in gaps in my knowledge. I can’t tell you the number of times I called out to my wife when reading about Luther and saying, “Here, I need to read this to you.” It’s that good that you’ll want to share.
Not only did I learn a great deal about Martin Luther, but Metaxas explains the implications and ramifications of Luther’s movement, including those who used it to further their own narrative. Also, the personal and family information made Luther more real and more human.
I’ve read several biographies on Luther, this by far was the best. Accurate, well written.It deals honestly with some of Luther’s failures or inconsistencies, there hit head on. It will be a read that touch, inspire and inform but not deify. You’ll find yourself recommending this book to students and friends.
I appreciated the depths of research and references to archival sources so that more of Luther’s story is told by Luther than a modern-day historian exalting or excoriating an historical figure. I was mesmerized by the details of Luther’s life found in his numerous writings and letters. I also appreciated the author’s understanding of sociology and prefaces of how people might have reacted though it is not known historically factually. I really appreciated the discussions of truth, how Martin held true to the Biblical text in shaping his beliefs as well as what individuals owed to their governing groups and what the rulers owed to the people. I think I just really appreciated the research and seeing and hearing Luther’s words himself.
Once in every great while, we come across a book that outshines all others in its genre. Once in every great while, we come across an author who also does that.
I’m not even certain where to begin with this one, or with this author. My first impression when I began reading Martin Luther was, “Eric Metaxas has a much larger vocabulary than I do.” Yet every word is handpicked and fits precisely, as a carefully honed jewel. I kept a dictionary around frequently while I read this one. Often, I thought, “Oh! So that’s how you use that word!”
Metaxas writes fluidly, breathlessly, compelling my fingers to nearly trip over the pages as I turned them. He jam-packs every crevice of each sentence and paragraph with meaning. He carries a torch before us as he trailblazes the thick forests of (seemingly) dusty historical facts. We come out on the other side with a panoramic view of not only what Martin Luther did, but what it meant… and what it still means today for us.
Highly, highly recommended.
Must read
A very readable biography of a complicated man.
This is the story of a Christian underdog who takes on the “not so altruistic pope” and the holy Catholic empire and is successful. Luther was brave and purpose driven. This book is truly inspirational.
I learned a lot in this. Glad I read it to the end.
Really well researched, presented in very readable form.
Readable biography of great men that informs and inspires with deep detail that remains interesting, even gripping is difficult but Metaxas does it well. If you love Luther you will want to read this.
The core story of Martin Luther’s life and accomplishments was excellent. However there was way too much superfluous information about peripheral people and events. I suppose this satisfied historians looking for complete accuracy but for this non-historian it got in the way of the story.
This taught me a lot about Luther, Germany and the transition from middle ages to modern
Another well-written biography from the pen of Eric Metaxas, “Martin Luther” brings to life one of the few men whose lives have truly changed the trajectory of world history – in this case, for the better.
Very informative, inspirational and a great look at what a great and brave man Martin Luther was.
Great book to get to know the real Martin Luther.
Well written, captivating.
As a history buff — I’ve read a number of books/articles about Martin Luther. The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World is an excellently researched and presented narrative. It Metaxas deftly separates speculation, conjecture and out-right false misinformation regarding Luther.. In so doing he brings Luther, the Man, to life as a real person with the same foibles as I. Certainly, Luther’s invitation for scholarly discussion which he tacked to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenburg and more specifically his defense a few years later had such enormous ramifications that, without which, it is doubtful that the United States of America would ever have come into existence.