“Bonhoeffer” by Eric Metaxas – God’s Spy

While most of us know the gist of what happened during the Second World War, there are plenty of little stories that get far less recognition than they deserve, and many more being lost in time forever. The story of Bonhoeffer, fortunately, is still available to us, and in the book titled by the same name, Eric Metaxas covers his life.

Just who was Bonhoeffer exactly? For starters, he was a priest living in America. Just a regular person like any other. One day, however, he decides to leave America behind him in favor of going to... Germany. 

Naturally, he wasn’t going there on a religious mission or for his own entertainment. Being a man of God, Bonhoeffer recognized evil and decided to fight back against it.

And so began his involvement in the Second World War; he not only participated in the famous operation Valkyrie in an attempt to assassinate Hitler, but he was also involved in the equally-famous Operation 7, a large-scale effort to bring Jewish victims to the neutral territory of Switzerland. Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas chronicles the life and exploits of this man.

What I liked about the book is that it read more like a novel than an actual biography. While a lot of facts are presented and discussed, the author never dumbs the book down to a mere list of dates and events. It actually feels as if you are living the life, and not just reading about it. 

Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas (Book cover)
In addition to that, the author doesn’t simply tell what Bonhoeffer did and when. No, he goes far beyond that and looks at the person himself, how he was able to reconcile his faith with the actions we was undertaking. He takes a look at both the theologian inside of him as well as the spy. 

All in all, I have to say that it’s quite a unique experience reading about a real man of faith who did more than just pray in a time where others needed his help. Everything is so beautifully-worded that I guarantee you won’t be able to have anything but a good opinion of Bonhoeffer upon finishing the book, unless of course you are a Hitler sympathizer, in which case I’m sure your library has been set for quite some time now. 

All in all, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about the war through those actually involved in it on a ground level, and still be entertained.


Eric Metaxas (Author)

Eric Metaxas


Personal site

Eric Metaxas is an American speaker, Television host and writer who is most well-known, in the literary world at the very least, for the numerous biographies he dished out, including Amazing Grace about William Wilberforce and Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy about Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

In 2011 he added to his list of awards the Becket Fund's Canterbury Medal, and in 2013 the Human Life Review's Defender of Life Award.



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