Books I Recommend: Biographies

I love to read biographies. I enjoy other genres too, but biographies are my favorite. Where other books describe about strengths and weaknesses, biographies display those strengths and weaknesses. Here is a selection of biographies I recommend.

Christians You Should Know

Here is a selection of important Christians you should get to know.

• Bunyan, John
• Fearless Pilgrim: The Life and Times of John Bunyan by Faith Cook. A fast-paced and interesting account of Bunyan’s life.
• Calvin, John
• Calvin by Bruce Gordon. Gordon does an especially good job of setting Calvin within his historical context, showing how the theologian was a product of his time, his nation, his church.
• Chambers, Oswald
• Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God by David McCasland. Introduces a new generation to the author of My Utmost For His Highest.
• Edwards, Jonathan
• Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George Marsden. This is a powerful biography of a very important theologian.
• Grey, Jane
• Lady Jane Grey by Faith Cook. Here is the short, tragic life of Lady Jane Grey.
• Lewis, C.S.
• C.S. Lewis – A Life by Alister McGrath. McGrath portrays Lewis as an eccentric genius and a reluctant prophet.
• MacArthur, John
• Servant of the Word & Flock by Iain Murray. Murray did not set out to write a full-length biography. But since he did, it is well worth reading.
• Moody, D.L.
• D.L. Moody: A Life by Kevin Belmonte. A solid biography of a man who changed the world.
• Newton, John
• John Newton by Jonathan Aitken. There is much more to Newton than “Amazing Grace.”
• Packer, J.I.
• J.I Packer: An Evangelical Life by Leland Ryken. This is an enjoyable account of Packer’s life, though it may leave you wanting more.
• Shaeffer, Francis
• Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life by Colin Duriez. This will probably not be the definitive account of Schaeffer’s life, but it is the best so far.
• Spurgeon, Charles
• Spurgeon by Arnold Dallimore. This biography is too short, but serves as a great introduction to Charles Spurgeon.
• Tozer, A.W.
• A.W. Tozer: A Passion for God by Lyle Dorsett. This is an honest, and at times painful, account of Tozer’s life.
• Tyndale, William
• William Tyndale: A Biography by David Daniell. An account of the man who gave us the Bible in English.
• Whitefield, George
• George Whitefield by Arnold Dallimore. This biography of Whitefield is a massive two-volume set that tells the life of one of God’s more unusual servants. This may be one of the most impactful biographies you’ll ever read.
• Wilberforce, William
• Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas. Traces the life of the British politician who dedicated his life to revoking slavery.

Missionaries

There are many missionaries you ought to know. Here are a few of them:

• Carmichael, Amy
• Amy Carmichael: Beauty for Ashes by Iain Murray. A short but packed little biography of an important figure.
• Judson, Adoniram
• Adoniram Judson by Vance Christie. The very first foreign missionary to be sent from America.
• Liddell, Eric
• Pure Gold by David McCasland. An Olympic hero who left it all behind and died on the mission field.
• Martyn, Henry
• For the Love of India: The Story of Henry Martyn by Jim Cromarty. Martyn’s short career as a missionary was marked by dedication, honesty, transparency and sacrifice.
• Stam, John & Betty
• John & Betty Stam by Vance Christie. Christian martyrs who sparked a great resurgence of missionary fervor.
• Taylor, Hudson
• Hudson Taylor: Gospel Pioneer to China by Vance Christie. A short but powerful account of the life of a man who was truly great in the Kingdom of God.

Politicians

Here are just a few of my favorite political biographies.

• Adams, John
• John Adams by David McCullough. McCullough may be the best biographer alive today.
• Churchill, Winston
• The Last Lion (3-volume set) by William Manchester. It takes three volumes to do justice to a man with the legacy of Winston Churchill.
• Lincoln, Abraham
• A. Lincoln: A Biography by Ronald C. White Jr. This is a brilliant account of Lincoln’s life.
• Truman, Harry
• Truman by David McCullough – This is easily one of the best biographies ever written.

(For more recommendations, you may wish to see my reading project: Biographies of the U.S. Presidents.)

Other

Here are a few other figures whose biographies may interest you.

• Beecher, Henry Ward
• The Most Famous Man in America by Debby Applegate. Ward was a fake, philanderer and apostate, but remained one of America’s most celebrated preachers in his day.
• Jackson, Stonewall
• Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend by James Robertson Jr. Jackson remains a fascinating figure and this is an incredible account of his life.
• Jobs, Steve
• Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. Jobs was a fascinating figure; Isaacson’s account of his life reveals him in all his strengths and weaknesses.
• Schulz, Charles
• A Charlie Brown Religion by Stephen J. Lind. Lind tells the story of the life of the Peanuts creator by focusing on his faith.