book data
348 ratings,
4.14
average rating, 78 reviews
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published
October 21st 2003
(first published 2001)
by Galilee Trade
binding
Paperback, 352 pages
isbn
0385502753
(isbn13: 9780385502757)
description
Like many Christians, Philip Yancey has often felt kicked around, abused, and damaged by the institutional church. And like many Christians, he has f...more
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avg 4.14
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in August, 2007
love love love this book. yes it falls in the christian category, but it's simply about people who lived their lives in a way that's bound to inspire you. the 13 mini-biographies give you a good sense of these people and yancey helps you to learn more about them through suggested readings at the end of each chapter. i've read 3 other books already just based on what i learned from this book.
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The book title says it all - particularly the emphasis on unlikely mentors. Philip Yancey witnessed, like many people, the injustices, such as slavery and racism, inflicted by the church in the name of God. Instead of walking away from the church, he journeys back in time and examines the live of 13 remarkable men who are not preached about as a fine Christian examples. However, on sorting through these unlikely men's lives he discovered God's handiwork. Mahatma Ghandi, India's 'Great Soul', l...more
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Read in January, 2006
This is the first book I read by Philip Yancey. His style is easy and he knows his audience includes both Christians and those who are searching. I've enjoyed everything I've read by him because of this.
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Read in April, 2009
An encouraging book to read, and one that challenges some of my knee-jerk conservative reactions. I was surprised to find myself drawn to MLK Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. I am now curious to read something by Leo Tolstoy or John Donne. Finding this poem by GK Chesterton was worth the reading of the entire book:
Here dies another day
During which I have had eyes, ears, hands
And the great world round me;
And with tomorrow begins another
Why am I allowed two?
This b...more
Here dies another day
During which I have had eyes, ears, hands
And the great world round me;
And with tomorrow begins another
Why am I allowed two?
This b...more
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Read in October, 2008
A book about the thinkers, writers, dreamers, doers & believers that Yancey has either known or read. People who have influenced his faith in some significant way. And helped him rediscover God after rejecting his southern fundamentalist, racist "Christian" upbringing.
This book provided a great introduction to some really amazing folks both historical and contemporary, whose works I was not familiar with. Like G.K. Chesterton, Dr. Paul Brand and Annie Dillard. And others I ...more
This book provided a great introduction to some really amazing folks both historical and contemporary, whose works I was not familiar with. Like G.K. Chesterton, Dr. Paul Brand and Annie Dillard. And others I ...more
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Read in June, 2006
this review first appeared on [http://intraspace.blogspot.com]
this is not my first review of a philip yancey book, and i have to say all his books are pretty solid. but the two i have reviewed so far - the jesus i never knew and this one - would have to be my favourites.
i would seriously recommend this book to anyone who was jaded with christianity or anyone who thought they knew what christianity was about but hasn't gone in for it.
the book is subtitled "...more
this is not my first review of a philip yancey book, and i have to say all his books are pretty solid. but the two i have reviewed so far - the jesus i never knew and this one - would have to be my favourites.
i would seriously recommend this book to anyone who was jaded with christianity or anyone who thought they knew what christianity was about but hasn't gone in for it.
the book is subtitled "...more
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07/04/09
mirela Darau
is currently reading it
I like yancey very much!! he's one of my favourite authors, and, toghether with wurmbrand, my favourite author on "spiritual matters":) I found the title of this book intriguing and captivating at the same time, but when i opened it and saw it is about his mentors, i was thrilled. As far as it concerns me, nothing can influence and teach me more than a good living (or once living:P) example. So i'm excited to read it!
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Read in January, 2009
The author tells about people influential to his spiritual thinking. I appreciated reading about him, and I appreciated reading about some of his influential people (Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy). But, generally I didn't think enough of what he was saying to just skim the book, barely. Instead, now I want to read biographies about the four people mentioned above.
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Read in October, 2002
Very good perspectives and understanding from 13 people who encountered difference experiences with Christianity. There were questions of faith and doubt and obstacles that each character had to deal with. Yancey writes this book with great insight, encouraging me to get to know these 13 individuals even more. In addition, my faith was challenged even more.
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Read in January, 2009
Non-fiction - Philip Yancey reviews the unlikely mentors who helped his faith grow (and "survive the church"). I loved reading his mentors biographies and gaining insight into their lives - and will be reading more of some of their writings! I have trouble getting through Dostoevsky but reading the chapter on him has me determined to try again.
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Read in July, 2007
Yancy describes thirteen people (living and dead) who greatly impacted his life and faith. There is one chapter per person, and each chapter mixes together a bit of the subjects biography and life views and a bit of Yancy's biography and life views. Each chapter ends with a brief guide to reading more about that person. He calls these mentors "unlikely" because he has experienced backlash from conservative Christians when writing about these mentors, but I personally didn't find an...more
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Read in February, 2009
It turned out to be better than I anticipated at the beginning. It certainly added a lot to my "to read" list. The only thing that really bugged me was that several times as he was sharing what he learned from a couple of the authors, he revealed too much about novels of theirs I wanted to read. I did my best to skim and skip those sections, but I thought he could have accomplished the same thing without giving away major plot points. Grrr.
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Read in June, 2007
Its easy to think that the way we think and do things--the "right way"--is the way God works. Yancey compiles together accounts of the lives of thirteen people he has been impacted by--in some cases very different people--with the theme of finding how God was revealed through them. He makes it undenialbly clear that God uses broken people. He also catches just how beautiful it is that God uses broken people. The book, on that account, is thirteen portraits of grace.
Yancey, ...more
Yancey, ...more
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Read in April, 2009
Did this book with our Bible Study - it goes through Yancey's encounters with incredible people and how they influenced his life - people like Paul Brand, Annie Dillard, John Donne, Ghandi, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Martin Luther King Junior...
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Read in June, 2004
Doug read this book first and loved it. It peaked my interest when he started asking me questions about a book I was reading at the time – Lev and Sonja, the Tolstoy diaries. He was reading the chapter on Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. The book is about 13 writers who had a major impact on Yancey and his writing. After reading this book, I now have a new list of books I want to read that I had never heard of before.
Yancey’s first chapter is about recovering from church abuse. He defines him...more
Yancey’s first chapter is about recovering from church abuse. He defines him...more
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Read in June, 2009
Great book. Thought provoking. Interesting mini bios of several people who searched for meaning and truth, who were often troubled by man's inability to live up to ideals. Very easy read, read it in one day.
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This book dedicates one chapter to each of the spiritual role models for which the author holds in high esteem. I read this book with a couple's group and, it was insightful and fun to discuss.
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Read in January, 2009
I loved the book. Yancey reflects over how certain authors works helped him refine his religious/spiritual thinking. I found several authors I wanted to read more of based on this book.
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04/17/09
Gatadelafuente (Danielle)
marked it as to-read
This book seems like it would be very worthwhile to read for a Christian who has always felt like they didn't fit in at a church. A bad church can be very damaging to a Christian's walk.
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