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George Washington Carver

(Christian Encounters Series)

John Perry

4.19 · Rating details · 68 ratings · 20 reviews

Christian Encounters, a series of biographies from Thomas Nelson Publishers, highlights important lives from all ages and areas of the Church. Some are familiar faces. Others are unexpected guests. But all, through their relationships, struggles, prayers, and desires, uniquely illuminate our shared experience. A generation of 20th-century Americans knew him as a gentle, st ...more

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ebook, 176 pages

Published August 1st 2011 by Thomas Nelson

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Feb 11, 2021 Gary rated it liked it

Shelves: life-graphic

The man was certainly unique and inspirational, and also very winsome as an individual. But as much of the book was about his various doings at the agricultural college I was not always very engaged.

Of more interest to me (especially as a non-American) was how this man overcame racial prejudices, how he earned respect in a day when respect was not easily given to a black man, and in how ugly the casual racial prejudices of that time actually were.

Liked it.

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Aug 18, 2018 Mary rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ao-heo, biography-autobiography

Dr. Carver has been a hero of mine since my childhood. I bought this book at the George Washington Carver National Memorial in Missouri this summer. I was teary-eyed at the memorial and teary-eyed while reading certain parts of this book.

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Jan 27, 2013 Eric Wright rated it really liked it

Shelves: biography, history, own

I'd give this book a 5 of 5 for the story of an exceptionally amazing man, but a 3 of 5 for the writing which shows some repitition.

George Washington Carver was born around 1860 in Missouri of a slave family. His mother, Mary, was carried off by bushwackers and never heard from again. From this unlikely background George grew to become a man renowned far and wide for his understanding of crops and husbandry. He discovered 145 uses for peanuts and introduced manifold innovations that were adopte ...more

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Feb 02, 2014 MC rated it it was amazing

Race relations in America have always been hard and difficult. Great strides have been made during the past half century, despite the actions of various race hustlers like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and the NAACP leadership. To be sure, things are not perfect. Can they improve still? Perhaps. Can such areas as racial relations reach perfect harmony? Probably not, in our fallen, sinful world. But we *are* in a far better position, one that is the envy of human history, when it comes to the abili ...more

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Jan 27, 2021 Justin Padgett rated it it was amazing

A great review of a great American, Alabamian, and Christian.

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Oct 03, 2020 Beaner rated it really liked it

Not the most exciting read but what an amazing man!

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Feb 03, 2017 Nancy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Sweet read

I loved this book. It was a really what I call an easy read and And I am looking forward to reading other books by this author.

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Nov 12, 2018 Jordan rated it it was amazing

Great biography on a man I look up to very much and who used his God given abilities to the fullest.

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Jan 13, 2012 Nikole Hahn rated it really liked it

“Of all his accomplishments, it may be that his greatest gift to black people and to the world was the gift of hope. He proved that a black man—or any man—could start with nothing and achieve great things.” – George Washington Carver; John Perry; Thomas-Nelson.

The first time George Washington Carver caught my attention was when I read Andy Andrew’s coffee table book, “The Butterfly Effect.” That kindled my curiosity. That, and a new appreciation for Martin Luther King Jr. John Perry writes the t “Of all his accomplishments, it may be that his greatest gift to black people and to the world was the gift of hope. He proved that a black man—or any man—could start with nothing and achieve great things.” – George Washington Carver; John Perry; Thomas-Nelson.

The first time George Washington Carver caught my attention was when I read Andy Andrew’s coffee table book, “The Butterfly Effect.” That kindled my curiosity. That, and a new appreciation for Martin Luther King Jr. John Perry writes the total history of George Washington Carver in one of his series of books called, Christian Encounters.

George Washington Carver was a kind soul, well-liked by both black and white people, and a survivor. His roots are famous. He was the son of a slave woman, owned by Moses Carver. Moses was against owning a slave, but saw slavery as an “economic necessity.” George Washington Carver was half-white. One night in a raid by robbers, George and his mom were kidnapped. His mom was never seen again, but Moses Carver went after them and managed to save George from death by trading George’s life for a racing horse. George’s mother was never returned or found.

Throughout George’s remarkable life as the adopted son of the Carvers, he managed to defy odds. George was a frail boy, later man who loved agriculture, experiments, and had an unusual personality and mind. Moses Carver and his wife, “didn’t go to church, but George was so interested in Christianity that he walked the mile by himself every Sunday morning.” George was an avid learner and his hunger for knowledge couldn’t be satiated. Due to his color, George could not attend a regular school. Susan Carver taught him at home and the rest he learned in Sunday School at church. Later, he would attend a public school. His love for God grew enormously through varying trials and difficulties.

What amazed me was his eccentricities. Even as he excelled through schools and later universities, he relied heavily upon affirmations. He disliked gifts, especially financial gifts, but when someone gave him a medal he cherished that, and if he didn’t get enough attention, he complained a lot. Yet in spite of his complaints and polarized emotions, he was known as a kind soul. Even when people segregated him he chose not to sue. George Washington Carver took the job in the poorest college after being a top-notch University professor in a mostly white college because he wanted to help his people excel.

Carver was also frugal (to say the least). He believed that, “we have become 99 percent money mad. The method of living at home modestly and within our income, laying a little by systematically for the proverbial rainy day which is sure to come, can almost be listed among the lost arts.”

He believed that, “As soon as you begin to read the great and loving God out of all forms of existence he has created, both animate and inanimate, then you will be able to converse with him, anywhere, everywhere, and at all times. Oh, what a fullness of joy will come to you. My dear friend, get the significance. God is speaking.”

George Washington Carver is both an inspiring and amazing human being who won the hearts of both races, getting past the prejudice using kindness, humility, and not violence or riots. There are lessons we could all learn in Carver’s life. He knew how to save money. His Bible studies were packed every week. The people who couldn’t get in stood outside the classroom to hear him give the study. Carver never used the Bible, but he had memorized it. This book was wonderfully insightful, though I didn’t sense any passion. The character of Carver came through while the writing itself didn’t excite me as much as I had been when I read James M. McPherson’s “Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief.”

All in all I would recommend this book to any teenager especially or adult eager to learn the personality and life of George Washington Carver and his friend, Booker T. Washington. Talk about your polar opposites! I rated this book four stars.

*Book given by Thomas-Nelson to review. ...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Steve rated it really liked it

This book is one in a series of short biographies in the Christian Encounter series published by Thomas Nelson. Others include familiar subjects such as Tolkein, Bach, D L Moody, Jane Austen and Galileo; others more unfamiliar such as William F. Buckley, Anne Bradstreet and George Washington Carver.

The two previous volumes I've reviewed were ebooks, this was a hard copy. I was pleased to see the small format and the well-designed book covers, including flaps.

Perry is well placed to write this sh This book is one in a series of short biographies in the Christian Encounter series published by Thomas Nelson. Others include familiar subjects such as Tolkein, Bach, D L Moody, Jane Austen and Galileo; others more unfamiliar such as William F. Buckley, Anne Bradstreet and George Washington Carver.

The two previous volumes I've reviewed were ebooks, this was a hard copy. I was pleased to see the small format and the well-designed book covers, including flaps.

Perry is well placed to write this short, accessible biography as he has previously written Unshakable Faith (Multnomah Books, 1999) - a 400 page biography of Carver and his Booker T. Washington. He has also written biographies of General Lee, Mrs Robert E. Lee, Sargent York, Charles Colson and for this Christian Encounter series Sargent York and Winston Churchill.

Carver is best known as the 'peanut man'. (He discovered over 265 uses for peanuts.) But as this biography shows he was so much more. Franklin D Roosevelt described him as “One of world’s most significant scientists”.

Carver was born into slavery as the son of a slave woman, but after his mother was kidnapped was bought up by his owner Moses Carver. Brought up in a Christian environment he soon found faith and often taught Bible at the Sunday school. He also showed great aptitude for geology and botany. Through much hardship and subsistence living he manage to work his way through school - but because of his exceptional ability soon out grew his teachers.

He found a post at Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, where he met Booker T. Washington. Washington encouraged Carver, but there was often friction and tension, despite the great mutual respect, between the two. Despite many threats to resign Carver remained at Tuskegee all his teaching years.

Carver excelled at teaching and research but administration was his shortfall. Perry presents us with Carver wart and all.

What shines through in this biography is Carter's love for and dependence upon his Lord. He credited all his 'admirable characteristics accomplishments to God' (p. 116). He believed that his scientific discoveries 'were a product of divine revelation' (p. 105). He wrote: "I didn't make these discoveries, God worked through me to reveal to his children some of his wonderful providence". Carter never let his colour hold him back - despite living in a place where segregation was legalised. Carver had the ear of government and the president, but was unable to dine in the same room as whites. He dealt with such injustices with kindness, patience and humility. He let his work speak for itself and demonstrated he was 'the white man's equal' (p. 104).

This is an excellent and highly readable introduction to the life and times of Carver. Perry ably places Carver in his cultural context and shows how Carver's faith helped him through and shaped his science:

Binding all the threads of his life into one cord was carver's overarching belief in a Creator who has made everything he studied so intently, and gave him and his students the insights to understand and appreciate them". (p. 75)

It is an inspiring and inspirational story well told by Perry.
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Feb 26, 2012 Kristina Cardoza rated it really liked it · review of another edition

SUMMARY
George Washington Carver by John Perry is a great book for learning about one of the most famous black men of the early 1900s! Scientist, botanist, educator, inventor, and artist, George Washington Carver had a truly fascinating life of successes and fame! From being kidnapped to succeeding in school to earning a doctorate, the "Peanut Man" had a life that will intrigue young and old minds alike. He was born a slave, but died a great scholar. Read about this remarkable doctor's story and SUMMARY
George Washington Carver by John Perry is a great book for learning about one of the most famous black men of the early 1900s! Scientist, botanist, educator, inventor, and artist, George Washington Carver had a truly fascinating life of successes and fame! From being kidnapped to succeeding in school to earning a doctorate, the "Peanut Man" had a life that will intrigue young and old minds alike. He was born a slave, but died a great scholar. Read about this remarkable doctor's story and learn about all of his great accomplishments!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times best selling author John Perry was the fifth generation of his family to be born in Greensburg, Kentucky. He grew up in Houston, where he played basketball, ran track, and starred in musical productions. After serving in the army he attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville and University College, Oxford, England. John graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt with a BA in English and a minor in piano, then tried to figure out how to earn a living with them. [Read more at John Perry's Amazon Author Bio!]

MY OPINION
George W. Carver was a fascinating and remarkable man! The author gave a lot of specific information about Dr. Carver's life that were very interesting, for example, the fact that he kept a boy's voice all his life and startled people by the sound when they heard him talk! However, sometimes the book was kind of slow and boring, but I suppose I feel that way because I'm usually not a fan of historic nonfiction books. It was very educational, and before I read this book, I didn't know much about Booker T. Washington, the principal of Tuskegee University in Carver's time. I learned that at times, Dr. Carver could seem a bit self-centered because he wanted some attention and fame; however, most of the time he was a humble, kind man, and his students at Tuskegee University admired him and appreciated his lectures on science and Christianity. What this teaches me is to just accomplish my goals and be positive and I will be recognized for my achievements. Dr. Carver developed many ways to use the common peanut and sweet potato, and he was requested by many companies. He was also adored by his pupils because he was an interesting teacher to talk with. Thus, he was widely recognized, and lots of people wanted to converse with him. I admire George W. Carver for his great accomplishments, and I hope that I can achieve as much as he did in my lifetime.

**Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this eBook free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.**

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Mar 06, 2012 Sarah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: biographical, christianity, christian-true-life, christian-non-fiction, review-books, homeschool, i-own-this, history, kindle-ebook, thomas-nelson

I really enjoy these biographies in the Christian Encounter Series by Thomas Nelson as they give you a Christian perspective on people from history, that you wouldn’t find out about in secular books. This one on George Washington Carver is actually a fast moving biography – maybe because I like this time period or was just plain fascinated by GWC – regardless this book on his life had me flipping pages fast. I learned about this man of great faith in school, but not much stuck with me and I sure I really enjoy these biographies in the Christian Encounter Series by Thomas Nelson as they give you a Christian perspective on people from history, that you wouldn’t find out about in secular books. This one on George Washington Carver is actually a fast moving biography – maybe because I like this time period or was just plain fascinated by GWC – regardless this book on his life had me flipping pages fast. I learned about this man of great faith in school, but not much stuck with me and I sure didn’t learn about his Faith in God and how he taught the students at Tuskegee how to see God in all things through His Creation.

From being kidnapped to be raised by his former white owners, to earning an honorary doctorate – George Washington Carver wasn’t one looking for hand outs based on his race, age or even prior slave status. His faith in God took precedence in his life even in his experiments, going so far as to tell others that God told him where and how to do certain experimentation. Never recording any data on paper, he balked at the scientific hypothesis and other ‘norms’ of verification – but nevertheless he had some great results.

While his faith was strong and he continued working almost up until his death, he appeared to be very vain (we all have our vices) – some would donate money to him or give him things and he’d give them back. Instead, he preferred attention and accolades – like the two busts that were made of him – and unveiled in front of a large crowd amid applause. He often would threaten Booker T. Washington that he would quit his job if he didn’t get his way.

I was glad to have had the chance to ‘meet’ this man who has largely gone forgotten in our modern culture. He believed that God created the Earth and he bucked the thought of those who wanted to believe the Earth came about purely by coincidence. I’d recommend this book for anyone who wants to get a brief look at Carver’s life including young students – as this book isn’t long at only 12 chapters, it’s just right for a 4th grader and up to be able to read and understand and gain understanding of this man who joined science and faith.

**I was given an e-copy version of this book from Booksneeze (Thomas Nelson) in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given. ...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Brenten Gilbert rated it really liked it

Shelves: faith, non-fiction, history, reviews-booksneeze-booklook, biography

When I was much younger, I had a biography of George Washington Carver and, for some reason, I was curiously drawn to it. I must have read it at least a dozen times, whether because I felt inspired by it, felt a strange kinship with the Carver of the pages, or simply because I had been told it was my great-grandfather’s book. I even remember there being a few genaric tickets “hidden” in the back pages for which I concocted a complicated story explaining how they got there. Unfortunately, I don’t ...more

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Jun 30, 2013 Wendy Hines rated it really liked it

George Washington Carver is an inspiration! Born a slave, George was a frail boy. When he is kidnapped, along with his mother, by slave traders, Moses Carver convinces a Sergeant General to go after them. He brings back George, but his mother didn't make it. Moses raises young George as his own. But since George is frail, he learns inside chores instead of outside, like cleaning, mending and cooking.

These skills will aid George his entire life. When he applies for college, he is turned away beca ...more

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Aug 15, 2013 Joan Burgett rated it really liked it · review of another edition

George Washington Carver discovered 145 uses for the peanut. I remember studying about him in grade school but was never taught his remarkable story; from son of a slave, brought up in a caucasian home, taught to read, and his agile mind and thought processes were encouraged by his family. Against all odds he received a college education and along with Booker T. Washington encouraged generations of black students at Tuskegee Institute. What most history books omit is that he was a devout followe ...more

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Oct 06, 2015 Rachel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: biography-autobiography

I'm so glad I found this series! Perry does a fabulous job of working into the very fabric of his biography Carver's faith and its impact on his choices from young adulthood to the end of his life. But even with a heavy emphasis on Carver's beliefs, Perry still treats honestly the self-promotion and interpersonal conflict that dogged Carver's work at Tuskegee. I look forward to sharing this book with my students in the future. And I look forward to finding others in the Christian Encounters seri ...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Andy Mitchell rated it really liked it

I’d heard of George Washington Carver, and I knew that he’d done a lot of work with peanuts.

That was about it.

Now that I’ve read this book, I feel like I know Dr. Carver more deeply than ever before.

Jonh Perry’s book is intensely personal. Aside from occasionally repeating himself, his storytelling is compelling and fascinating.

If you’re interested in the contributions of Dr. Carver to the American experience, then you will enjoy this book.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in ...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Lin Ryals rated it it was amazing

George Washington Carver was the son of a slave. After his mother was kidnapped, he and his brother were "adopted" into the home of their 'owner' and raised as their own children. When the slaves were freed, Carver found the only thing he wanted was knowledge and he did everything he could to achieve that and make a better life for himself and for other freed slaves.

For full review go here: http://books4linda.blogspot.com/2011/... ...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Barbara rated it it was amazing

Wonderful story of Dr. Carvers' life, from childhood and the family that took him in until death at Tuskogee Institute.

He was a soft spoken man that was an encourager throughout his life. Humbly accepting help from others and offering all he had to others. He showed what true Christianity was all about (except maybe his yearning for appreciation), he gave his students Hope. ...more

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Jun 08, 2014 Cool rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very nice, enjoyable biography about a pious man that achieved great things without knowledge of particles and progress. God was all he needed.

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About John Perry

John Perry

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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John Perry has coauthored books with John MacArthur, Richard Land, Mike Huckabee, among others and written historical books about Charles Colson, the Scopes Monkey Trials, and more. He is a two-time Gold Medallion Award finalist and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.