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7 Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness
(7 Biographies)
by
In Seven Men, New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas presents seven exquisitely crafted short portraits of widely known—but not well understood—Christian men, each of whom uniquely showcases a commitment to live by certain virtues in the truth of the gospel.
Written in a beautiful and engaging style, Seven Men addresses what it means (or should mean) to be a man t ...more
Written in a beautiful and engaging style, Seven Men addresses what it means (or should mean) to be a man t ...more
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Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
April 29th 2013
by Thomas Nelson
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Seven Men by Eric Metaxas
A great book that makes multiple points about a few heroic Christian men that lived unselfish lives or had moments of unselfishness, risking much for the great benefit of many. The seven short biographies are written with great depth and make this book a fascinating read. I read parts on my own and my wife read parts to me while I was driving and we both greatly enjoyed it.
George Washington - gave up being a king or at least greatly idolized leader for the sake of the fo ...more
A great book that makes multiple points about a few heroic Christian men that lived unselfish lives or had moments of unselfishness, risking much for the great benefit of many. The seven short biographies are written with great depth and make this book a fascinating read. I read parts on my own and my wife read parts to me while I was driving and we both greatly enjoyed it.
George Washington - gave up being a king or at least greatly idolized leader for the sake of the fo ...more

May 08, 2013
Sarah
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Adult Christians
Recommended to Sarah by:
Alicia Willis
Shelves:
2016-reads,
inspiring-people,
non-fiction,
2020-reads,
walk-of-faith,
history,
library-book
2020
I really enjoyed reading this book again. The people in this story are well worth remembering.
2016 Review
Age Appropriate For: All Ages
Best for Ages: 15 and up
Alicia Willis recommended this book to me a while back, and I have wanted to read it ever since. She and I share a passion for our faith and history, and she knew this book was something I would love.
Metaxas picked some well-known and some not well known people in this book, but each of them were chosen for their faith. While I have re ...more
I really enjoyed reading this book again. The people in this story are well worth remembering.
2016 Review
Age Appropriate For: All Ages
Best for Ages: 15 and up
Alicia Willis recommended this book to me a while back, and I have wanted to read it ever since. She and I share a passion for our faith and history, and she knew this book was something I would love.
Metaxas picked some well-known and some not well known people in this book, but each of them were chosen for their faith. While I have re ...more

Eric Metaxas has done it again! This book is wonderfully written, inspiring, and educational. I loved the stories of each of the seven men depicted, particularly as they all came from very different backgrounds and heritages. The lives of Washington, Wilberforce, Liddell, Bonhoeffer, Robinson, Pope John Paul II, and Colson are presented, offering a inspirational, yet brief look into their histories.
For those of you who read Amazing Grace and Bonhoeffer, Metaxas does cover Wilberforce and Bonhoef ...more
For those of you who read Amazing Grace and Bonhoeffer, Metaxas does cover Wilberforce and Bonhoef ...more

Metaxas calls the reader to explore the definition of manhood. The subject of manhood is explored from the Bible's perspective and contrasted with our society's definition of manhood.
The book calls to attention two definitions of manhood (both of which are incorrect). The "macho" man is the first one discussed and it is soon realized that a man who is all talk, and strong enough to push you around is not really a man but a bully.
The next definition is the emasculated man. This man has had his ma ...more
The book calls to attention two definitions of manhood (both of which are incorrect). The "macho" man is the first one discussed and it is soon realized that a man who is all talk, and strong enough to push you around is not really a man but a bully.
The next definition is the emasculated man. This man has had his ma ...more

1.5 stars
I don't get it. I should have loved this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and Seven Women: And the Secret of Their Greatness. Maybe it was the audio book format?
I picked up Seven Men for my younger brother and I to listen to in the car. I assumed it would present him with some more role models and maybe re-introduce some familiar faces to me at the same time. From the start, though, we were both thoroughly annoyed. Metaxas spends way too much time des ...more
I don't get it. I should have loved this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and Seven Women: And the Secret of Their Greatness. Maybe it was the audio book format?
I picked up Seven Men for my younger brother and I to listen to in the car. I assumed it would present him with some more role models and maybe re-introduce some familiar faces to me at the same time. From the start, though, we were both thoroughly annoyed. Metaxas spends way too much time des ...more

The only problem I have with this book is that each biography is brief enough to have me looking through Metaxas' bibliography to read more about his subjects.
Not that Metaxas does an incomplete job writing about these great men but because he whets your appetite.
These men are probably not going to be considered the greatest men by many and maybe some of them shouldn't but I appreciated the author's reasons for including them.
While Mr. Metaxas honestly shows the foibles of each man he shows that ...more
Not that Metaxas does an incomplete job writing about these great men but because he whets your appetite.
These men are probably not going to be considered the greatest men by many and maybe some of them shouldn't but I appreciated the author's reasons for including them.
While Mr. Metaxas honestly shows the foibles of each man he shows that ...more

A wonderful, concise biography of 7 great men of history. These men served The Lord well and faithfully and it was a blessing to get to learn more about them. It was a great book for me because I’m super ADD, and you learned a good deal about each one in a short amount of reading. Overall a delightful book. I will recommend to all my friends.

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Spy by Eric Metaxas stands head and shoulders above most biographies. Indeed, it is one of the best biographies I have ever read. The new work by Metaxas, Seven Men and the Secret of Their Greatness is filled with the rich historical detail that readers have grown accustomed to from the author.
Metaxas sets out to survey the lives of seven men; men who have influenced his life - men he considers to be great. The seven men that the author presents include the following: ...more
Metaxas sets out to survey the lives of seven men; men who have influenced his life - men he considers to be great. The seven men that the author presents include the following: ...more

The title of this book is a bit misleading, because Eric Metaxas makes no secret of what motivated these seven illustrious men to greatness: The unifying thread among them is a functioning moral compass anchored in a strong Christian faith -- and that much is clear from the introduction, before a reader even delves into the mini biographies.
It's nice to see George Washington, Jackie Robinson, and Pope John Paul II -- already and deservedly role models in many eyes -- sharing the book with admira ...more
It's nice to see George Washington, Jackie Robinson, and Pope John Paul II -- already and deservedly role models in many eyes -- sharing the book with admira ...more

Awful writing. Some of the worst I've bothered sticking with. Interesting choice of men and good stories, told poorly. I regret that it's sold as well as it has. Don't read.
...more

I do my reviews in the form of a letter, which is why they are written like this.
Dear Eric Metaxas,
Thank you for writing this book. It technically got a 3.42, since I averaged the score that all the biographies got individually. I did the like the intro, and I must admit that in many ways what you say is true. We have lost sight of who heroes are. I will rate each biography individually.
George Washington
His life was nice, but I was mostly bored. It seems like we are wrong in our usual lege ...more
Dear Eric Metaxas,
Thank you for writing this book. It technically got a 3.42, since I averaged the score that all the biographies got individually. I did the like the intro, and I must admit that in many ways what you say is true. We have lost sight of who heroes are. I will rate each biography individually.
George Washington
His life was nice, but I was mostly bored. It seems like we are wrong in our usual lege ...more

When Rickey asked Jackie if he was up to the job, he wasn't talking only about playing great baseball. He knew Jackie could do that. What he meant, he explained, was that if Jackie were to become major-league baseball's first black player, he would be in for a tremendous amount of abuse, both verbal and physical....more
Jackie said he was sure he could face up to whatever came his way. He wasn't afraid of anyone and had been in any number of fistfights over the years when anyone had challenged him.
But R

What makes a man great? This question challenges most people, especially today when the idea of a masculine role model is generally frowned upon, if not completely ignored because masculinity is supposed to be toxic. Such an assumption is based on false examples of manhood--the bully, the egoist, the muscle man, etc. Eric Metaxas argues that positive role models of manhood do exist and are important to culture (not just ours, but any culture). Examples of how to behave are sorely needed in an ag
...more

***addresses what it means (or should mean) to be a man today***
Award winning author Eric Metaxas, features snapshot biographies of great heroes and role models of the past in Seven Men and the secret of their Greatness. These inspiring, trustworthy men modeled strength of character, authentic manhood and fatherhood for many generations. However, “that has changed in recent years,” writes Metaxas, “with troubling results.” Our culture today is in a “crisis of manhood in the absence of men of vir ...more
Award winning author Eric Metaxas, features snapshot biographies of great heroes and role models of the past in Seven Men and the secret of their Greatness. These inspiring, trustworthy men modeled strength of character, authentic manhood and fatherhood for many generations. However, “that has changed in recent years,” writes Metaxas, “with troubling results.” Our culture today is in a “crisis of manhood in the absence of men of vir ...more

I loved this book! Eric does an excellent job of providing brief biographies on 7 key figures in history who represented Christ to their fullest and changed the world forever as a result of their faith and convictions. The 7 men (he does 7 women in another book) were George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonheffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II, and Chuck Colson. Each man sacrificed his life to serve Christ and left a lasting legacy for generations to come. It has i
...more

It takes a lot for me to not even make it past the introduction of a book, but, Metaxas found a way with some of the most deplorably regressive prose I've seen in a while. By the time he was oozing condescension and insulting the intelligence of his own readers, I was only reading to see if I needed to burn the book or to just put it down.
This dude totally votes for Trump, probably runs a super PAC ...more
This dude totally votes for Trump, probably runs a super PAC ...more

Aug 17, 2017
Melinda
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
real-life-adventures,
biography,
worldview,
history,
2017,
american-history,
worth-owning,
education,
non-fiction,
british-lit
Very worthwhile. I'm especially appreciative for the chapter on George Washington, who is one of the greatest men in our history.
Very recommended! ...more
Very recommended! ...more

I enjoy biographies, but I typically have difficulty reading a 1000 page tome about the life of one person. Reading about these 7 great men in a short 200 page book was refreshing and enjoyable. Eric Metaxas is an engaging and easy to read author. I will be looking for more of his work on the book shelves in the future.

Seven Men of Courage
This book, written by Eric Metaxas, is a wonderful celebration of the lives of seven men who each left an indelible mark on the world, from George Washington and William Wilberforce to Jackie Robinson and Pope John Paul II.
By Metaxas' own admission, the seven men whom he chose to include in this book was done in a subjective manner, and was based on his own opinions of those men whose lives he considers to be instructive for learning how to live out our own lives - including ...more
This book, written by Eric Metaxas, is a wonderful celebration of the lives of seven men who each left an indelible mark on the world, from George Washington and William Wilberforce to Jackie Robinson and Pope John Paul II.
By Metaxas' own admission, the seven men whom he chose to include in this book was done in a subjective manner, and was based on his own opinions of those men whose lives he considers to be instructive for learning how to live out our own lives - including ...more

I enjoyed learning about the incredible stories of each of these men. Whoever I didn't love the writing style. There was too much intro to each character and I wish their accomplishments were further explained and explored. Overall inspiring!
...more

Eric Metaxas does it again with another well written and well researched biography (Although it's about several men, not just one, mind you). The only disappointment in the book was the fact that the biographies about the seven individual men always seemed too short! Metaxes' message of patriotism, courage, and taking a stand for Christ, ring true. The seven men Metaxes choose are all true men to look up too. They are all flawed, but heroes nonetheless. Isn't it just like God to take the flaws o
...more

I really enjoy Metaxas and his biographies and this collection of 7 smaller biographies called "7 Men" was another great read. I chose to read this book to the family after dinner and it worked great for that purpose since each bio is split into clearly defined sections. The children loved the introduction given to the seven men and it also provided some wonderful teaching opportunities for life in general and also relating to their growing faiths in Jesus Christ.
Highly recommend the book and al ...more
Highly recommend the book and al ...more

This book did an outstanding job of introducing seven men from recent history who led lives that were quite amazing! I had known a little about each of them prior to reading the book, but I came away with a greater awareness of their lives and the purpose that drove them.
The men included are:
George Washington
William Wilberforce
Eric Liddell
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Jackie Robinson
Pope John Paul II
Charles W. Colson
I highly recommend this book to every Christian today. We need to have good examples of wha ...more
The men included are:
George Washington
William Wilberforce
Eric Liddell
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Jackie Robinson
Pope John Paul II
Charles W. Colson
I highly recommend this book to every Christian today. We need to have good examples of wha ...more

This is a very good book. The author gives semi-biographies for each of the men he chose. The book serves as a teaser to read complete biographies of each man. The key to each persons "claim to fame," is their reliance on God despite their personal circumstances. The men included were: William Wilberforce, George Washington, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Eric Liddell, Pope John Paul 2, and Chuck Colson. Mr. Metaxas can write numerous more sequels in the future focusing on different men.
...more

Hmmmm...some of the book was good, some not. Some of the history was decidedly slanted. But my biggest complaint is with the writing. There is far too much interjection of the author's opinions. (E.g., see page 81 of the Thomas Nelson 2015 paperback edition. This page alone drove me crazy.) I prefer authors who state facts and let the readers form their own opinions. If this book were presented in court you would hear repeatedly, "Objection, calls for legal conclusion and assumes facts not in ev
...more

Inspiring reading! I had heard of each of the seven men but was unaware of what really made them great. For example while Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in pro baseball, his refusal to respond to racial taunts and refusal of service showed him to be a man of strong character. Each of the seven men have a chapter of biography and analysis of what made them great. This would make a good read-aloud book.
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Madison Mega-Mara...: 7 Men | 1 | 2 | Jul 04, 2015 09:15AM |
In a decidedly eclectic career, Eric Metaxas has written for VeggieTales, Chuck Colson, Rabbit Ears Productions and the New York Times, four things not ordinarily in the same sentence. He is a best-selling author whose biographies, children’s books, and works of popular apologetics have been translated into more than 25 languages.
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