My Life: A Guided Tour

by Kenneth N. Taylor, Virginia Muir

Dr. Kenneth N. Taylor is a quiet legend in the world of Christian publishing. Not only did he translate The Living Bible, which has now sold 37 million copies, but he also founded Tyndale House Publishers to publish it. Today Tyndale House is one of the leading evangelical publishers, and The Living Bible maintains its status as a best-seller in the US, while also being translated into more than 100 different languages, making it accessible to 90 percent of the world's people. My A Guided Tour offers a visit with one of God's people who has been faithful to his calling. Readers will see how God provided Ken with a great gift in Margaret, his wife. The book is sprinkled with intriguing anecdotes about the Taylor's life with their 10 children.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

401 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1991

About the author

Throughout his publishing career, Dr. Kenneth Nathaniel Taylor's dream was for all peoples of the world to read and understand God's Word and experience its power at work in their lives. From his earliest children's books to his generous support of Christian ministry, this vision was (and still is) reflected in his work. Ken Taylor, founder of Tyndale House Publishers, died in June 2005 at the age of 88. Early in his publishing career in the 1950s as director of Moody Press, Dr. Taylor wrote several children's books. Born out of experience with his own ten children, "Stories for the Children's Hour," "The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes," and others are now being enjoyed by a third generation of children. "My First Bible in Pictures" was included in "Publishers Weekly"'s list of "All-Time Best-Selling Children's Books" in 2001. His love for children (including his 28 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren) continues to inspire new titles. In fact, it was his children, in their confusion over the meaning of the King James Version, who prompted his mission to make the Bible understandable for everyone. Dr. Taylor's "Living Letters," a thought-for-thought translation of the New Testament Epistles, was published by the newly formed Tyndale House Publishers in 1962. The complete "Living Bible" followed in 1971 and has now sold over 40 million copies in its many editions. In 1996 Tyndale House introduced the "Holy Bible," New Living Translation. In keeping with Dr. Taylor's vision of Scriptures that everyone can read, the New Living Translation is a thought-for-thought translation that is exegetically accurate and idiomatically authoritative. Ninety of today's leading Bible scholars worked with Tyndale House to develop this easy-to-understand translation. Tyndale has become one of the top evangelical publishers in America and today publishes books, several Bible lines, periodicals, and videos. During the past 40 years, Tyndale House has distributed over 100 million Bibles, New Testaments, and Bible portions worldwide. Dr. Taylor used the success of "The Living Bible" to further his mission by distributing all its royalties to Christian ministries worldwide. He founded Living Bibles International (which merged in 1992 with the International Bible Society) for translating, publishing, and distributing modern-language versions of the Bible around the world. His life of service has been recognized with at least 30 honors and awards from different organizations, including four honorary doctorates. In October 2000, Dr. and Mrs. (Margaret) Taylor were awarded the Distinguished Service to Family Award by Wheaton College. A graduate of Wheaton College, with graduate studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Taylor held 15 directorships with Christian organizations at home and abroad.

Reviews

[Clara Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another inspiring of story of a successful man. It was facinating to read of attending college in the 1930's, working for 30 cents an hour, and being grateful for gifts of five dollars. His descripions of early Dallas Seminary under the leadership of Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer was of an inferior school. Taylor was a creative and excellent writer. He has a real heart for people. My chief problem was he and his wife having ten children in fourteen years. He was not a good provider for his large family and as he admitts he did not have a good relationship with many of his children.

[John Stapleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s encouraging reading about someone who served God faithfully but is also a flawed human. This is definitely one of the coming-of-age type books that show the folly of his youth and the faithfulness of his older years. It’s also cool seeing how different things were back then in the early 1900’s.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taylor was one of the most influential men of the past 50 years. Wonderful insights and disarming transparency.

[Rand Lemley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great when read in tandem with his wife's book.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book and learning about Ken Taylor and his road to publishing the Living Bible and other books. The Living Bible took about 8 years total to complete, which was not easy for him.

However, he persevered and now many people all over the world have benefited and still benefit from his translation of the Bible, the King James Version. I was surprised to learn that so many people had trouble reading the KJV and equally delighted that the found a cure.

Ken Taylor's writing style or voice is natural and easy going. I imagine he would have been a wonderful person to know or work for.