Seven Men and Seven Women and the Secret of Their Greatness

by  Eric Metaxas

What is “greatness” and what qualifies a person to the claim of greatness?To his credit, Metaxas is able to answer those questions well in his Introduction without sounding pedantic or boring the reader. In fact, after reading his introduction, I couldn’t wait to dive into the first chapter.

Of course, not everyone would choose for inclusion the same individuals as Metaxas, but by the time I got to the end of each chapter, I could certainly understand his choice and agree that the person was worthy of the attribution. I was familiar with some of the subjects of this book, but not all of them. As in the case of Eric Liddell, I knew him for his athletic ability and his refusal to compete on the Sabbath, but there is a second part to his story that is just as important to know about.

This book is actually a combination of two books originally published separately, one on men and one on women. Each one of those is a compilation of short biographies. The seven men are George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II, and Charles W. Colson. The seven women are Joan of Arc, Susanna Wesley, Hannah More, Saint Maria of Paris, Corrie ten Boom, Rosa Parks, and Mother Teresa. As you can see, there is a variety in those chosen in regard to their profession, their religious background,  and the area of life they impacted. A large part of their greatness, however, is that they were people of faith, and they lived out their faith without wavering.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Biography, Nonfiction

Notes: 1. I read this with my book club this summer at a pace of two biographies per week.  This book was perfect for summer, as compared to longer books, because members were out of town at a variety of times. Everyone was able to drop in and participate as their schedules allowed. 

  2. Includes footnotes at the end of each book.

Publication:   2018—Zondervan

Memorable Lines:

More than two hundred years after Washington’s death, his willingness to relinquish power—twice—is the most remarkable thing that we remember about him. These refusals to seize power for himself were the greatest acts of one of history’s greatest men.

God had a far greater plan for Eric Liddell’s life than a gold medal that would eventually be forgotten, along with the athlete who won it.  And he has great plans for each of us. Those plans may include the need to give up something we value highly. But those who give up what we may most desire—if God has demanded it—the Lord will truly honor.

Just as Dietrich Bonhoeffer prophetically challenged the Lutheran Church of Germany in his time, so Mother Maria challenged the Orthodox Church of hers. Both understood that to serve Jesus Christ with all one’s heart, soul, mind, and body—that is to be the church of Jesus Christ, to be the Bride for which he will one day return.  Even so, come Lord Jesus.