Just finished Eric Metaxas' biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and wow - this book wrecked me in the best way possible. Here's why it's now sitting on my 'favorite biographies' shelf:

First off, I had no idea how RADICAL this pastor was. The man literally joined a spy ring to take down Hitler while writing some of the most profound Christian theology of the 20th century. Talk about multitasking!

The writing style is super engaging - reads more like a thriller than a stuffy biography. Metaxas does this brilliant thing where he shows how Bonhoeffer's childhood and family shaped him (pro tip: his mom sounds amazing).

Most shocking revelation? How many German churches completely sold out to the Nazis. Bonhoeffer's lonely stand against them gives me chills - especially when he basically told his American friends 'Thanks but no thanks' to safety and went back to Nazi Germany because 'a shepherd doesn't flee when wolves come.'

The prison letters section destroyed me emotionally. This brilliant, kind man writing beautiful theology while knowing execution was coming? And his final words? 'This is the end - for me the beginning of life.' I'm not crying, you're crying.

400 pages flew by because it's just that compelling. If you want to read about someone who actually lived what they believed - even when it cost everything - grab this immediately. Just maybe keep tissues handy for the last few chapters.