
Just finished Eric Metaxas' biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and wow - this man's story hits differently in 2023. Here's why this book stayed with me:
First off, the writing doesn't feel like dry history. Metaxas makes Bonhoeffer's Berlin come alive - the intellectual debates, the creeping Nazi threat, that moment when theology had to become action. I kept thinking 'what would I have done?' during those tense 1930s chapters.
The most shocking part? How ordinary Germans (even pastors!) justified supporting Hitler. Bonhoeffer saw through it immediately. His letters from America describing racist segregation read like they were written yesterday - some things haven't changed.
Pro tip: Don't skip the footnotes! The spy plot details are wild - this pastor-turned-double-agent was basically in a real-life thriller. That prison finale had me holding my Kindle like 🫢
What surprised me most was his humor? For such a serious figure, his letters show this playful side - joking about bad food, teasing friends. Makes his sacrifice even more heartbreaking.
400 pages flew by because it's not just facts - it's a challenge. After reading, I caught myself examining my own compromises. When's the last time a biography did that?
PS - The 'Cost of Discipleship' quotes hit WAY harder after knowing his full story. Already planning a re-read with highlighters!
