Biographies

"Did they tell you stories about the saints of old,
stories about their faith?
Stories like that make a boy grow bold,
stories like that make a man walk straight..."

Rich Mullins, Boy Like Me, Man Like You

Stories about people have a way of affecting us in ways other stories can't. The Bible is primarily stories about people, and it is through these multiple biographies that we understand human nature, the history of redemption, and even to a great extent God Himself. The purpose behind any other biography is largely the same—to help us understand what it means to be human from the examples (sometimes even the bad examples) of those who have preceded us.

The biographies we have chosen for this section represent those of great leaders in history, social and military heroes, and Christian saints past and present who struggled to conform their lives to Christ's perfect example. We have avoided for the most part biographies of history's villains and chronic immoralists, not because they aren't interesting but because they don't represent lives worthy of imitation. We've also decided not to focus on athletes, actors, and celebrities, unless they've made important contributions outside their fields. That's not to say everyone found here was above reproach or even a Christian, but they all demonstrated real human virtues for which they are remembered.

Biographies are also useful for better understanding of a given historical period. While history books can provide good overviews of a period or events, the intimate detail of a good biography can better illustrate a time period and what it was like to be alive then. This also serves to demonstrate the universality of human nature, that people will behave basically the same during any given period and in any given place. Sometimes we get the impression that people of the past, especially people like missionaries and ministers, were somehow more pious than we are—the personal view offered by a good biography dispels this myth and offers encouragement that not even the best men and women are any closer to perfection than we are.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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65 Items found Print
Active Filters: Theologians & Philosophers
Against the World
by Henry Coray
from Inheritance Publications
Biography for 5th-8th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$9.95
An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth
by M. K. Gandhi
from Navajivan Publishing House
for Adult
in History for Adults (Location: ADU-HIS)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Augustine on the Christian Life
Theologians on the Christian Life
by Gerald Bray
from Crossway Books
for 9th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
Autobiography of G. K. Chesterton
by G. K. Chesterton
from Ignatius Press
Autobiography for 10th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$18.95
Bavinck on the Christian Life
Theologians on the Christian Life
by John Bolt
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life
Theologians on the Christian Life
by Stephen J. Nichols
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Freedom - Audio Drama (CD)
from Tyndale House
for 4th-9th grade
in Audio Books & Dramas (Location: CD-AUDIO)
$17.99
C. S. Lewis: A Life
by Alister McGrath
from Tyndale House
for 10th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$24.99 $18.00 (1 in stock)
C. S. Lewis: The Man Behind Narnia
by Beatrice Gormley
from Eerdmans
Biography for 9th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$16.00
Calvin on the Christian Life
Theologians on the Christian Life
by Michael Horton
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
Chesterton's Tavern
by Kevin Belmonte
from Canon Press
for Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$17.95
Common Sense 101
by Dale Ahlquist
from Ignatius Press
for 9th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$18.95
Confucius: The Golden Rule
by Russell Freedman
from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-8th grade
2003 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
Cornelius Van Til
by John Frame
from P&R Publishing
for 11th-Adult
in Reformed Theology (Location: XTH-REF)
$16.00 (1 in stock)
Cornelius Van Til
by John Frame
from P&R Publishing
for 11th-Adult
in Reformed Theology (Location: XTH-REF)
$20.00 (1 in stock)
Edwards on the Christian Life
Theologians on the Christian Life
by Dane C. Ortlund
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
Faith of Our Fathers: Scenes from American Church History
by Mark Sidwell, editor
from Bob Jones University Press
Church History Reference for 7th-12th grade
in Church History (Location: XCH-HIS)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Francis Schaeffer
by Bruce Little, ed.
from P&R Publishing
for 10th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$12.99
George MacDonald
by Michael R Phillips
Illustrated Edition from Bethany House
for 11th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$18.00 (1 in stock)
George MacDonald
by Michael R Phillips
from Bethany House
for 11th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
George Whitefield
by Arnold A. Dallimore
from Crossway Books
for 9th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$14.50
George Whitefield: Wayfaring Witness
by Stuart C. Henry
from Abingdon Press
for 9th-Adult
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Heralds of the Reformation
by Richard Hannula
from Canon Press
for 5th-Adult
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
$15.00
Humble Leader
by Julia Cameron
from Christian Focus Publications
for 4th-6th grade
in TorchBearers & TrailBlazers (Location: BIO-TRAIL)
$8.99
Ignatius of Antioch
Heroes of the Faith
by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson
from Banner of Truth Trust
for 3rd-6th grade
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
Incredible Scofield and His Book
by Joseph M. Canfield
2nd edition from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
for Adult
in Covenant Theology (Location: XTH-COV)
$24.00
Irenaeus of Lyons
Heroes of the Faith
by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson
from Banner of Truth Trust
for 3rd-6th grade
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
$14.00
John Owen
Christian Biographies for Young Readers
by Simonetta Carr
from Reformation Heritage Books
for 2nd-6th grade
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
Jonathan Edwards
by Iain H. Murray
from Banner of Truth Trust
for 11th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$33.00
Letters of Geerhardus Vos
by Geerhardus Vos, James T. Dennison, Jr.
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$18.00
Life and Times of Archbishop James Ussher
by J. A. Carr
from Master Books
Biography for 10th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$6.00
Life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones: 1899-1981
by Iain H. Murray
from Banner of Truth Trust
for 10th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
Lone Journey
by Jeanette Eaton, illustrated by Woodi Ishmael
from Harcourt
for 7th-10th grade
1945 Newbery Honor Book
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Lord of the Elves and Eldils
by Richard L. Purtill
2nd edition from Ignatius Press
for 9th grade-Adult
in Lord of the Rings (Location: LIR-LOTR)
Luther on the Christian Life
Theologians on the Christian Life
by Carl R. Trueman
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
Mighty Weakness of John Knox
Long Line of Godly Men Profiles
by Douglas Bond
from P&R Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$16.00
Newton on the Christian Life
Theologians On the Christian Life
by Tony Reinke
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
Not a Tame Lion
Leaders in Action Series
by Terry Glaspey
from Cumberland House
Biography for 9th-Adult
in Leaders in Action (Location: BIO-LIA)
Not a Tame Lion
Leaders in Action Series
by Terry Glaspey
from Cumberland House
Biography for 9th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$7.96
Out of My Life and Thought
by Albert Schweitzer
Reprint from Henry Holt and Company
for Adult
in History for Adults (Location: ADU-HIS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Owen on the Christian Life
Theologians on the Christian Life
by Matthew M. Barrett, Michael A. G. Haykin
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
Packer on the Christian Life
Theologians on the Christian Life
by Sam Storms
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$11.50
Patrick Henry
by JoAnn A. Grote
from Chelsea House Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Pierre Viret
by Jean-Marc Berthoud
1st edition
for 9th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$14.50
Pillars of Grace Volume 2
from Reformation Trust Publishing
for Adult
in Church History Overviews (Location: XCH-OVE)
Polycarp of Smyrna
Heroes of the Faith
by Sinclair B. Ferguson
from Banner of Truth Trust
for 3rd-6th grade
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
$10.00
Saint Francis
by Brian Wildsmith
from Eerdmans
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
Schaeffer on the Christian Life
Theologians on the Christian Life
by William Edgar
from Crossway Books
for 11th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
Seven Men who Rule the World from the Grave
by Dave Breese
from Moody Press
Biography Anthology for 11th-Adult
in Philosophy (Location: XWV-PHI)
$16.99
Seven Men Who Rule the World from the Grave
by Dave Breese
Reprint from Moody Press
Biography Anthology for 11th-Adult
in Philosophy (Location: XWV-PHI)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Sor Juana
by Elizabeth Martinez
from Millbrook Press
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Clearance: Biographies (Location: ZCLE-BIO)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Spurgeon
by Ernest Bacon
from Christian Liberty Press
Biography for 7th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$11.75 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Story of Albert Schweitzer
World Landmark #33
by Anita Daniel
from Random House
for 5th-8th grade
in World Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAN)
Ten Boys Who Made a Difference
by Irene Howat
from Christian Focus Publications
Biography Collection for 3rd-7th grade
in Light Keepers (Location: BIO-LIGHT)
$5.50 (2 in stock)
Ten Boys Who Made History
by Irene Howat
from Christian Focus Publications
Biography Collection for 3rd-7th grade
in Light Keepers (Location: BIO-LIGHT)
Ten Boys Who Used Their Talents
by Irene Howat
from Christian Focus Publications
Biography Collection for 3rd-7th grade
in Light Keepers (Location: BIO-LIGHT)
Thomas Jefferson
A Discovery Book
by Anne Colver, illustrated by Cary
from Garrard Publishing Company
for 1st-3rd grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Tolkien: Man and Myth
by Joseph Pearce
from Ignatius Press
Biography for 11th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$14.95
Tolkien: Man and Myth
by Joseph Pearce
from Ignatius Press
Biography for 11th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
Trust Thyself
by James Playsted Wood
from Unknown Publisher
for 7th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
Value of Honesty
by Spencer Johnson
from Value Communications Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Character Building (Location: BIB-CH)
Warfield on the Christian Life
Theologians on the Christian Life
by Fred G. Zaspel
Redesign from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
Wesley on the Christian Life
Theologians on the Christian Life
by Fred Sanders
from Crossway Books
for 11th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
Wisdom and Innocence
by Joseph Pearce
from Ignatius Press
Biography for 9th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
Works of Rousseau
by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
from Walter J. Black, Inc.
for Adult
in Walter J. Black Classics Club (Location: VIN-LITWJB)
$5.00 (1 in stock)