by Eric Metaxas
Overview: William Wilberforce began his life as a rich, fun-loving, witty English aristocrat. Life was about having fun and enjoying all that money could buy. However, as a young man Wilberforce is confronted with the gospel and realizes that God has a plan for his life beyond just enjoying himself. At this point, he is already a talented speaker and politician. So, as a very young man in Parliament, he begins speaking out for the end of the slave trade and for the reform of many other cruel social practices.
It takes forty years before the slave trade is ended in England. And this is the amazing story of that journey.
Positive elements: Eric Metaxes is a genius in crafting stories. The book has just the right amount of details without being boring. The book also did a great job of showing what was happening in the world at the time and how God prepared Wilberforce as just the right man for the job.
Negative elements: There was one brief description of the treatment of some slaves aboard a ship that was pretty graphic. I didn't finish that one paragraph but skipped over it.
Conclusion: Wilberforces' story reminded me of a few good lessons. One, just because you are doing what is right, doesn't mean it will be an easy road. Wilberforce fought for the end of slavery and for social reforms for his whole life. It was a long, hard battle, but the result was truly the changing of a nation. And two, God can bring just the right people together for his purposes. Wilberforce had the greatest friends. Without all the different people who were a part of his life encouraging him, he couldn't have done what he did.
I would recommend this book to anyone as a great, enjoyable, encouraging, and inspiring read.
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