Historia ecclesiastica
The Weblog of Dr. Michael A. G. Haykin

Nine Top Biographies

December 22nd, 2007 Posted in Books

A friend asked me about a list of top ten biographies that I would recommend. I came up with the following nine–I have always preferred odd numbers to even.

It is quickly done and does not have the academic bibliographical stuff, but I trust the books I am referring to are clear. These are ones that have had a profound impact on my life. There are others I know that should be here but that would lengthen it maybe to the top seventeen! These are in no particular order.

1. Iain Murray, DM Lloyd-Jones (2 vols.)

2. Faith Cook, Grimshaw of Haworth

3. Courtney Anderson, To the Golden Shore (Adoniram Judson)

4. Timothy George, Faithful Witness (W Carey)

5. Andrew Fuller, Memoirs of Samuel Pearce

6. A Dallimore, George Whitefield (2 vols.)

7. Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo

8. George Marsden, Jonathan Edwards

9. Iain Murray, Jonathan Edwards

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 22nd, 2007 at 12:43 pm and is filed under Books. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

16 Responses to “Nine Top Biographies”

  1. Joe Says:
    December 26th, 2007 at 1:13 pm

    Thanks for this list of biographies. One down, one in progress, and seven to go!

  2. Michael Haykin Says:
    December 26th, 2007 at 1:26 pm

    Joe:

    Glad the list was of help. Hope you had a blessed Christmas day in every way.

  3. Sean Says:
    January 2nd, 2008 at 9:59 am

    Great list. The Lloyd-Jones biography is must reading for everyone.

    I also found great benefit from The Life of John Newton by Josiah Bull, but it’s not as smooth a read as the ones you’ve listed.

    Also, what about David Calhoun’s 2 volume History of Princeton Seminary? I know it’s not technically a biography, but it does contain quite a bit of biographical information that I found very useful and encouraging.

    Thanks for all the work you, I have greatly appreciated your writing and look forward to more.

  4. Jeff Lash Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 1:34 am

    People need to stop posting book lists. My shopping list is getting out of control. Seriously though, thanks for this list. I have been meaning to get into more biographies and this is surely a good reference point.

  5. Cliff Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 2:29 am

    The two Edwards bio’s are amazing! Murray’s book is still one of my all time favorite books on Edwards.

  6. Steven Adkins Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 11:35 am

    I was really impacted by Roland Bainton’s “Here I Stand”, a biography of Martin Luther. Good writing, lots of use of primary text, and I felt he did a great job of making Germany in the 16th century alive and vivid.

    I am reading T.H.L. Parker’s John Calvin right now, though the writing is not quite as fun to read…its a good subject.

  7. James Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 11:47 am

    Any commentary on the book about Grimshaw? I had read it a while back but I’d like to reread it and a bit f insight from you would be good to go. Thanks for the list!

    James

  8. Michael Haykin Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 11:51 am

    James:

    Th Grimshaw volume I count more influential on my life than the two-volume Whitefield, which had a huge impact. I found it gripping and a great challenge to be sold out for Christ.

  9. Michael Haykin Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 11:54 am

    Steven:

    You might try Parker’s earlier bio of Calvin: A Portrait of Calvin. Much better in many ways. Also Richard Stauffer, The Humnanness of Calvin.

  10. John Murphy Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    For what it’s worth, I’d throw in my favorite biography of all time - Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend, by James Robertson.

  11. Bill Pfister Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 1:27 pm

    I’d like to suggest Robert Murray M’Cheyne, by Andrew Bonar as well. To have died at so young an age, he made a remarkable impact on Scotland through his preaching and passion, as well as through his missionary ventures to Palestine.

    Much grace to you,
    Bill

  12. Michael Haykin Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    John:

    Robertson is superb on Jackson and Bonar’s life of McCheyne is also a classic. Thanks for the comments, brothers.

    Michael.

  13. James Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

    Thanks for the help on Grimshaw! I also like Edward Morgan’s “Life and Times of Howell Harris.”

    James

  14. jc Says:
    January 12th, 2008 at 6:49 am

    Thanks, fellow Canadian. Even more reason to stay home on a rainy day. 8-)

    jc

  15. David Bartlett Says:
    January 15th, 2008 at 6:26 am

    Hi Michael from Olney

    I enjoyed the Lloyd-Jones biography but it is too deferential. I highly rate the Carey bio with its honesty.

    Just read Aitken on Newton-a great read about an ‘amazing’ man with real struggles but a wonderfully real faith in Christ

  16. Michael Haykin Says:
    January 15th, 2008 at 11:00 pm

    David:

    Great to hear from you. Aitken is very good. It has been a good while since I read the ML-J.

    Hope you are well. How are things?

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