Books

We need more heroes—and more heroines. Eric Metaxas’ Seven Women: And the Secret of Their Greatness offers examples of those whose great lives came from great choices they made. 

• Joan of Arc—great because she chose to do what she felt God called her to do—even against great odds.
• Susanna Wesley—great because she was dedicated to her family and “despite poverty, illness, a difficult marriage, and heartbreak in endless forms, she used her intellect, creativity, time, and energies, and will in such a way that can hardly be reckoned.”
• Hannah More—great because she used her gift for writing to enact social reforms that helped change social evils.
• Saint Maria of Paris—great because she refused to keep her faith inside the church walls and she challenged the hierarchy that tried to do so.
• Corrie Ten Boom—great because she and her family loved Jesus so much that they sheltered the Jewish people, suffered for it, and then she traveled the world speaking of His deep love.
• Rosa Parks—great because she took a stand for injustice that helped propel the civil rights movement toward true change.
• Mother Teresa—great because her indomitable passion for the poor gave her the moral authority to speak out against the evils in the world and modeled for others what true service looks like.

All it takes to become an Eric Metaxas fan is to hear him speak in person or on his radio show. Witty, sharp, intellectual, and conservative. Even though his Bonhoeffer biography focused on history, the book still carried Metaxas’ inimitable polish, witty sarcasm, and unique insights. When I read Metaxas’ previous book, Seven Men, however, I noticed his unique voice seemed missing. I observed the same missing element in Seven Women. Perhaps having another writer draft the initial chapters made the difference.

Seven Women: And the Secret of Their Greatness is inspiring history, no doubt. The facts are all there; these women are models of greatness. But Seven Women could have been even better if it included more of what makes Metaxas a brilliant communicator—him.