AMAZING GRACE IN THE LIFE OF WILLIAM WILBERFORCE by John Piper is a biography on the life of William Wilberforce. This book review was written by Hank Griffith of South Suburban Evangelical Free Church in Apple Valley, Minnesota. This book is good for those who are interested in learning about the life of a great man.
Ever since I was in late elementary school, I have been inspired by reading the biographies of great men, men who lived their lives with purpose. The succinct work I’m reviewing today, Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce by John Piper has powerfully inspired me as did many similar stories earlier in my life.
About William
William Wilberforce (1759-1833) is fairly well known by most of us. He was an English politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. What some people don’t know is that he was a passionate evangelical Christian who was soundly converted as a young Member of Parliament after living an affluent and libertine lifestyle until age 25.
Piper’s treatment of Wilberforce seeks to get to the heart of what made this great man tick. He reveals that Wilberforce’s secret was that he “made the journey from self-centeredness, achievement-centeredness, and political-correctness to God-centeredness. And he made it with Christ-like joy.
