David Aikman chronicles six “great souls” of the twentieth century and the virtues that they represent: Billy Graham (salvation), Nelson Mandela (forgiveness), Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (truth), Mother Teresa (compassion), Pope John Paul II (human dignity), and Elie Wiesel (remembrance). In Great Souls, he explores their historical background, family experiences, and the cultural settings that surrounded each of them.
Aikman draws from conversations, interviews, and inside stories to bring detail, nuance, and depth to every chapter. Along with biographical facts, Aikman brings his own unique experience as a former senior correspondent for Time magazine and his personal perspective as a Christian believer. The result is not only an eyewitness account of modern world history, but astute spiritual observations drawn from the lives of these six cultural icons and history makers.
Reviews
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While some might challenge the author's choices for his six great souls, few could help but appreciate his enthusiasm as he reads these skillfully written mini-biographies. As a foreign correspondent for TIME magazine, he has traveled widely on assignment. This background gives him a facility with the pronunciation of languages. His narration is British, brisk, and colorful, exuding plenty of feeling and understanding for his subjects. Since much of the information comes from personal interviews and conversations, having the author tell his own stories adds an intimacy to this exploration of spirituality that is not possible in the print version. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine
AudioFile...
"Few could help but appreciate [Aikman’s] enthusiasm as he reads these skillfully written mini-biographies...His narration is British, brisk, and colorful, exuding plenty of feeling and understanding for his subjects. Since much of the information comes from personal interviews and conversations, having the author tell his own stories adds an intimacy to this exploration of spirituality that is not possible in the print version."
About the Author
David Aikman is a former senior correspondent for Time magazine. He has written numerous Time cover stories, including three “Man of the Year” profiles. He is the author of Great Souls, When the Almond Tree Blossoms, and a forthcoming book on Christianity in China.
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