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A Short Life Of Jonathan Edwards (2008)

by George M. Marsden(Favorite Author)

4.02 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0802802206 (ISBN13: 9780802802200)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

review 1: This is not an abridged version of the longer “A Life.” It is a very well written narrative that contrasts Edwards with Benjamin Franklin to make sense of how a country like the USA can be both the most religious and the most secular at the same time. Worth getting just for the final chapter, although you’ll want to read the rest too! I read this one after the longer "A Life" . . . inevitably I preferred the longer book because it is so well written. I hope people reading this won't feel satisfied and fail to read the longer biography. But this is a good book and well worth reading and pondering. Marsden on Edwards is as good as it gets.
review 2: I've listened to the whole unabridged audio book of this twice now. It's a very good "read" in the sens... moree that it goes fairly quickly, only hitting the highlights of Edwards' overall life. Marsden does an interesting thing throughout in that he keeps making comparisons between the life of Ben Franklin and Edwards, both of whom were about the same age and whose lives took drastically different trajectories. Since both Franklin and Edwards shaped America with their respective lives and work, Marsden uses this contrasting method to give us a sort of biographical explanation of the somewhat paradoxical nature of American history: it's commitment to secularism and religiosity. As the title suggests, Marsden's biography is quite short; but it's still interesting and informative focusing upon particular details in Edwards' life, ministry, and theology. I think there's enough detail within to spark someone's interest in tracking down other details of Edwards. Marsden ends the book with a list of suggested readings along with a guide for which books are good for which purposes.Excellent biography! Highly recommend for all Edwards enthusiasts as well as those interested in early American history. less

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