I've greatly benefitted from reading many stories of faithful saints who have persevered until the end of their lives for the glory of God. While Uncommon Character by Douglas Feavel is not comprised exclusively of Christians, it is fascinating to read the stories of those who demonstrated uncommon qualities in their lives, opening up the door to discuss just what it is that constitutes heroic attributes in others.
Many thanks to Douglas Feavel and LibraryThing for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Thoughts content is also posted on LibraryThing.
Book Synopsis
A captivating non-fiction anthology filled with heroic profiles, epic tales, and timeless parables. You'll meet valiant personalities who've challenged and changed the world in remarkable ways. Their unforgettable stories are religious and secular, historical and current, unknown and familiar, foreign and domestic. Prepare to encounter priests, farmers, pilots, immigrants, missionaries, engineers, martyrs, businessmen, lawyers, pioneers, presidents, soldiers, writers, and scientists — their dynamic legacies are destined to become part of us and our heritage. Collectively, their stories answer the pertinent questions of our time: What makes a genuine hero? How can a hero personify godly character? Why is personal character so vital for our families and country?
These are unique tales told with zest; these are unforgettable tales to long treasure. Enjoy the exciting profiles and parables; then share them in family, church, workplace, ministry, and educational settings.
Source: Amazon
Book Thoughts
This was a book that admittedly took me some time to get through as the number of biographical stories was quite dense. I found that this book could almost be divided into two books, with the appendix having enough material to constitute its own title. I appreciated getting to know a lot of the people throughout history whose stories may not be as familiar to readers today; however, many of the people selected are not necessarily adherents of the Christian faith. I would say that this book focuses more primarily on attributes that build up character in the forms of values and virtues over the fruits of the Spirit and Christlike godliness. With this in mind, I found that there was plenty to learn from individuals who exemplified sheer resistance and persistent determination in their lives. It would have been interesting to group some of the stories together under certain headings, such as those involved in the Second World War and others throughout history who stood up to menacing forces, as I found that those were the tenacious characters I couldn't get out of my mind.
In reading the appendix, it makes sense that this book is mostly told from a storytelling perspective where the author delivered oral presentations that were then captured in a written format. As a result, each chapter needs to almost be approached as a lecture where a great person from history is being visited. I liked that the author took the time to add accompanying notes as this made the stories come to life even further. Readers who are students of history will find a lot to mine in this book and Christians will enjoy how this book wraps up, culminating in the best story about finishing well and an uncommon character that is worth emulating.
Book Summary
- Format of book: 📱
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Recommendation: 👍
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