• Out of the Depths

  • The Autobiography of John Newton
  • By: John Newton
  • Narrated by: William Sutherland
  • Length: 3 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (393 ratings)

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Out of the Depths  By  cover art

Out of the Depths

By: John Newton
Narrated by: William Sutherland
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Publisher's summary

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” So begins one of the most beloved hymns of all time. This is the autobiography of the man who penned those words. John Newton, the self-proclaimed “wretch”,was an active slave trader for several years until, on a homeward voyage through a violent storm, he experienced what he was later to refer to as his “great deliverance.” He tells of the dramatic, real-life events that led him from sin and bondage to a life transformed by God’s grace.

Public Domain (P)1998 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

Out of the Depths provides a beautiful picture of the 'mazing grace’ Newton so eloquently described in his famous song.” ( Singing News)

What listeners say about Out of the Depths

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A Fine Complement...

to Aitken's biography of John Newton. Much of the material in Newton's little autobiography is used in Aitken's expansive book, but it is interesting to read the "eight letters" telling Newton's story all in a piece. Newton's life runs the gamut from vile slave boat captain to deeply religious follower of Christianity and author of "Amazing Grace," probably the best known of Christian hymns. His humility and honesty concerning his youthful misdeeds is refreshing and allows the reader to see the true power of religion for deep change in someone who approaches it with the true desire to be a better man.

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11 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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A Humble Saint

If you are a believer in Christ and want to hear of the testimony of others, this is a good one.

The reader took getting used to.

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Amazing Grace--not featured

John Newton's transformation from sinner to Christian is inspiring and comforting, and God's grace towards him is truly amazing. That said, those looking for an account of his writing Amazing Grace or doing anything to abolish the slave trade should look elsewhere. Outstanding performance.

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I'm Still Down There

What would have made Out of the Depths better?

I am sorry to say that, although the song, "Amazing Grace" is one of my favorites, and I love to read and hear biographies, I have attempted 5 times to listen to this book, with no success. How sad.

Would you be willing to try another one of William Sutherland’s performances?

No

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Biography

I had wanted to hear more about his time as a ship captain of slave ships and how he left that life,
and how he wrote the famous song. But it seemed to only glance upon it. It is a good background of who he was and became.

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Out of the Depths - Autobiography of John Newton

This unabridged autobiography, appended by other primary sources, is wonderful. I would have liked the story of his slave running, and of the writing of Amazing Grace, but what is here - especially in the later chapters, is meat to the soul. I know that I will revisit these many times.

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  • 03-22-22

Great book, though a little difficult to understan

the reader was a little hard to understand at times, but it was a great book

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Amazing grace

This is an amazing testimony of how Jesus takes a depraved man and leads him through great trials and hardships all the while preserving his life then opens his blind eyes giving him faith.

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Worth a listen

It’s not exciting to listen to given the understated manner in which Newton wrote, but will give you an idea of who he was.

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God’s Grace is praised and proved in the life of Mr Newton

By the end of this beautiful book, my eyes watered, and my faith drank to grow again. Christian, reading this book will be helpful. The best help will not come from the mere story, though it is incredible and full of God’s providential goodness. The best help, I think, will come as you study Mr. Newton's method of interpreting his own life. May we all learn his technique because it was a method taught in the school of the gospel.

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