Martin Luther

By: Eric Metaxas

Narrated by: Eric Metaxas

Length: 20 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

From number one New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas comes a brilliant and inspiring biography of the most influential man in modern history, Martin Luther, in time for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

On All Hallow's Eve in 1517, a young monk named Martin Luther posted a document he hoped would spark an academic debate but that instead ignited a conflagration that would forever destroy the world he knew. Five hundred years after Luther's now famous 95 Theses appeared, Eric Metaxas, acclaimed biographer of the best-selling Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery, paints a startling portrait of the wild figure whose adamantine faith cracked the edifice of Western Christendom and dragged medieval Europe into the future. Written in riveting prose and impeccably researched, Martin Luther tells the searing tale of a humble man who, by bringing ugly truths to the highest seats of power, caused the explosion whose sound is still ringing in our ears. Luther's monumental faith and courage gave birth to the ideals of faith, virtue, and freedom that today lie at the heart of all modern life.

©2017 Eric Metaxas (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

“A meticulously researched and detailed account of Luther’s life and times... a very human portrait.... Metaxas is a scrupulous chronicler and has an eye for a good story. The result is full, instructive, and pacey.” (The Washington Post)

“Metaxas knows how to tell a story and how to develop characters, and this talent makes his narrative at once gripping and accessible... an excellent glimpse of the whole of Luther’s life.” (The New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice) 

“Mr. Metaxas has a knack for capturing the heart and mind of his subjects... his conclusions about the 16th-century revolutionary are uniquely Metaxas, a deep and thoughtful writer with much to teach the world.” (The Washington Times)

Reformation!

Mr. Metaxes hits a Grand Slam Homerun! His research, writing, and presentation all award winning in my book. I loved reading (listening) to this book. The irony is I spent five years in residence at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana and learned more about the Reformation from Mr. Metaxes in 22 hours of listening (reading) than I did at seminary. I rejoice that learning is unending. I will recommend this book to everyone I know. Thank you again Mr. Metaxes for writing and recording the book.

20 people found this helpful

A Metaxas Hat Trick

To read Luther by Metaxas is to be simultaneously educated, enlightened, and entertained. So much to appreciate: dispelling the myths; recognizing the genius while refusing to shadow the faults; keeping Luther’s driving force (the just shall live by faith in the merits of Christ’s work) in the forefront while explaining the wider implications for Christendom and history. And Metaxas delivers all this and more in a captivating and witty prose. This is my best read in 2017. I have already have given away one copy. I suspect more will follow.

27 people found this helpful

Great Biography of a Man and an Era

Another great biography by Eric Metaxas! I thoroughly enjoyed his work on Bonhoeffer, but I thought it was a bit tedious in its detail. Luther is another very nice book, but it lacked some of the tedious details that were in Bonhoeffer. One reviewer has called this book a "fluff" piece since it did not address the anti Semitic writings Luther made in the later part of his life. However, that reviewer must not have read the book as it does address some of the inexplicable statements that Luther made as an old man. Metaxas offers no explanation, but calls them inexplicable since they went against the 99.9 percent of his other writings. One could call them the work of an elderly man struggling with dementia or the work of an elderly man struggling with a bad temper. It would all be conjecture that overlooks the 99.9% of his other work. This book takes pains to bring to light so many things that we take for granted today like freedom of religion and democracy that were the results of Luther's movement. This book is not simply the re-telling of familiar events in Luther's life, it's meant to show the reader how Luther was the bridge Europe took to modern life. When one reads this book, one comes away from it realizing that Luther really did change the world.

20 people found this helpful

An outstanding biography

While I had known about the importance of Martin Luther to European History since High School, I had never really looked into his life, read any biographies or studied the theology behind the Reformation. I knew him to be central to the entire Reformation era, even if he was not the first in that movement, but religious history was never one of my main interests when studying that period of time. However a short documentary on Martin Luther’s life that I saw on some streaming TV rekindled my interest in the period and I bought this biography to learn what I could.

The biography astonished me, for several reasons. First, it was so well written that there were times that I just could not stop listening. I expect that in a well written thriller, but not in a biography. Mr Metaxas’ writing is so interesting, the material so riveting and his injection of humor so fresh that this book is a wonder, and is one of the best biographies I have ever read. Second, the book tries to clarify Martin Luther’s writings by explaining what he was trying to say and how it differed from the current Roman Catholic beliefs of the time. Thus I learned much that I did not know, not only about Martin Luther himself, but also about the theological differences between the Roman Catholic Church and the budding Protestant movement. Third, as the book makes perfectly clear, Martin Luther was a normal human being with all of the fragility and many of the faults of the rest of us. He was not presented as some Protestant saint and, although he was religious to his core, he lived and acted as most other people and his life was quite different from that of, say, Saint Francis of Assisi in that Luther lived in the real world after he left the Monastary.

I believe that as good as the book is, there are some shortcoming. Luther’s attacks on the Jews that took part in his later life are largely glossed over. They are mentioned, but Mr Metaxas attributes them to Luther’s old age. Of course he was not that old, having died at the age of 62, and I think the book would be more complete with a closer look at what Luther wrote on the subject and a better explanation as to why someone who basically founded the idea of freedom of religious views could have resorted to such hate and invective, especially considering how tolerant the younger Luther was in this regard. Also Luther’s famous encounter with The Devil and the “ink pot” that he was supposed to have thrown is hardly mentioned at all. That story is one of the most famous concerning Martin Luther and so its almost total absence in the biography struck me as strange.

It should not be surprising that this book as a point of view. It is very favorable and flattering regarding Martin Luther, and very critical of the Roman Catholic Church as it existed at the time, and even more critical of those leading the church. One of the things that has always amazed me is that Martin Luther was able to stay out of the hands of the Church and the Inquisition, and was never burned at the stake, as was the fate of some of those who preceded him like Jan Hus, John Wycliffe and William Tyndall, although thankfully the latter two had already died before they were burned, Tyndale having been strangled while he was at the stake. The author spends considerable time explaining how and why the political conditions of the time kept Martin Luther alive and well, and that is another reason that I consider this book to be such a good read. It not only covers the life of the man, but also explains the political environment of the time and the reasons he was able to continue writing as well as the theological basis for what he wrote. This is simply a great biography.

Mr Metaxas reads his own book, and his narration is very effective. There are times when his reading fails to flow properly, and times when it is noticeably choppy, but overall he does a very good job narrating his own book. An excellent book, extremely well narrated and full of humor, history, theology and life.

5 people found this helpful

For the mere hilarious table-talks it is worth it..

Once started I couldn’t stop listening.. very detailed life of Martin Luther and his teachings.. I have found myself laughing on more than few occasions of his sayings about life and have also shared few tears on the sorrows of that life.. very well and exquisitely written.. as a Christian I have always had a dark spot on my history of how it all came to be.. and after listening to Foxes book of Martyrs, this is the next best thing.. while i do differ on some theological views mentioned in this book I however greatly appreciate the life and work of Marin Luther.. a must listen..

5 people found this helpful

A spectacular read.

Metaxas struck gold again with this book.
From the miticulous research, to the sprinkles of humor, Metaxas masterfully presents this inflection point in human history known as Marten Luther.

I liked it so much, I bought the paper book just so I could have the author sign it at a book signimg.

4 people found this helpful

Outstanding Book

I really liked how the details of Martin Luther’s life were presented. I felt like I was the author’s best friend and he was telling me all the exciting things he has discovered. The author did an excellent job reading the book and it added to the interest of the book. I enjoyed how the author explored how the world has been impacted by Martin Luther. I will definitely listen to it again and may purchase the kindle version, so I can highlight some of the more insightful sections. Thank you Eric for giving us this book, and just in time for the 500 year anniversary of the reformation.

3 people found this helpful

Powerful and Engaging

Eric Metaxas has become my favorite author, and so I could hardly wait to listen to this new biography, especially since I knew that the author would be reading it. It has lived up to every hope I had. What a great story. I’ve come away so thankful for Luther’s devotion to bringing God’s Word and opening the door to the freedom that comes through faith in Jesus to ordinary people like me. Thank you, Eric, for this wonderful book.

3 people found this helpful

Luther as rebel, pastor and midwife

Many interesting aspects of the reformer's life and transition from lawyer to monk to rebel. Eye opening.

2 people found this helpful

Great Book

I learned so much from this wonderful book. The Author and Narrator were terrific. I do wish there was a PDF file like Leonardo da Vinci's book. With time line, and names of persons involved in the book.
Loved this book and will need to listen a couple of times to catch all of it.

2 people found this helpful

Thorough, honest, inspiring and funny

Thorough - it takes in every aspect of his life.

Honest - he had his faults and some were big. He didn't always live up to the truth he preached, and, like all of us, was a bit of a contradiction.

Inspiring - he was prepared to risk everything and give his all for the truth of the gospel. The most powerful institution on earth would not silence him.

Funny - Luther was obviously very witty, which makes Metaxas the perfect man to communicate that. Metaxas has quite a lot of fun with the story, especially Luther's toilet trials and triumphs, the Pope's beloved elephant, and the very strange wedding customs of the time.

2 people found this helpful

Excellent in every way!

Very happy with this audiobook. The Author reads clearly and passionately. The book is well researched and avoids demonising Luther or simply making a stained glass window out of him! The inspiring Luther comes out clear: his background, ideas and their outcomes comes across very clear. One sees the absolute need for the reformation and nevertheless the real messiness of such a tumultuous but heroic change to Europe. The final chapters offer lessons for today and a reflection on the fruits of the reformation today both for Protestants and even Roman Catholics. The author is fair, not a raging hater of all things papal. So I recommend for inquiring Catholics too.

2 people found this helpful

Martin Luther

Loved this book! wry humour made me laugh outloud! More importantly, it told the story well including the good and the bad.

2 people found this helpful

Tributes the man... flaws and all!

Incredibly detailed & authoritative. A excellent overall telling of what the man Luther achieved and the purpose behind his input to the world.

1 person found this helpful

A deep, thorough and clear accounting

Learning the origins and consequences of the changes Luther started and how he felt about it is highly valuable, regardless of what one may think about him. The author & reader managed to make compelling and easy to follow. A must-have for all history enthusiasts, christian or not.

1 person found this helpful

Detailed and Entertaining

I only ever knew the basics about Martin Luther so what an eye opener this book has been. The pivotal place this man played in Western culture really should be more widely taught in schools, he was certainly never mentioned when I was at school. I had thought his story might be quite dull and worthy but how wrong I was. The man, flaws and all comes across in Eric Metaxas writing as academically brilliant, intense, funny and deeply thoughtful and spiritual, a fully rounded human being who just happened to also change history. The fact that Martin Luther King senior changed his name after learning about him and Junior followed says much about the sheer scale of Martin Luther's relevance. The book is well researched but written in anything but a stuffy academic style so it flies along as well as any novel. A wonderful way to enter the subject.