Over the last year I have taken a hiatus from writing book reviews, mostly because of our move and having too much going on to commit to reading and reviewing a book. We are now much more settled, so when an opportunity came to review a brand new book about the story behind the beloved hymn, Amazing Grace, came about, I had to jump on the opportunity. I thought I already knew quite a bit of the story. However, I really only knew a small percent of the story behind the song and it’s writer, John Newton.

Amazing Grace really is an incredible hymn that has survived 250 years. It it probably one of the most well known hymns in the world. It has been sang by little children, church goers, and even our nation’s president in 2015. It has been recorded by countless singers from practically every genre and even experienced a rebirth in 2006 when Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) was released and has been sung by many churches since.

I did not grow up attending, nor do I currently attend, a church that sings out of a traditional hymnal (although many in my family do). From time to time I do attend churches that do though. Whenever I do, I always see the value in the old hymns. There are so many life stories that were written into the words of those songs. Honestly, I think the songs mean so much more when you know those stories. For Amazing Grace, when you realize the pain that John experienced through out his life and the stark contradiction between a man studying his Bible while being the captain of a ship hauling slaves, you really understand the amazing grace of God in the fact that He really did save a wretch like John Newton.

In the book, you experience moments in John’s life starting around age 7 when he lost his mother clear through his death. It is written as a novel because the authors took the writings of John himself to create dialogue and stories, but it is really a biography. I love how the authors told the story of John, warts and all. They didn’t cover up his shortcomings and sins. They also didn’t hide the pain he experienced in his life. I highly recommend checking out this book. If you would like to purchase your own copy you can do that here. The publisher is giving away two copies of the book and you can enter to win one of those here.

I will be giving away a copy of the book as well you can enter to win that here. I will announce the winner on my Facebook page and will mail the book to the winner.