I have just read two biographies back-to-back. The two people written about shared many similarities. Both were born in the early 1900s (with less than a six-year age difference) and lived through World War I as children and World War II as adults. Both were born into generationally wealthy families with well-known names. Both were raised in secular households with only social church attendance. Both were given great privilege in life and education. Both could claim extensive world travels and learned from the differing cultures they encountered. However, their differences were vast. One was a man and the other a woman—one from Germany and the other from the United States. One had a short life wholly devoted to the Lord, and the other a long life dedicated to selfish appetites. One was Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the other was Julia Child.
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas is a thick book with fine print. It seems incredible that such a long book should be written about a relatively short life. However, Dietrich Bonhoeffer did a great deal with the short time he was given. Eric Metaxas does a wonderful job of not only detailing Bonhoeffer’s life but also letting his personality come through with extensive quotations from Bonhoeffer himself. While he grew up in a wealthy and privileged position, he did not allow that to keep him from helping and commiserating with those who were suffering. From the very beginning of the changes in Germany, before Hitler even rose to power, Bonhoeffer sought to care for those who were disenfranchised and rejected by the culture, including Jews. Bonhoeffer traveled the world and taught and preached extensively not only in Germany but also in England, the United States, and more. He championed the cause of sound doctrine and the care of those who were being discriminated against outside of Germany and sought help from international and ecumenical sources. You cannot read about Bonhoeffer without reading the gospel. This man was so intent on pure doctrine and sharing the truth of the gospel that he wrestled long and hard with his role in the German Church, the Confessing Church in Germany, as a pastor, as a teacher/professor, as a friend, and as a family member. He sought to live his life according to the word of God. He came to a junction where he could not blame anyone for going either way. Do you simply refuse to participate in evil, even fight against it, or do you actively do something to end it? Bonhoeffer chose to be part of the action to end it and took part in the plot to kill Hitler. This choice ultimately cost him his life, but not before he shared the gospel with many people from various nationalities and beliefs. He went willingly to the gallows, knowing that it was part of God’s sovereign will.
Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz is a much shorter and easier read in some ways, and more difficult in others. The book is well written and flows easily. You get a clear understanding of Julia’s personality from an early age. You can see how her life choices led from one thing to another, and it is interesting to see how her career started to take off in the second half of her life, right when most people would be slowing down. However, it is difficult to see someone so completely opposed to God. She had no interest in the scripture or learning about God. She also found herself seeking, but not finding, purpose in life until she was much older. When she did find a purpose, it was wrapped up in herself. Her early life was adrift in delayed adolescence. Her later life focused on food and fame. She liked the spotlight. She liked to be surrounded by people, especially men. She loved everything about food. You can trust that her cookbooks are not only well written, but also well thought out, tasted, and tested! She lived to cook. She lived for the lights and notoriety. She enjoyed food and people and all that came with that lavish lifestyle. While she was generous to support people and causes she believed in, they often ran contrary to Scripture. The main receipients of her generosity, outside of up-and-coming chefs, were PBS and Planned Parenthood. She may have produced some amazing work to leave behind (both cookbooks and shows), but she had nothing for eternity. She never apologized, never looked back, and certainly never wanted to think about death. She did what was right in her own eyes and was her own god.
The way they died was a summation of how they both lived. Dietrich Bonhoeffer sought to preach the gospel and glorify God in all he did. The choices he made and the death he died were a testament to his faith. He said in a sermon delivered in London in November 1933, “No one has yet believed in God and the kingdom of God, no one has yet heard about the realm of the resurrected, and not been homesick from that hour, waiting and looking forward joyfully to being released from bodily existence…Death is hell and night and cold, if it is not transformed by our faith. But that is just what is so marvelous, that we can transform death.”(Bonhoeffer, pg 517) Referring to his death, he said, “This is the end…For me the beginning of life.” (Bonhoeffer, pg 517). In contrast, Julia Child said, “I have to taste the food, otherwise there’s no use sticking around.”(Dearie, pg. 528) The day before she died, Julia said, “If I can’t live the way I want to live, I’d rather not live at all.” (Dearie, pg. 529).
Both of these books are very well written and give you a good sense of the character and life of the person about whom they are written. If you are interested in either of these people, their life, or their work, these are good biographies to read. You can learn a lot from the lives of others.