The Story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Radical Integrity

by Michael Van Dyke

You’ll be inspired by this story of a German pastor and theologian who gave his life to oppose Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime. Born into a prominent German family, Dietrich Bonhoeffer died in a Nazi prison camp, hanged for his plot against the man who’d plunged the world into war. Find out what made Dietrich Bonhoeffer the man he was—compassionate minister, brilliant thinker, opponent of the heresies of Nazism and Aryan superiority. This easy-to-read biography details both Bonhoeffer’s life and his powerful theology—of “cheap” versus “costly” grace.

Genres: Biography, Christian, History, Nonfiction, Faith, Religion, Theology

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

Reviews

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book! I've done two Bonhoeffer studies, Life Together and The Cost of Discipleship. Radical Integrity gave me a deeper, richer appreciation of Bonhoeffer. I found this book very easy to read, and it did a very nice job of presenting many of Bonhoeffer's beliefs in an easy-to-understand manner. When I studied Life Together, I chafed under the practices Bonhoeffer imposed. It was so interesting to read that the ordinands at Finkenwalde chafed also. This book also made clear the struggle Bonhoeffer had balancing his pacifism and his decision to assist in the attempts to rid Germany of Hitler. After reading this book, I better understand Bonhoeffer's stance against the Lutheran Church (which became the Reich Church) in Germany during this time and the role the Confessor Church tried to play. I would highly recommend this book as an introduction to Bonhoeffer or an additional study on this truly amazing man.

[Rosie Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book solely with a mild interest in seeing what the life of another Christian who lived during Holocaust-era Germany looked like and I had no idea that two theological questions that I have been pondering almost ceaselessly would be a recurring theme in this book.
What does it look like to be an actual Christian actually living for God in this modern world? And how can we be separate from the world and yet actually pick up our cross of responsibility to God and fellow humans and make the world a truly better place, a place under God's will?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer taught me a lot about the difference between being a responsible Christian in this world's government and being nationalistic.
One point I don't feel comfortable with is his stance on picking " the lesser of two evils". How can you, as a Christian bear arms? I wished he could have explained his opinion with scripture in a more satisfying way. I gathered that he felt largely conflicted and not at peace with his deceit towards Hitler, and yet still believed that his part was necessary.
I think that this book was an excellent read and I highly recommend it to everyone.

[Robert Jacoby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this one up in a supermarket, of all places, just before leaving on a beach holiday. I've known about Bonhoeffer for a long time, just not the details of his life. I flipped through some pages of this little book, and the reading level seemed about right for a "serious beach read." It reads to me about middle school level.

I found it to be a nice, quick, not overly complex introduction to the man, his theology, his time, and him struggling to make his way and find his place (and peace) in his time. Excerpts from his letters sent from prison are particularly heart-wrenching because you know how the story ends. The Nazis hang him just a few weeks before the end of World War II.

A camp doctor wrote of witnessing the execution, and confirming Bonhoeffer's death: "In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God."

I pray for that peace.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd describe this book as a good introduction to the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Unfortunately, it is sadly lacking in compelling details. Perhaps the writing is just not my style.

That said, this man's life will never cease to inspire me. His struggles to carry discipleship into all areas of his life and to fit Christianity into 'real life' are so genuine and complicated and human. Through confusion and failure he somehow managed to live a life of victory. That's remarkably encouraging.

I'd like to read some of Bonhoeffer's books and essays. The short excerpts of his own words included in this book leave me hungry for more!

[Crystal]

Can't wait to read "Cost of Discipleship".

[Cheryl Teel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book challenges the believer to not just merely be religious, but to live a life pleasing to Christ in every circumstance if your life, even if it means prison and maybe even death because of it. I highly recommend it.

[Larada Horner-Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book 20+ years ago and picked it up again. What a compelling story for our time. Bonhoeffer's growth in faith and belief in his Hod touched my heart. He was a true hero who wrestled with being a patriot and being true to his Christian faith.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly an earthly man who possessed a deep love for his LORD JESUS CHRIST and his country. Truly a man of integrity.

[Jack Kooyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well written biography about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer that, I think, has a clear message for Christians in the U.S. during these challenging times. If you are not familiar with the person and life of this man, this book provides an excellent introduction.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very moving count of a god-fearing man who stood up for what he believed. I agree with the epilogue that he is an example for 21st century believers on how to follow God and stand against evil.

I like what was said on page 81 about how the psalmist of psalm 63 was changed by encountering God and submitted to Him.

In reading this book, I was struck by how Nazi thinking has invaded the church. I'm glad Bonhoeffer said that Christians don't replace Jews, but join them in the church (PG 78-79). I didn't know that Luther had distorted grace to cheap grace, or that he dispensed with Jewish history and unlinked the old testament from the new (PG 110).

The best chapter was 18. Bonhoeffer's conclusion that religion comes from seeking answers or a group to follow and not God Himself. That this shallow, unthinking religion can lead to using God to only fill gaps and making Him into a pagan god or God's irrelevance when science answers our questions was insightful. I agree that God wants us to know Him, His Presence (PG 172), not carry out religious activities without Him.

Bonhoeffer is someone to consider in the face of ungodly governing. Following God comes first, then other authorities unless they contradict God (PG 180). Always stand up for life. Be who God created you to be, and be free (PG 178).

[Riley Hennessey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple & thought-provoking account of Bonhoeffer’s life.

“To Dietrich, a God who only existed to “fill in the gaps” of our knowledge was susceptible of turning into a pagan god, which is exactly what had happened in Germany under the Nazis. A limited God was a God who could be adapted for human purposes. But if God was God at all, thought Dietrich, He should also be relevant in those areas where humankind had found itself capable of carrying on without Him.”

Epilogue-
“After a certain point in is theological training, Bonhoeffer never read the Bible without asking what the Word was telling him to do- right then, right there, wherever he was. Thus the Word took on an immediate and fearsome reality for him. It led him to become the antithesis of what “religious” Germans thought a Christian should be. He had no use for the abstract God of religious observance because such a God had been too easily appropriated by the Nazis. No, he only worshipped the God who had taken on flesh Himself - who had, because of the sins of many, suffered the ultimate punishment before rising again in victory.”

Am I following “religion” or am I following Jesus?

[Mike Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is told like a fiction story, which keeps it engaging to the half-interested reader, but also delves into real Bonhoeffer quotes quite a bit. Just recently, I re-read the Cost of Discipleship and I thought, "no one but Bonhoeffer" could deliver such a rebuke to a Christian's complacency and worldliness. But we have to listen to him on his message of radical Christianity, because he lived it, he was an example, not like we have today of people tearing down the church calling the people inside "fake Christians" while the non-churchgoer defends his own righteousness thanks to cheap grace. Where today we have a society that has taken steps towards abandoning the church, Bonhoeffer quested to make the church ever the more relevant in modern society, as in his own time, he championed against the Nazis until his execution, while the Nazis were trying to mold the church to their own twisted agenda.

[Teresa Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting but not at all what I was expecting. I expected the typical story of someone who suffered through the holocaust... and this was, to a certain extent. But it was also a lot of philosophizing about theology.... because that's what Dietrich did. Again, it was very interesting and I loved his concepts, but the back cover did not lead me to believe it would be this type of book. Expect more of a discussion on how the church affected the Nazi regime, why the church did or didn't respond in specific ways, and why Dietrich became disenfranchised to a certain extent, with how the church was handling their connections with, and decisions about the Nazi regime and how much they should work in conjunction with them. Would have given it a 4 star if I had been alerted to expect what I got. Very, very well written.

[Michelle Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Bonhoeffer showed that it is possible to grow in faith under any circumstance, and to be a disciple in any situation or dilemma. He also showed, however, that this could only be done if the disciple was willing to count the cost, and to pay it in full if necessary.”
- from the Epilogue

This little book packs a punch - I often had to walk away from it for space to think about and process what I had read. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his short life, was able to come to a powerful understanding of faith and discipleship, perhaps because of the unspeakable evil he lived amongst and gave his life to oppose. This, to me, is the difference between Christianity and Christian nationalism, which is sadly the direction my own country seems to be heading in. Bonhoeffer set quite the sobering example to follow.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was the son of an affluent German but became a prominent priest. This book chronicles his story of faith during the Nazi regime. Bonhoeffer stayed faithful to God and created the Confessing Church when he broke from the Church of Germany. Even though he could have left, he felt a sense of duty to his country. He saw what was happening in Germany as an example of religion being a social construct and not based on faith. Though it was a moral dilemma for him, Dietrich was involved in plots to assassinate Hitler. This landed him in jail, and though he remained in good spirits and didn't divulge any information, he was executed just weeks before the war's end.

[Bryce B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 Stars

I found this book to be a good overview of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It chronicles well the events and encounters of Bonhoeffer, and has definitely put 'The Cost of Discipleship' on my list of books to read. I did feel like the book was more focused on describing life events and didn't get as deep into Bonhoeffer's theology and teaching, which I would've like a deeper dive into as it relates to the decisions he made during the second world war. Ultimately a good, short introduction to Bonhoeffer life that prepares well to reading other works about or written by Bonhoeffer.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice tribute to pastor and professor Bonhoeffer and his resistance to Hitler, specifically speaking against Hitler's movements to try and usurp the worship of Christians from the church to the Nazi party. Bonhoeffer's devotion to God, his desire to serve Him, and his work to inspire his fellow Germans and remind them of their duties as Christians is clear. The dates of events was a bit unclear at times, and it would have been interesting to know more about Bonhoeffer's resistance work in the Abwehr, but for a tribute to his unwavering faith, it was good.

[Travis Sharpe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is not a bad introduction to Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It tells an accurate story of Bonhoeffer's life, and even does a decent job of expressing his role in the plot to kill Hitler. The problem with the book is it has very few references. There are multiple quotations that are not referenced. The author is never clear if he's writing a summary of what Bonhoeffer might have said, or if this is a real quotation. Other than that, for someone who wants a brief introduction to Bonhoeffer's life, it's not a bad book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at a second hand store while on holiday. I had wanted to read about bonhoeffer for a while, so I was very happy to find it. The book was engaging and easy to read with good insights into his life and work. I was looking for a good overview of his life and that is exactly what this book provides. His story is inspiring and tragic and has made me want to ready more of his writings esp. The cost of discipleship.

[Kalmar Shuffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this the most definitive book on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life?
Probably not. But for someone, like me, who wants to know about an underrated Christian martyr and theologian, I think it's a great start.
While I'm not a fan of the writing style (sometimes it felt like a fictional telling; other times it felt more biographical), I did learn a lot about his life and was given plenty of food for thought. Plus, I now know about more books relating to Bonhoeffer to keep an eye out for.

[Rachel Shallenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it says, "The Story of" in the title, it is a story. It doesn't read like a biography at all. There are probably some gaps filled in, but I enjoyed it and I found it helpful to understand that time and place better (i.e. WWII Germany), and to better be able to apply lessons learned to the American church. 'Cause guess what, history repeats.

[Clara K Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspiring book. I found this book, beside inspiring, a little scary! Could we be heading in this direction? I just pray I have the faith and dedication to stand my ground if placed in this situation and show the same faith that Bonhoeffer did.
Definitely makes you think and inspires you to become this kind of person.

[Paul Petcavage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonhoeffer as a theologian was initially torn between the German Lutherans church of which he was a part but who had capitulated to Hitlers ideology and his own believe that being a Christian meant standing up against the Nazi way. Ultimately he choose to actually work against the regime, was imprisoned and eventually hanged for his opposition but he kept the integrity of his faith to the end

[Tom Musbach]

This is more like a “biography lite” than I wanted, but still really interesting. The subject is a German theologian who resisted the Nazis, and I was really fascinated by his ideas while I was in college. But I didn’t know much about his story. I had no idea about his involvement in trying to get rid of Hitler. Now I”ll be looking for a full-blown biography. (7)

[Rebecca Billsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dietrich was a German theologian and pastor leading up to and during the reign of the Nazis regime. His commitment to Christ and the Word of God is inspiring and convicting. His life is something to aspire to. I could not stop reading this book.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not know a lot about Bonhoeffer, and have yet to read "The Cost of Discipleship". This was a quick overview of his life, and now I know more than what I did before. I didn't love the writing style, however.

[Sara Loveless · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a true depiction of someone with unwavering faith that trusted in the Lord in the most difficult of circumstances. I didn’t love the style of writing, but I’m appreciative of Van Dyke for writing this story.

[Brooke Phelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“He has power to give us life or to destroy us; everything else is a game.” Bonhoeffer’s life really makes us think on where our loyalties lie in regard to patriotism, serving self and even in refusing to compromise as the church of God.

[Laura Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm certain that there are more in-depth books about Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This one was just right for me at this time. I found the parallels between Nazi Germany and things going on in the U.S. today insightful. I recommend this book for people who are willing to examine the similarities.

[Kitty Nottoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man committed to his faith. He longed to do the right thing, to make a difference. It cost him his life but he stayed true to his God and his convictions to the end. The world could learn a lot from the character of this man. Very good read.