Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham

by Billy Graham

Commemorative edition

Hailed as "the world's preacher," Billy Graham enjoyed a career that spanned six decades and his ministry of faith touched the hearts and souls of millions.

In Just As I Am, a #1 New York Times Bestseller, Graham reveals his life story in what the Chicago Tribune calls "a disarmingly honest autobiography." With down-to-earth warmth and candor, Graham tells the stories of the events and encounters that helped shape his life. He recounts meetings with presidents, celebrities, and world leaders, including Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth, and the Shah of Iran, and shares his own spiritual journey as he movingly reflects on his personal life and relationships. This is an inspirational and unforgettable portrait that will be treasured by readers everywhere.

Genres: Biography, Christian, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Christianity, Religion, Faith

834 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 1999

About the author

Billy Graham was an American evangelical Christian evangelist and an ordained Southern Baptist minister. Graham is best known for his evangelistic missions or “Crusades.” He believed God knew no borders or nationalities. Throughout his career, Graham preached to millions around the world. He met and prayed with every U. S. president from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama.

Graham authored 34 books, including his memoir, Just As I Am. In 1983, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan. In 1996, Graham and his wife, Ruth, received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award Congress can bestow on a private citizen.

Graham married Wheaton College classmate Ruth Bell Graham in 1943. They had five children ( Ruth Graham, Gigi Graham Tchividjian, Anne Graham Lotz, Nelson, & Franklin Graham) and made their home in the mountains of North Carolina. They were married for 64 years before Ruth’s death in 2007. Graham died from natural causes on February 21, 2018, at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, at the age of 99.

Reviews

[Larisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned much about humility and being a true servant of God from this book, and I recommend it highly.

I always wondered what it was about Billy Graham and I found out when I read this book. He is a humble man, a true servant of God, who took all things to the Lord, no matter what it was, before he made any decision!!

I recall a story from the book where Pastor Graham is flying over the middle east, wondering how he was going to speak to the people there about Jesus. And he thought, this is where Christ was born, where he lived and walked, and that is how he approached them. He found a way to connect Jesus Christ with everyone he ever spoke to.

Billy Graham is the most prolific evangelist in Christian history, a pastor to the Presidents, and a Christian man of integrity -- this is Billy Graham. This book tells the story of his life: from his simple farm-boy beginnings, through his tent revival conversion, his college days and marriage to Ruth, his early fiery and outspoken preaching days, his years of global ministry and maturity, and ending today, as a respected man of God by virtually everyone in the world.

The story is told with an easy-going pace and reading it you have to smile at Graham's style, which is honest, humorous, and very... normal. It's really amazing to see how God took this average fellow and used him in such AMAZING WAYS!!

This book is a treasure chest for any person who wishes to live a life of INTEGRITY! We would all do well to honor his legacy by remembering his life and everything that he stood for. Just As I Am is an autobiographical masterpiece from a man I deeply respect.

[Katelyn Beaty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christianity Today is one of several organizations that Billy Graham helped launch. I figured that since I knew next to nothing about the man besides "Billy the Evangelist," I would read Graham's 700-page autobiography, published in 1997. After tracing his Southern roots and recapping the highlights of his overseas evangelism work, Graham moves into the most intriguing sections: his relationships with the Presidents and foreign diplomats. Graham was always intentional about forming friendships with the Presidents, wherein he was a mentor and minister. This kind of friendship, although done with good intentions, proved to be naive in some instances, not least in his friendship with Nixon. Billy got burned and he's more than willing to admit it in his retelling.
Other highlights of the book included Graham's encounters with those on the opposite end of the socio-cultural spectrum, including Johnny Cash, Karl Barth, Martin Luther King Jr., JFK, and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. These odd relationships only served to highlight Graham's simple thoughts on the gospel, Christ, and what it means to be born again. In my opinion, simplicity is one of many of Graham's virtues, though I know others would disagree. Any hint of seeming politically disengaged makes many people assume that Graham cared nothing more than about getting as many people as possible to heaven. To this, I would counter that preaching the Good News is a political act in and of itself, as it's an invitation to kingdom-living, which is inherently countercultural and "culturally relevant." Though I don't believe his evangelism approach would be understood or accepted in postmodern culture, I trust that Graham was doing the good work he had been given to do, and I applaud his faithfulness to that work.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

You might find it odd that an atheist would read the autobiography of Billy Graham but actually this is a re-read, I've read it twice before and really enjoyed it each time.

No matter how much our beliefs might differ there is no denying the importance of Billy Graham on the last 100 years and I find him to be worthy of the title "Most Respected American" (which he has been named many many times over the years).

One book can't cover nearly everything that he has done and seen over his 80 year career but I find this book to be a good starting point.

I wouldn't recommend it for everyone but for quite a few this would be a great read (I actually listened to the audio book on a couple really long training runs).

[Robert Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book during one of the summers of my high school years, and its impression on me has never left. As a Christian, Billy Graham is one of my personal heroes, and reading his life story from his own "lips" was a genuine thrill. Learning about the amazing things which God allowed Billy to experience provide a powerful comfort to Christians who may be wondering deep down if God can really use anyone.
There are accounts in the book which can't be taken as anything but divine Providence. For example, one of my favorite stories is from when Billy had just married his wife Ruth. World War II was in full swing, and he wanted to join the army as a chaplain. In order to join, he allowed himself to gain a certain amount of weight to meet their standards. He got sick on the very morning he was set to leave, and by the time he recovered he had lost the exact amount of weight that he had GAINED in order to join the forces. Without that sickness, he would have never become an evangelist.
Also, it's mind-blowing to realize how many historical figures Billy had the opportunity to share God's love with. He had the opportunity to sit down with every US President since Harry Truman. He was able to sit down with Winston Churchill and Mother Teresa. He was even able to speak with the Soviet president of the USSR in the very heat of the Cold War (he just wasn't allowed to preach while in the country). Heck, he even put on a disguise and hung out with the young people at Woodstock! (Don't believe me? Read the book!)
His life story, and how it was used to glorify Christ, are an inspiration to his generation and every generation after him. I thank God for Billy Graham's influence.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Billy's store very encouraging and challenging. His humility comes through in this long story. He preached the Gospel on every continent; most amazing were the doors open to preach in the Soviet Union, China and North Korea. Reading of his friendships with every president since Eisenhower was wonderful because he demonstrated the love of Christ to these powerful people. Billy's interaction with these presidents serves as a lesson for all of us for he did not get involved in politics, he prayed with and for them regardless of whether he agreed with them or not, and he genuinely liked them. His love for all people comes out and it is easy to see how he truly enjoyed being around all sorts of people from the most powerful to the least, from Christian to atheist and everyone in between. At times the story seemed too stuffed with names and places, but what can be expected in recounting over a half-century of work. The final part of the book where he discusses his friends and family was a great conclusion as it took the focus away from Graham the celebrity and put it on Graham the family man and friend.

[Johnathan Sorce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book which I am so glad I was forced to read. It's really been a great encouragement and example to me, and I'm sure it will continue to be in the coming months and years. "Just as I Am" is a crash course for anyone who is unfamiliar - or even for those who think they are familiar - with the incredible ministry of Billy Graham and the ways God used a simple cow-milker to reach millions with the gospel. The things which stood out to me most from this book are how gracious and humble Mr. Graham was, how he always assumed the best of everyone and was ready to be friendly with anyone, and the incredible emphasis which he placed on prayer.
All this being said, the book does have some weaknesses and some caveats I would give to anyone who is interested in reading it - hence the reason for my 3-star rating (and the introductory sentence of this review). In short, I don't think I would have picked up this book - or made it all the way through - if it hadn't been part of an assignment. It's a long book, and in places you definitely feel that length, as it doesn't always read as a directly chronological narrative, but more of a topical one. This is understandable, considering the length of Mr. Graham's ministry and the hundreds of crusades, events, people, places, publications, and other things he was a part of throughout his life - it just wouldn't work to present even half of it as a strict chronological story. The more narrative-focused portions of the book are the strongest and stand out the most - particularly the 1954 London Crusade, the 1957 New York Crusade, the founding of "Christianity Today" and "Decision" magazine, and countless other anecdotes. However, the summary tissue which connects these vital organs of the story can drag in some places, making it difficult to read through the book all the way from start to finish. There's also a lot of information being thrown at you, not in a confusing way, but in a way that makes it difficult to digest all of it.
Verdict: I'd say this is a must for anyone who wants to learn about the 20th century and/or be encouraged in their faith. Don't be deterred by the length of the book - if after you start and make it past some of the more engaging zones, it's too much for you, then use the table of contents to hone in on the chapters which look interesting to you. Because of the way the book is structured, you can jump around without too much confusion.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

It takes a while to get through this biography, but then Mr. Graham has done a lot in his eventful life. The book goes through his life chronologically, and it reads as if Mr. Graham was telling stories about what happened during tha time of his life. So often he will throw in a little rememberance that is only a couple of paragraphs long. It makes for a real personal feel to the book.[return]I enjoyed this book immensely. Some chapters were of less interest than others of course, my favorites were the ones in which he described his relationships with political leaders. I highly recommend this book, especially for those interested in famous people and/or religious leaders.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a college student, over the Christmas break, I went to a conference where Billy Graham spoke, and although I was already a Jesus follower, I was greatly inspired by his message. This autobiography of his life is truly a comprehensive look at his life and ministry. I loved how he took every opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ with whomever he was speaking, and never wavered from that message. His book honestly gives his regrets, i.e., he would have liked to spent more time with his family. I can only thank God for the simple message he proclaimed to the world of the gift of God's son, Jesus to the world. It is only through Christ that we have hope and peace.

I thought I had read this book all the way through years ago, but I think I only read 200 page the first time. I am so glad I still had this book on hand, and that I was able to read it through.

[Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

L O N G book!

Graham records his early life, becoming a Christian, and the way he was called to be an evangelist and set up an organization.

The interesting anecdotes of the crusades, the relationships with the famous drew me back into my own history trying to remember what each decade was like for me and where Graham was making history during my own life.

Each chapter read like an interesting magazine article.

I was most captivated by his personal comments at the end of the book. His reflections on his family, his regrets, what he would like to have done better.

No real surprises. It is interesting to get a bit of insight into the life and ministry of one of the most famous Christians in all of history.

[Liz Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see a lot of reviews talking about how long this book is. My answer to that is: Billy Graham has lead a long and full life. This book is excellent and leaves no stone unturned. This happens to be one of my top favorite books ever. I reread this at least once a year. Billy Graham was an inspiring man, intelligent but humble as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about his life and his service to God. This book is very detailed and chalk full of facts and interesting stories.

I recommend it to any and everyone!

[Elizabeth Swanson-McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this autiobiography of Billy Graham. When Dr. Graham was in Louisville in June of 2001, I was a counselor for the Crusade and it was a pleasure to hear him tell all of us the simple, pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was still attending The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and would graduate in December 2002. This was right before 9/11/2001. Very personable man who loves to preach the Gospel and serve others.

[Barb reads......it ALL! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really debated on the rating. I think I may have been stingy with my stars only because I had many issues with the book. I enjoyed the beginning, learning about the boy and his family. But too often I found myself caught up in either his style or something that i disagreed with regarding his dealings with team or his family.

[Tiff Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow. This tome took me almost a full year to read. While I normally read through books at a much faster pace, this book was far too meaty to tackle it in one go. There were plenty of weeks in which I did not pick it up at all, because the information within was overwhelming at times.

Billy Graham is someone my dad always had great respect for. I have never known much about him other than that he is one of the world's most prolific evangelists, and through his preaching, thousands upon thousands have turned their lives over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I have never heard him preach, that I can remember. This book also belonged to my dad, and so it was important to me to read it.

Overall, I found the writing style very dry and straightforward. It often reads like a textbook written in the first person. However, the timeline of events and the milestones all serve to make clear that Dr. Graham is truly a humble man. He often turns the story away from himself, and toward others. I worried that his chapters on his relationships with various Presidents and world leaders would just be name-dropping chapters. Not so. Those chapters illustrate Billy Graham's desire to believe the best about everyone. To love everyone as he loves himself. To pray and encourage and share the Gospel with everyone, whether they are paupers, priests, or kings. I found his writing honest and forthright, with nary a hint of exaggeration or sensationalism.

My favorite chapters were the final chapters, which feel much more personal and open than the rest. These chapters zero in on his family life, his personal walk with Christ, and even his regrets as he looks back on his life. I feel almost as though these chapters could have been the sum total of his autobiography, as they illustrate his true legacy.

I am so glad I took the time to read every word of this book, and so grateful for this glimpse into the life of one of the 20th century's spiritual giants. A man marked by a passion for the Gospel, a love for the lost of the world, and who genuinely walked humbly with his God. Now 96 years old, this book was published when he was in his late 70's, and I often wonder what pages he might add if he could.

[Karen Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had ordered this book from the library and had intended to return it unread (too many "to-read" books on my list at the time), when I learned that Billy had gone home to be with the Lord. After reading so many heartfelt testimonies from his followers and fans on social media, and seeing part of his powerful memorial service, I had to find out more about this man who had impacted so many lives, including my brother-in-law's, who had accepted Christ at one of his crusades. What a treat this book turned out to be!

It's a lengthy ready, at more than 400 pages, and it does a bit more "telling" than "showing" for my taste, but Billy Graham had such an interesting (to say the least) and fruitful life that it kept me engaged, brought me to tears at times, and truly bolstered my faith.

Billy Graham was a humble man who was used mightily by God, and it's clear when you read the book that the fruit was all God and not Billy. Sure, Billy was obedient to go and say and do what he felt led to, but as he stated many times throughout the book, it was God's Spirit who gave him such a powerful platform to proclaim God's truth. And it was God's spirit who changed people's lives!

I highly recommend!

[John Herrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview of Billy Graham's career. At the end, I felt a bit disheartened because the reflections it contained seemed, for the most part, only surface-level deep. Knowing about his son Franklin's struggles--which the family overcame--I had hoped to read more about the heart of a father as it related to his ministry. Unfortunately, this seemed more like a rundown of factual events, a general accounting of various crusades and the numbers attended. As much as Billy Graham has experienced personally and as a pastor, I'd really hoped for more. That said, the book cover does cite this is an autobiography (as opposed to a memoir). A good read overall! I love the guy--and he's genuine, which is the biggest reason I was willing to read about his life. Well worth the time spent with the book!

[Christy VanZandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billy Graham will turn 100 this November the Lord willing. What a life lived in service to the Lord! Just wow. I had no idea that he was such friends with many US Presidents and met so many world leaders. Two things that really stuck out was how humble he is always giving credit to God and how he, his family, and team prayed over everything....every decision...every situation. So glad I read this. It is a long read though but that’s expected with such a long span of ministry.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in a generation that applied a synonymous meaning to spiritual things and Billy Graham. This broad based summary of Billy Graham life is both detailed and inspiring.The book chronicles his life from his early years all the way through to 1996 and tells of his influence as an evangelist literally over the entire globe.

[Jen Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea Billy Graham lead such an interesting life. I mean I knew he was widely known as an evangelist but had no idea he personally knew every president since Truman. It was amazing to see how he consistently gave credit to the Lord and the power of prayer for his blessed ministry.

[Jennifer Dowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading about his childhood and how he became the man he is today. A lot of info all the crusades and various events can sometimes be too much info for me. I enjoyed reading about his various relationships with U.S. Presidents.

[William Hines · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so terrible, I couldn't even finish it. - Billy Graham has led an extraordinary life, but this book was more or less a matter of fact, colorless listing of events. A reader interested in Graham would be better served reading a biography from another author.

[Carolefd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy reading peoples autobiographies, but this seemed more like a travel log of his crusades than really telling his story. It was still interesting but way too long.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed learning Graham's adventures his whole thought process ur rather annoying because all his thoughts seem random and the book doesn't flow smoothly.

[Mathias Seiwert · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Blessed to read details of how the LORD prepared, established, guided, and sustained Billy Graham for a life-long/worldwide fruitful ministry.”

[Arthur Sperry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting autobiography. Billy Graham traveled and met hundreds of thousands of people in his ministry, from commoners to kings.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing, humble,godly man. Though there are a lot of numerical facts the stories he tells are priceless. I love this man and can’t wait to meet him someday!

[Thomas Maerke · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a guy at a men's Bible study kept referencing Billy Graham, I thought, I should read his autobiography. That would be interesting. Boy, was I right.

1. It's so long. He has lived an amazing, rich life. He has done phenomenal work. He has met lots of famous people. He has preached to millions. But, I kept thinking, I'm 250 pages into this book and not half way through yet. I'm 300 pages into this book and not half way through yet. I'm 400 pages into this book and I'm only half way through it!!!

2. His conversational tone of writing can be really wonderful at some points, but a bit off at other times. Thinking it took him quite some time to work through this autobiography, the inconsistencies aren't the worst thing in the world. It's actually encouraging as I think about Billy Graham being a mostly normal guy who did extraordinary work for God. It's nice to experience such a down-to-earth autobiography. That's how, as a reader, I feel like I can be confident I'm reading Billy Graham's words, and not some ghost writer's.

3. He spent time with every president, from Truman to W. Bush. And every single one has a chapter. And he never personally endorsed any of them. But he did pray with all of them, and he prayed for all of them. The name dropping was personally not endearing. Further, there are more "common man" stories of time spent with US Presidents and foreign diplomats than there are with his kids. So, I guess I need to read more about him to get the family perspective.

4. I loved the early sections much more than the Cold War--North Korea sections. Everything up until about 1960 in here was so good. Beyond 1960, I loved reading about the domestic campaigns and crusades, and then the South American and African work. Beyond that, there was so much political work (NOT) going during the Cold War/Eastern Europe trips.

5. I also loved reading about the "training" campaigns that the BGEA took on later in his work. I love that he was devoted to doing evangelical work, but it's great to hear that he used his influence to bring people together and provide training. The more workers, and well trained workers, the better. That was exciting for me to read about.

It's long yes, but it's worth the read. If you skip the chapters about the US Presidents, you won't really miss anything.

[Isaac · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one actually probably gets three and a half stars, but as I can't give half stars its just three (sorry Billy).
Not terribly deep in terms of spirituality, but there's a lot of wisdom that could, certainly, be applied to the practical side of ministry.
The other major value I derived from it is the interesting historical perspective, and coming from a man whose life and ministry has helped to define so much of modern evangelicalism I'd say its definately full worthy of the read. I particularly enjoyed some of his perspectives on Nixon, and surely God has used this man to open up doors for the Word of God to penetrate several communist nations, such as Hungary, North Korea, and China (though indegenous underground Christians in such nations have been thriving under the boot of their oppressors since the overtaking of each (Check out some information on Pastor Hsi(from before Mao's takeover), Watchman Nee, Nora Lam, and Brother Yun as examples of Christians in China, for example), Graham was an excellent religious figurehead of the West to such nations, as he was widely accepted by the political heads of America, as well as many other Western nations).
Dr. Graham was an evangelist, and his ministry seems to have done well one of the major roles of that particular venue of ministry: publish the gospel, and get the door opened for God's word in the hearts of the lost.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A straightforward history more than revealing autobiography "Just As I Am" reveals nothing particularly novel about Billy Graham... except for his humanity. If you are looking for great revelation, sordid details, or surprising secrets look elsewhere. In this book Rev. Graham lists out clearly if not plainly the events of his life, the roots of his "fame" in the Los Angeles preaching crusades, on through his later life.

What I found most telling is his ability to speak positively and warmly about every U.S. president he interacted with, from JFK all the way through Bill Clinton. He never has a harsh word to say about anyone, save perhaps himself. Years of segregating himself from politics while attempting to minister to politicians has left him with an uncanny ability to see the glass half full in everyone.

The book was not deep or challenging, but rather comes across as a history lesson told by someone who knows the subject very well but isn't sure why the audience would care. It was not an unpleasant read, but did not shake me spiritually nor open my eyes to some heavenly knowledge heretofore unknown. The title is appropriate as this book truly is just a simple, unassuming tale of a man's life without pretense or presumption.

[Stanley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew up being continually exposed to BGEA and purchased this book to clarify some history I already had a some of knowledge about. This is not a hard hitting tell all book in any way shape or form. There are no deep dark secrets exposed and Mr. Graham never takes the kid gloves off. Being interested in his encounters with several Presidents I paid particular attention as he talked about his relationships with Gen. Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ, RMN, Carter, RWR, GHWB, Bubba & HRC. I was greatly disappointed with many inconsistencies in the POTUS/FLOTUS anecdotes compared to other biographies I have read and what I remember from that period. Mr. Graham makes them all out to be saints which tends to detract from the books credibility. In much of the book there was a sense of listening to the adventures of John-boy Walton. There were a few comments that just didn't sound right but Mr. Graham makes it clear that he is not perfect and that he was never seeking his own glory. I am left with a sense of peace about disagreeing with the infamous Billy Graham on minor issues with out jeopardizing my salvation.

[Dave Rench · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a humble man of God. It was amazing how much he worked for the sake of the Gospel, especially in uniting the church under the common theme of salvation. As an evangelist, he purposefully steered clear of areas of dissention between denominations or catholic and protestant. Not that those areas of difference aren't areas to be discussed and even fight for at times, but he realized his platform was not the conduit to do that.
I also appreciated his last chapter where he expresses heartfelt sorrow over the small amount of time he was able to spend with his kids has they were growing up. He took advantage of the time he had, but admitted he might do things differently if given the opportunity. I can't imagine the difficulty in that. My guess is God blessed him in allowing all 5 of his kids to follow the Lord because his heart was not trying to uplift the Billy Graham name, but because he just couldn't see how else to serve the Lord in the ministry that God had called him to. Does God always work that way? I'm sure not. He's not tame after all. But He is good. And I thank Him for that, and for Billy Graham and all he accomplished in his lifetime.