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My Story: A spiritual and intellectual autobiography
From his humble beginnings in Belfast to debating the world's most prominent atheists on the global stage, John C. Lennox has spent a lifetime showing how faith and reason can stand together.
In My Story, Lennox - one of today's most respected Christian thinkers - invites readers into his remarkable growing up in Northern Ireland, studying at Oxford and Cambridge, teaching mathematics at the highest level, and boldly defending the Christian faith in lecture halls, debates and the public square for more than sixty years.
With warmth, wit and disarming honesty, Lennox reflects on the ideas, people and pivotal moments that shaped his life - from the hunger for Bibles in Soviet Russia to encounters with Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, to his ongoing belief that rigorous science and deep faith are not enemies but allies.
Part memoir, part intellectual adventure, My Story is a must-read for anyone curious how a brilliant mathematical mind can hold fast to the gospel - and how one man’s faith has helped millions find a reason to believe in an age of doubt.
In My Story, Lennox - one of today's most respected Christian thinkers - invites readers into his remarkable growing up in Northern Ireland, studying at Oxford and Cambridge, teaching mathematics at the highest level, and boldly defending the Christian faith in lecture halls, debates and the public square for more than sixty years.
With warmth, wit and disarming honesty, Lennox reflects on the ideas, people and pivotal moments that shaped his life - from the hunger for Bibles in Soviet Russia to encounters with Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, to his ongoing belief that rigorous science and deep faith are not enemies but allies.
Part memoir, part intellectual adventure, My Story is a must-read for anyone curious how a brilliant mathematical mind can hold fast to the gospel - and how one man’s faith has helped millions find a reason to believe in an age of doubt.
Audiobook
Published January 1, 2026
About the author
John C. Lennox
79 books1,101 followersJohn Carson Lennox is Professor of Mathematics in the University of Oxford, Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science, and Pastoral Advisor at Green Templeton College, Oxford. He is also an Adjunct Lecturer at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University and at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and is a Senior Fellow of the Trinity Forum. In addition, he teaches for the Oxford Strategic Leadership Programme at the Executive Education Centre, Said Business School, Oxford University.
He studied at the Royal School Armagh, Northern Ireland and was Exhibitioner and Senior Scholar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge University from which he took his MA, MMath and PhD. He worked for many years in the Mathematics Institute at the University of Wales in Cardiff which awarded him a DSc for his research. He also holds an MA and DPhil from Oxford University and an MA in Bioethics from the University of Surrey. He was a Senior Alexander Von Humboldt Fellow at the Universities of Würzburg and Freiburg in Germany. He has lectured extensively in North America, Eastern and Western Europe and Australasia on mathematics, the philosophy of science and the intellectual defence of Christianity.
He has written a number of books on the interface between science, philosophy and theology. These include God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? (2009), God and Stephen Hawking, a response to The Grand Design (2011), Gunning for God, on the new atheism (2011), and Seven Days that Divide the World, on the early chapters of Genesis (2011). Furthermore, in addition to over seventy published mathematical papers, he is the co-author of two research level texts in algebra in the Oxford Mathematical Monographs series.
He studied at the Royal School Armagh, Northern Ireland and was Exhibitioner and Senior Scholar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge University from which he took his MA, MMath and PhD. He worked for many years in the Mathematics Institute at the University of Wales in Cardiff which awarded him a DSc for his research. He also holds an MA and DPhil from Oxford University and an MA in Bioethics from the University of Surrey. He was a Senior Alexander Von Humboldt Fellow at the Universities of Würzburg and Freiburg in Germany. He has lectured extensively in North America, Eastern and Western Europe and Australasia on mathematics, the philosophy of science and the intellectual defence of Christianity.
He has written a number of books on the interface between science, philosophy and theology. These include God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? (2009), God and Stephen Hawking, a response to The Grand Design (2011), Gunning for God, on the new atheism (2011), and Seven Days that Divide the World, on the early chapters of Genesis (2011). Furthermore, in addition to over seventy published mathematical papers, he is the co-author of two research level texts in algebra in the Oxford Mathematical Monographs series.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 21, 2026
I work as a caretaker for a 102 year old lady and I read aloud to her in the evenings. So we read John Lennox’s autobiography together and it blessed both of us more than I can write.
We were constantly entertained by his exciting travel stories, moments of personal connection with others, and his deep love for his Savior that resonates in every page of this book. It was so fascinating to learn about his work in the Soviet Union and former Soviet Union countries and how hungry people were to hear and discuss truth. Very encouraging for the both of us who didn’t know much about those European cultures and what the Lord was doing in those parts of the world.
Whenever Mr. Lennox mentioned his wife and her work and impact in his life, he wrote with such love and a genuine uplifting of her personal ministry. He stresses the importance of her impact just as much as, if not more than, the work he himself has done as a partner with Christ. It is truly beautiful to read these portions.
Mr. Lennox has blessed me in his clear way of explaining complicated philosophical, scientific, and theological concepts. But he does it in such a warm and friendly manner. It is his heart for people and conversation that shines Christ forth and makes what he says even more impactful to the heart of his listeners.
This book also touched the heart of my 102 year old friend and she was often asking deep questions or resonating with the way Mr. Lennox ponders the glory of Christ. It enlightened her mind to so many subjects that she was curious about and it was a delight to see her absorb every page and story like a sponge.
If any of my friends want to read this book, you can borrow my copy but I recommend buying your own too! I do hope this becomes a Christian autobiographical classic to inspire future believers until our Lord returns.
Thank you Mr. Lennox for sharing your story but most of all, for being a courageous and dedicated servant of Christ.
We were constantly entertained by his exciting travel stories, moments of personal connection with others, and his deep love for his Savior that resonates in every page of this book. It was so fascinating to learn about his work in the Soviet Union and former Soviet Union countries and how hungry people were to hear and discuss truth. Very encouraging for the both of us who didn’t know much about those European cultures and what the Lord was doing in those parts of the world.
Whenever Mr. Lennox mentioned his wife and her work and impact in his life, he wrote with such love and a genuine uplifting of her personal ministry. He stresses the importance of her impact just as much as, if not more than, the work he himself has done as a partner with Christ. It is truly beautiful to read these portions.
Mr. Lennox has blessed me in his clear way of explaining complicated philosophical, scientific, and theological concepts. But he does it in such a warm and friendly manner. It is his heart for people and conversation that shines Christ forth and makes what he says even more impactful to the heart of his listeners.
This book also touched the heart of my 102 year old friend and she was often asking deep questions or resonating with the way Mr. Lennox ponders the glory of Christ. It enlightened her mind to so many subjects that she was curious about and it was a delight to see her absorb every page and story like a sponge.
If any of my friends want to read this book, you can borrow my copy but I recommend buying your own too! I do hope this becomes a Christian autobiographical classic to inspire future believers until our Lord returns.
Thank you Mr. Lennox for sharing your story but most of all, for being a courageous and dedicated servant of Christ.
June 1, 2026
This autobiography reveals that Lennox clearly considers his highest calling in life is to proclaim the glory of Jesus Christ and God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, and to defend Christianity as the true religion—higher than his illustrious and award-winning academic career as a mathematician. He considers himself an ambassador for God and Christ, acknowledging that he walks in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis.
Indeed, his mathematical specialty is often mentioned but not discussed in this 700-page tome. We know he’s a researcher in the abstract algebraic system called group theory. He even declines to tell us what it is, why it’s important, and what achievements have arisen from its applications. What we do find is Appendix 3 (Publications), listing 70 publications about mathematics, such as “A Fixed Point Theorem for Modules over Finitely Generated Nilpotent Groups.” He leaves it to the interested reader to look up information about “the theory of groups.” It turns out that “a group is defined as a set G combined with a binary operation * that satisfies four fundamental properties: closure, associativity, identity, and inverses.” Got it? Me, neither. Still, surely, he could have included a segment in laymen’s terms about the research that brought him high academic honors at Oxford University and produced the income that supported his wife, Sally, and family.
Likewise, he devotes comparatively little space for the content of his lectures, Bible studies, panels, and public debates. When he does talk about his understanding of the Bible, it is fascinating and educational. It leaves you wanting much more. And for that, he instead refers you to his many articles, books, and recordings of his talks and debates on YouTube. OK, if I had my wish, the book easily could be a thousand or more pages!
So, in the end, the bulk of the book is about his trips to Russia, European countries, America, Australia, and elsewhere to philosophize about the “Big Questions” in human experience, such as religion and science, creation of the universe, earth, life and consciousness, morality and law, the hope or hopelessness of an afterlife, and more.
There is comparatively little, also, about comparative religions. According to Kindle, the word “Hindu” does not appear in the book. “Judeo-Christian” appears three times, “Islam” four times, “Judaism” 14, “atheism” 65, “atheist” 136, and “Christianity, Christian, and Christians” 840.
He takes on Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Stephen Hawking, and other atheists, but he does not take on Islam, which now threatens English and Western culture and governance. “Theocracy” appears once, as he quotes a statement by Lord Justice Laws that “…on the road to a theocracy, which is of necessity autocratic.” Indeed, he largely avoids politics and government, and he refuses to criticize other religions. He simply promotes his own faith. But I feel certain, from his writing about Russia, that he undoubtedly prefers democracy to either atheistic communism or theocratic Islam, which teaches that infidels must either “convert, submit, or die.”
I, too, am a Christian. Near the end of the last chapter, Lennox writes, “…I fear that this book, like my life, has been too much about me and too little about the Lord Christ who has guided and empowered me.” That fear is why, in fact, the book is so heavily about his proselytizing of Christianity. At last, he ends the book in October 2025. To me, it merits five stars, and I look forward to reading more of his books.
Indeed, his mathematical specialty is often mentioned but not discussed in this 700-page tome. We know he’s a researcher in the abstract algebraic system called group theory. He even declines to tell us what it is, why it’s important, and what achievements have arisen from its applications. What we do find is Appendix 3 (Publications), listing 70 publications about mathematics, such as “A Fixed Point Theorem for Modules over Finitely Generated Nilpotent Groups.” He leaves it to the interested reader to look up information about “the theory of groups.” It turns out that “a group is defined as a set G combined with a binary operation * that satisfies four fundamental properties: closure, associativity, identity, and inverses.” Got it? Me, neither. Still, surely, he could have included a segment in laymen’s terms about the research that brought him high academic honors at Oxford University and produced the income that supported his wife, Sally, and family.
Likewise, he devotes comparatively little space for the content of his lectures, Bible studies, panels, and public debates. When he does talk about his understanding of the Bible, it is fascinating and educational. It leaves you wanting much more. And for that, he instead refers you to his many articles, books, and recordings of his talks and debates on YouTube. OK, if I had my wish, the book easily could be a thousand or more pages!
So, in the end, the bulk of the book is about his trips to Russia, European countries, America, Australia, and elsewhere to philosophize about the “Big Questions” in human experience, such as religion and science, creation of the universe, earth, life and consciousness, morality and law, the hope or hopelessness of an afterlife, and more.
There is comparatively little, also, about comparative religions. According to Kindle, the word “Hindu” does not appear in the book. “Judeo-Christian” appears three times, “Islam” four times, “Judaism” 14, “atheism” 65, “atheist” 136, and “Christianity, Christian, and Christians” 840.
He takes on Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Stephen Hawking, and other atheists, but he does not take on Islam, which now threatens English and Western culture and governance. “Theocracy” appears once, as he quotes a statement by Lord Justice Laws that “…on the road to a theocracy, which is of necessity autocratic.” Indeed, he largely avoids politics and government, and he refuses to criticize other religions. He simply promotes his own faith. But I feel certain, from his writing about Russia, that he undoubtedly prefers democracy to either atheistic communism or theocratic Islam, which teaches that infidels must either “convert, submit, or die.”
I, too, am a Christian. Near the end of the last chapter, Lennox writes, “…I fear that this book, like my life, has been too much about me and too little about the Lord Christ who has guided and empowered me.” That fear is why, in fact, the book is so heavily about his proselytizing of Christianity. At last, he ends the book in October 2025. To me, it merits five stars, and I look forward to reading more of his books.
June 7, 2026
amazing life used for God’s kingdom
This book is filled with many interesting and powerful stories and what one man can do when he commits himself to God’s kingdom. I have enjoyed his debates online and this book gives a very interesting history of the other work. You don’t normally see on the internet.
This book is filled with many interesting and powerful stories and what one man can do when he commits himself to God’s kingdom. I have enjoyed his debates online and this book gives a very interesting history of the other work. You don’t normally see on the internet.
October 24, 2026
A well written and comprehensive autobiography. Worth the time if you’ve got 22.5 hours for the audiobook 😉
May 25, 2026
A must read for all. Riveting, insightful, and encouraging for thinking members of the human race.
After catching a podcast of Dr. Lennox with Russell Moore in May, 2026, I promptly purchased a copy on Kindle, hoping to fill part of the time I was visiting Oregon. I read a lot, finishing over 90 books in the first three months of 2026. Biographies are seldom well enough written to hold my attention enough to finish them, much less in a single contiguous reading. However, once I started I was compelled to continue reading by the extraordinary events that shaped the life of a fellow scientist, mathematician and Christian, finishing the book in three days. If you enjoy reading about the lives of influencial men, you are sure to enjoy this book.
With a BSc in Math and a PhD in Chemistry, I understand intimately the pressures and trials that the prevalent materialistic worldview places on anyone involved with education to conform to the neo-darwinian synthesis that dominates our institutions of higher learning. Reading of his career as a prolific researcher and writer in group theory, as well as his numerous talks and debates advancing a theistic and Christian view of many topics that evolution has nothing of substance to recommend as their answer, including the origin of the universe, life, and mankind.
Other topics that have been debated include the value of life, the problem of evil in this world, pain and suffering, the influence of lay Christians on business, ethics in our current times, and the utter failure of atheism to address any of these in a satisfactory manner.
I thoroughly enjoyed the alternative viewpoints to my own experiences covering much of the past 50+ years that I have memory of, including many of the places in the US and western Europe that I have traveled to for work and pleasure. I also enjoyed the varied accounts of interaction with educators in the former Eastern block countries, including transportation of bibles to Russia, creation of Russian language educational books for state sponsored educational use in Russia, and the incredible witness that he was able to present in those areas. I find it amazing to realize that he was able to travel to the USSR as a British subject during a time when it was nearly impossible for one from the US to do so. It is even more amazing that his Mathematics gave him access when it would have been impossible for one of most other educational backgrounds to access these closed countries, and then be able to have an impact for Christ when other avenues were closed.
All this and much more are included in this extremely well written and well organized account of the life of John C Lennox. Highly recommended.
After catching a podcast of Dr. Lennox with Russell Moore in May, 2026, I promptly purchased a copy on Kindle, hoping to fill part of the time I was visiting Oregon. I read a lot, finishing over 90 books in the first three months of 2026. Biographies are seldom well enough written to hold my attention enough to finish them, much less in a single contiguous reading. However, once I started I was compelled to continue reading by the extraordinary events that shaped the life of a fellow scientist, mathematician and Christian, finishing the book in three days. If you enjoy reading about the lives of influencial men, you are sure to enjoy this book.
With a BSc in Math and a PhD in Chemistry, I understand intimately the pressures and trials that the prevalent materialistic worldview places on anyone involved with education to conform to the neo-darwinian synthesis that dominates our institutions of higher learning. Reading of his career as a prolific researcher and writer in group theory, as well as his numerous talks and debates advancing a theistic and Christian view of many topics that evolution has nothing of substance to recommend as their answer, including the origin of the universe, life, and mankind.
Other topics that have been debated include the value of life, the problem of evil in this world, pain and suffering, the influence of lay Christians on business, ethics in our current times, and the utter failure of atheism to address any of these in a satisfactory manner.
I thoroughly enjoyed the alternative viewpoints to my own experiences covering much of the past 50+ years that I have memory of, including many of the places in the US and western Europe that I have traveled to for work and pleasure. I also enjoyed the varied accounts of interaction with educators in the former Eastern block countries, including transportation of bibles to Russia, creation of Russian language educational books for state sponsored educational use in Russia, and the incredible witness that he was able to present in those areas. I find it amazing to realize that he was able to travel to the USSR as a British subject during a time when it was nearly impossible for one from the US to do so. It is even more amazing that his Mathematics gave him access when it would have been impossible for one of most other educational backgrounds to access these closed countries, and then be able to have an impact for Christ when other avenues were closed.
All this and much more are included in this extremely well written and well organized account of the life of John C Lennox. Highly recommended.
November 6, 2026
Inspiring life story of the man who has taken the baton from C S Lewis in challenging secular world views and atheism head-on. Regrettably for an autobiography the narrative is dominated by the where and when at cost to a synopsis of his reasoning in the many public debates he engaged in. However his depth of understanding of the biblical narrative and how scientific knowledge complements rather than contradicts it is very evident. The impact of exposing the fallacy that a grasp of science and belief in God don't mix is clearly set out but repetitive encouragements to read his other books for an explanation is for this reader a missed opportunity.
Any shortcomings are more than compensated by the stories of God at work in Eastern Europe, the adventures of faith that resulted from a willingness to travel to encourage others in their quest for truth, and the seam of biblical text that binds the narrative together. The last chapter on confronting the challenges of ageing and failing health is deeply moving.
Any shortcomings are more than compensated by the stories of God at work in Eastern Europe, the adventures of faith that resulted from a willingness to travel to encourage others in their quest for truth, and the seam of biblical text that binds the narrative together. The last chapter on confronting the challenges of ageing and failing health is deeply moving.
August 6, 2026
A fascinating and engaging read. It was really powerful to see how Christ has used this man throughout the decades to be a powerful witness to Him, particularly in the intellectual sphere. I was deeply moved by professor Lennox's love for God and people and how he embodies a firm kindness in all of his debates, an issue sorely lacking in much of todays presentations on science and faith... something that we as Christians are not exempt from unfortunately. I would highly recommend this book to see how God can use us in surprising ways when we are deeply in love with Him and seek to love Him with all we are. Don't worry, this isn't a super "sciency" or "mathy" book. It's a good read and you should give it a try.
October 9, 2026
John is like a modern day Paul. What he and David Gooding accomplished in Russia is incredible. Reading about the richness of Dr. Lennox’s life is a pleasure. I read some of this book on Kindle and listened to the majority of it on Audible. Listening to Dr. Lennox read the book himself made the book even more personal, as if you’re listening to him tell his life story during a fireside chat. One of my favorite parts of the book was about a young Russian man finding God and wanting Christian fellowship, then later meeting his wife. Such a sweet testimony! I look forward to reading more of Lennox’s books and re-listening to his debates.
August 9, 2026
Having been a Christian for many years I have only met a few Christian’s who I could honestly say really show the love of God and how they walk with the Lord Jesus. John Lennox is such a man and his Autobiography is full of how the Lord guided his path in everything he did. There is such a thing as coincidence but his life is so full of incidents that one can only say God was there every step of the way and I think John Lennox says himself that he is so sure of the presence of God because he was led in such an amazing way.
September 26, 2026
As I finish the book teary eyed and saying in my heart, “Amen,” I am so thankful to the Lord for men like John Lennox who so humbly loves the Lord with all his mind.
What an incredibly testimony of God’s faithfulness in the life of a humble man, from his encouraging father, to a pursuit of truth in the midst of academic ridicule, to standing for truth in a hostile world.
I am stuck by Lennox kindness and pursuit of loving the person while standing firm in Truth.
I bookmarked so many places in this book. It was convicting. It was informative and educational.
Thank you John Lennox!
What an incredibly testimony of God’s faithfulness in the life of a humble man, from his encouraging father, to a pursuit of truth in the midst of academic ridicule, to standing for truth in a hostile world.
I am stuck by Lennox kindness and pursuit of loving the person while standing firm in Truth.
I bookmarked so many places in this book. It was convicting. It was informative and educational.
Thank you John Lennox!
May 26, 2026
This book is about John Lennox’s life. It is mainly an account or testimony of how God has worked with and through him as an evangelist and an apologist, interspersed with Lennox’s perspective on various apologetic and spiritual issues. There are also pinches of practical wisdom here and there.
I would recommend reading this book if you are looking to be encouraged for your own walk with the Lord. It is a powerful testimony. It does get a bit repetitive however hearing ‘and then I went and gave a talk at X about Science and religion and had some lovely food’.
I am grateful to brother John for giving us this record of how God can work through the life of an individual believer, and for the practical and spiritual wisdom in it.
I would recommend reading this book if you are looking to be encouraged for your own walk with the Lord. It is a powerful testimony. It does get a bit repetitive however hearing ‘and then I went and gave a talk at X about Science and religion and had some lovely food’.
I am grateful to brother John for giving us this record of how God can work through the life of an individual believer, and for the practical and spiritual wisdom in it.
October 2, 2026
I loved reading about John Lennox's life. I have followed his debates, books and youtube videos for a long time and it was great fun to read about his exciting journey from mathematics professor to lectures on theology to debates with atheists and apologetics and so much more. It is a long book but it moved quickly and I found myself reading far longer than I had planned to. For those who like biographies and autobiographies, I highly recommend reading this one.
October 12, 2026
Excellent! Dr. Lennox's life is truly amazing because God has blessed him with incredible opportunities, and His Word has gone into what would seem to most of us to be closed spaces. The book is very well-written, and Dr. Lennox shows how to live a whole life--one where there is no separation between the sacred and the secular. I enjoyed the audiobook but can't wait to get a hard copy to follow all of the many notes it must contain.
September 6, 2026
One of the best books I have ever read on apologetics and the intersection of faith and science. His writing style and stories make we want to sit down with him and have a long chat. Good truth, humor, and you get the sense you are traveling with him through life. I admire his faith and courage.
October 26, 2026
May God bless John Lennox
I’m so glad I bought this book and read it! This is such an amazing man! What a life! And how many countless people he has touched all over the world! Yes, May the good Lord bless you, Dr Lennox: you’ve been such a tremendous blessing in His service❤️
I’m so glad I bought this book and read it! This is such an amazing man! What a life! And how many countless people he has touched all over the world! Yes, May the good Lord bless you, Dr Lennox: you’ve been such a tremendous blessing in His service❤️
June 22, 2026
Excellent book by John Lennox on his life.
June 28, 2026
Inspiring
Presents the great work that God can do through a person that is available to listen and obey the call for their life
Presents the great work that God can do through a person that is available to listen and obey the call for their life
July 30, 2026
Utterly inspiring as a testimony to the faithfulness of God and a life well lived in his service.
August 14, 2026
This was an interesting deep dive into Lennox's life and spiritual journey. It's encouraging and inspiring to see how he has lived his life as an academic and Christian.
September 28, 2026
A tremendous read, it is like reading about one of the early day apostles
October 26, 2026
Audiobook version, which made this an incredibly humble experience. John Lennox, you are a treasure. Thank you for continually pointing to Christ. ✝️
November 2, 2026
He is an amazing man! He has taken great steps of faith testifying of the truths of God while working in a field he loves - math.
November 4, 2026
Inspirational
Wonderful and encouraging to see how the Lord leads guides provides as we seek to live for Him inspite of our weaknesses and limitations
Wonderful and encouraging to see how the Lord leads guides provides as we seek to live for Him inspite of our weaknesses and limitations
October 8, 2026
John Lennox Autobiography
Excellent book. What an amazing journey. Blessed to have parents who not only lived & encouraged faith but encouraged education. Thoroughly recommend.
Excellent book. What an amazing journey. Blessed to have parents who not only lived & encouraged faith but encouraged education. Thoroughly recommend.
October 8, 2026
If the introduction touches you this deeply, you know you're in for a good one. I've followed Prof Lennox for many years on internet and his lectures and onto my alma mater Potch. Reading this puts it all into perspective. Is absolutely recommended to anyone in for a deeply meaningful experience.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews