Billy Graham: A Parable of American Righteousness

by Marshall Frady, David Haberstam (Introduction)

Marshall Frady's epic biography of Billy Graham, the world’s best-known Christian evangelist and America’s pastor.

With unparalleled access to Billy Graham and his family and associates, Frady presents an intimate and multifaceted portrait of the man, from his childhood upbringing in the midlands of North Carolina to his ascent to national recognition.

Frady's narrative encompasses the popular religious leader, his spiritual mission, and his political involvements and bears witness to the preeminent position Graham has held in American life for decades. “Billy Graham is our nation’s least studied national institution…Frady has finally given him the kind of attention he deserves” ( The New York Times ).

Genres: Biography, Religion

546 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

A native of South Carolina, Marshall Frady was a journalist for more than twenty-five years, writing for Newsweek, Life, Harper's, Esquire, The New York Review of Books, The Sunday Times of London, The Atlantic, and The New Yorker. He was a correspondent on Nightline; chief writer and host of ABC News' Closeup, for which he won two Emmys and the duPont-Columbia Award; and the author of six books.

Reviews

[James Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billy Graham By Marshall Frady is a book that exposes the strengths and Weaknesses and the Character of a true man of God. We are given insight to the heart of the man. His love of God, and his desire to protect God's reputation as to not destroy God's ministry through the fallacy of mans sin nature. We see Billy Graham as Human, which was hard for me growing up listening to his ministry my whole life. Making mistakes especially in his trust and belief in the integrity of some men. We also see him growing up and realize he lived with the same obstacles and temptations that every young man has to overcome. This book gave me a whole new respect for Billy, because it brought him out of the clouds and back to earth with us. Here is a story of a man of integrity and the desire to always strive to serve God.

[Rachel Grepke · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed reading about the life and person of Billy Graham, this book overall I did not. Unnecessary filler, lots of side stories and felt the author used big and daunting words when a simpler one would have sufficed. Did give me a more in depth look into the person of Billy Graham though.

[Gary Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily the best biography I have seen, not just of Graham but of any public figure in recent American history. Frady is an extraordinary explicator of human frailty and motivation. This account of how Graham as an inspired simpleton and original rock star of the fundamentalist right was used by big business and the GOP to resist calls for a more equitable inclusive and just society is penetrating and disturbing.

[Jun S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to know Rev. Billy Graham's human side.

[Tim Stafford · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of high-minded purple prose complaining that Graham is not Reinhold Niebuhr. But, a very thorough piece of research, with a lot of fascinating stories and some good points.