Billy Graham His Life and Influence by David Aikman was a great book about a wonderful man. I was looking forward to a light biography and was surprised how thick it was, though once I started I read it quickly (I get free books for reviewing them at Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze). The book focuses on his influence, meaning how Graham has affected American culture and religion, the world, politics and especially the Presidents. It is divided by topics instead of chronological order, and it is amazing to see how Graham really did change the world as we know it, yet remained a godly humble man who, while desiring all to like him, truly loved Christ and preached him whenever he had the chance. While admiring the man, Aikman was sure to point out his mistakes (mostly being occasional wrong, offensive, silly remarks) though the short ending chapter about his family speculates their troubles being to his absence as a father. It was also amazing to see the changes in Graham’s own view of the world and how to express his faith. I got to see Billy preach at the very end of his career and recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the man but mostly how the man influenced our world today.
PS. The greatest thing I learned in the book was that even Ruth Graham regretted reprimanding her children too sharply!
