A book about the thinkers, writers, dreamers, doers & believers that Yancey has either known or read. People who have influenced his faith in some significant way. And helped him rediscover God after rejecting his southern fundamentalist, racist "Christian" upbringing.This book provided a great introduction to some really amazing folks both historical and contemporary, whose works I was not familiar with. Like G.K. Chesterton, Dr. Paul Brand and Annie Dillard. And others I knew of but not in any...

This book was a little different than I expected, but I ended up truly enjoying it. It is a collection of essays about different people whose writings and lives inspired Yancey to keep his faith during spiritually dark times. I personally found it inspiring and enlightening. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever struggled with Jesus’ teachings vs the way the church behaves.

One of the best books I've read this year. Didn't give answers but made me think and gave me a long list of books and writers that I now want to explore for myself. He doesn't gloss over the muck in the lives of these people but shows how their brokeness displayed God's glory and grace and how their faith allowed them to continue to strive for something greater. Was a nice mix of biography and then reflections of how their writing and lives impacted Philip's own faith.'As I review this list, I s...

I read this book in one week, while doing a missions trip with my church to Guatemala.I've long identified with Yancey, who comes from hardcore fundamentalist deep south segregationist Baptist roots; I too come from fundamentalism and the apocalyptic "low church". His earlier works cleverly slide in progressive, even liberal thought into a larger Christian context that paints a very different Jesus from the ugly model that (rightly) gets all the press.But in this book he explores the people who

If I have one small criticism of the book, it is in the subtitle "How my faith survived the Church". In reality, it should be church with a little 'c' because his negative experience was with one local congregation not the whole body of Christ - Church with a big 'C'. In fact, the thirteen mentors he details illustrate the beauty and diversity of the Body of Christ - the Church Universal and how those individuals ministered to him in many ways.One of the things I like about Philip Yancey's books...

The book title says it all - particularly the emphasis on unlikely mentors. Philip Yancey witnessed, like many people, the injustices, such as slavery and racism, inflicted by the church in the name of God. Instead of walking away from the church, he journeys back in time and examines the life of 13 remarkable men who are not preached about as a fine Christian examples. However, on sorting through these unlikely men's lives he discovered God's handiwork. Mahatma Ghandi, India's 'Great Soul', l...

Interesting, but hardly earth-shaking.

This is the first book I read by Philip Yancey. His style is easy and he knows his audience includes both Christians and those who are searching. I've enjoyed everything I've read by him because of this.

love love love this book. yes it falls in the christian category, but it's simply about people who lived their lives in a way that's bound to inspire you. the 13 mini-biographies give you a good sense of these people and yancey helps you to learn more about them through suggested readings at the end of each chapter. i've read 3 other books already just based on what i learned from this book.

It is rare when you find a book that can change your whole perception on life. Soul Survivor by Philip Yancey not only changed my perception, but did what a good book is supposed to do: inspire a person. I will point out that not everyone will find it to be so dramatically life-altering. But Yancey had a childhood similar to mine, and his perspective is unique. I know that I'm a little late in reading this book (it came out in 2001) but I couldn't help but spread the word about it. The subtitle

Philip Yancey’s writing is a pleasure to read. He's clear and concise, weaving through such little details that you get completely drawn into reading. Still, the book is not an easy read, because it’s a thoughtful reflection on the faith journey of an intelligent writer and also because it makes you start thinking about where do you stand in your own life, faith, relationships. Philip Yancey holds a mirror up to our own failures as well as his own. It’s a book that makes you set aside time for s...

After reading What's So Amazing About Grace? and loving it I picked this book up. It sat on my bookshelf for over a year before I finally read it. I didn't know what to expect with a subtitle like How My Faith Survived the Church but I definitely knew I would be able to relate to some degree. It is amazing how Yancey brings up so many brilliant points without ever being disparaging (I can't say I have that gift, myself). It is an excellent read for so many reasons, not the least of which are the...

This is the most moving and encouraging book I have read in a long time. What I liked best about it was how Phillip Yancey doesn't just compile a "top ten" list of inspiring people and reproduce children's story idealizations of their lives. He interweaves his own journey of faith, growth, and repentance with stories of how each person challenged him to reexamine his life and values, while avoiding the temptation to whitewash them into saints. I was very touched by the second chapter, on Martin

Every few years I seem to come back to this book. I find it refreshing. The mini biographies are so interesting I get frustrated when Yancey turns to reflecting on himself - which is silly because he wrote the book as a type of spiritual autobiography. The reading recommendations at the end of each chapter are very enticing.

As a self-proclaimed wackadoo liberal Christian, I was a little wary of self-described evangelical Christian writer Philip Yancey and his 13 unlikely mentors. Turns out, I had nothing to fear from them.Yancey’s own experience growing up in a fundamentalist congregation is both disconcerting and grimly fascinating. Even more remarkable is the fact that he continued in the faith. The influence of his mentors is evident on every page and as I closed the book, I felt that many of my own deep spiritu...

I like yancey very much!! he's one of my favourite authors, and, toghether with wurmbrand, my favourite author on "spiritual matters":) I found the title of this book intriguing and captivating at the same time, but when i opened it and saw it is about his mentors, i was thrilled. As far as it concerns me, nothing can influence and teach me more than a good living (or once living:P) example. So i'm excited to read it! I read so far about Martin Luther King Jr., Chesterton and dr. Paul Brand. Rea...

If you can count on Philip Yancey for one thing, that would be complete and utter honesty in his writings. That's a rare quality, especially amongst Christian writers. This book is a great read, if at times a little dull (personal preferences - some people are more interesting than others). Here Yancey explores the lives of 13 people who helped him to retain his Christian faith and live for God, despite the hypocrisy and hurt he experienced in the church. He praises them for teaching him valuabl...

This book has a most interesting title: "... Survive the Church." We had not read any of Yancy's writings before. One of the things the writer points out that several churches (maybe many.) advocate incorrect doctrine. If you read and study the Bible, you will probably become aware of some things that your Church practices that is incorrect as well. With that said, I will add that there is no perfect church. Off my soapbox, this book is a compilation of mini biographies of 13 people that influen...

Philip Yancey freely admits that he has "spent most of my life in recovery from the church." He grew up in a racist, cult like church in Georgia. He grew to reject most of that church's teaching but yet he still retained his faith. How? This book is his answer. Yancey profiles 13 people who have influenced his faith. People who allowed that faith to flourish despite the damage he suffered from the religion of his youth. Some of these people he met but some he knows only through their lives and w...

I really enjoyed this book. Having a different biography each chapter meant it was very easy to pick up, read a chapter and come back to it later, and I learnt something about even the very familiar people. Some chapters were (inevitably) better than others, but overall very enjoyable and as readable as every Philip Yancey.