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Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther Audiobook
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Publisher Description
“I cannot and will not recant!…Here I stand.” This authoritative and inspiring story paints a vivid portrait of the crusader who spearheaded the Reformation. Considered one of the most readable biographies of Martin Luther, this volume looks at the German religious reformer and his influence on Western civilization.
Martin Luther entered a monastery as a youth and as a man shattered the structure of the medieval church, speaking out against the corrupt religious practices of the time. His demand that the authority for doctrine and practice be scriptures, rather than popes or councils, echoed around the world and ignited the great Reformation. Accused of heresy and threatened with excommunication and death, Luther maintained his bold stand and refused to recant. In his crusade to eliminate religious abuses, he did more than any other man to establish the Protestant faith.
With sound historical scholarship and penetrating insight, Roland Bainton examines Luther’s widespread influence. He re-creates the spiritual setting of the sixteenth century, showing Luther’s place within it and influence upon it. Here I Stand dramatically brings to life Martin Luther, the great reformer.
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"This is supposed to be the definitive biography of Martin Luther. I read this book before I joined the Lutheran Church in order to see what the man was about. I came away with a better understanding of the man behind the reformation in Germany, and the reformation in General. It filled a gap that was seriously lacking in my education. It is a dry read, but very comprehensive. It is a book that I think any Lutheran should read at least once and anyone else interested in reformation history. (Here's a hint for all of you Lutherans out there: He was a Catholic monk and his only desire was to reform what he saw as abuses within the Catholic church at the time. He did not set out to start his own religion or denomination. A very good point to remember in order to regain some lost perspective.)"
— Klasko (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Easily the most readable Luther biography in English.”
— Time -
“A sound and well-rounded picture of the man and of his role in history.”
— Chicago Tribune -
“Of the many superlative treatments, a half-century-old study by Roland Bainton, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, has justly won a reputation as a classic work on a classic subject.”
— Mark Noll, author and historian
Here I Stand Listener Reviews
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" This book is well-written and very informative. I wish the print had been a bit easier to read; I don't like when the format interferes with the reading experience. I learned so much about Luther as a German and have a better idea of the progression of his thought, as well as the timeline leading up to the Diet at Worms. I also appreciate the abundance of references to direct sources, especially Luther himself. "
— Jennifer, 2/18/2014 -
" Very good insight into the man and his struggles. At times hard to read, yet incredibly enlightening if you press through. I loved how the author didn't skip over the undelightful parts of Luther's life, but showed the ugly alongside of the beautiful. It was a very good and holistic treatment of Luther's life, though only relating to his grown up life and the way he shaped the surrounding culture. Well worth reading. "
— Ryan, 2/17/2014 -
" This was a good book. It got to be a little dry and bogged down in places, but overall it was a very informative book about Luther and all the history of the times he lived in. "
— Emily, 1/26/2014 -
" A fair and a clear treatment of Martin Luther's life. "
— Hlu, 1/26/2014 -
" Read in anticipation of Reformation Day, October 31st, 2011; will likely read it again. Very good. "
— Christopher, 1/23/2014 -
" An interesting if not particularly enjoyable read. The author's adoration of Luther comes across quite clearly, so it's a useful book for comparing different perspectives. I would never consider this a history text, but this would likely be a worthwhile book for anyone interested in religious history, regardless of which side of whatever fence you stand on. Also, I can't deny that Martin Luther is a major historical figure, so I'm glad to have read at least one biography on him, even if it was this one. "
— StrangeBedfellows, 1/21/2014 -
" Very dense and worth the effort. "
— Bill, 1/18/2014 -
" Very intresting look at Martin Luther's life. Well written, absorbing. "
— Jane, 1/7/2014 -
" Roland Bainton is one of my favorite historians. Martin Luther is one of my favorite men of history...a great match! "
— Jennifer, 1/4/2014 -
" Old, but still a great work by a respected historian. "
— Brenton, 12/25/2013 -
" Best Luther biography that I know of. Full of beautiful wood cuts and primary source quotations. "
— Bob, 12/22/2013 -
" I normally do not like biographies but this was wonderful. "
— John, 12/9/2013 -
" This is the best Luther biography you can find anywhere! "
— Jeremy, 12/5/2013 -
" Recommended by Frank Cooper "
— Jamie, 11/9/2013 -
" This came at the recommendation of my favorite history prof as the best single volume of Luther. His rampant anti-semitism aside, his influence on the Reformation is enormous. A great story. "
— Gary, 3/19/2013 -
" *Note: Although I read much of this book, I did not read the entire book. I only read what was required by my graduate school.* "
— Matt, 11/20/2012 -
" This was an amazing book on the life and theology of Martin Luther. A must read, to understand the place he fills in history. This book read like a novel. I highly recommend it. "
— Joseph, 10/31/2012 -
" Well written and concise biography of Martin Luther. "
— Martin, 10/4/2012 -
" Very good biography of Martin Luther. Tells the story of his life rather than just his thought, which unfortunately I do not find very often in theological studies. "
— Kyle, 9/27/2012 -
" What an amazing man. It would have been helpful to know more about the Roman Catholic church. "
— Shelly, 5/27/2012 -
" I thought this was an excellent book overall. Would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the life and impact of Martin Luther. "
— Dawn, 5/25/2012 -
" Speaking as a Roman Catholic, this was a very well-written biography of Luther. It was interesting and fairly unbiased, and focused mainly on Luther as a person, rather than on his doctrine. "
— Abigail, 5/7/2012 -
" Inspiring. The life of Martin Luther was a very difficult life. He suffered a great deal as he stood for his beliefs. He died without denying his beliefs. In my opinion, he, and others, was forerunners of The Prophet Joseph Smith. "
— Ned, 4/11/2012 -
" Just finished this gem on Martin Luther. Every Christian should read this book. Luther was an amazing man of God and is responsible for so much. He is truly one of the most amazing Christians in history. It was awesome to be reading about his life while visiting Rome. "
— Dana, 3/29/2012 -
" This is a well balanced and wonderfully told story of Martin Luther. It really helps you to understand the world that he lived in and how he interacted with it. Bainton really makes Luther come alive and feel more human. "
— Chris, 2/2/2012
About Roland H. Bainton
Roland H. Bainton (1894–1984), a specialist in Reformation history, was for forty-two years Titus Street Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale, and he continued writing well into his twenty years of retirement. He wore his scholarship lightly and had a lively, readable style. His most popular book, Here I Stand, sold more than a million copies.
About Tom Weiner
Tom Weiner, a dialogue director and voice artist best known for his roles in video games and television shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Transformers, is the winner of eight Earphones Awards and is an Audie Award finalist. He is a former member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.