A mini review of 7 Women and the Secret of their Greatness, by Eric Metaxas.
I love the introduction of Seven Women, in which Metaxas points out that women heroes are often chosen because they are the first to do what a man has already done. Instead, he points out that men and women are not in competition. They are unique, not interchangeable, and great women stand alone. The women featured in his collection of short biographies are all feminine world-changers.
I’ve read fairly extensively about some of these women, but Hannah More was someone I knew very little about. (Along with Wilberforce, she fought for abolitionism in the British empire.) The chapter on her life inspired me; the chapter on the very unorthodox and name-changing Orthodox “Sister Maria of Paris” intrigued me.
Metaxas is very ecumenical in his writing of this book. Mother Teresa stands next to the mother of Methodism (Susannah, John & Charles Wesley’s mother). Joan of Arc and Corrie ten Boom share space. But if you can read to enjoy the biography and overlook a few statements, this is a book worth your time.
Read or Listen to Seven Women?
I chose to listen to this biography using my library’s Libby app. Libby has an amazing collection of nonfiction audiobooks, but often my library doesn’t buy Christian books. I was surprised and excited to find 7 Women. It’s also available on Audible.
The only downside to listening? When I missed a quote or stopped listening for a bit because my brain started thinking of something else, it was hard to figure out how far to rewind. There’s a reason print books are still my favorite! Are you a fan of audiobooks or print? Let us know why in the comments!
Putting together your booklist for the year? Here’s my list of favorite books of 2022.