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papidoc's review
5.0
When I first watched the movie Chariots of Fire, I was intrigued by Eric Liddell's story, the Scot who loved to run. He is famous for having refused to run the 100 meter race in the Olympics, for which he had been selected, because the race was to be run on a Sunday. As a devout Christian, he was unwilling to break the Sabbath. Instead, through a confluence of events, he was given the opportunity to run in the 400 meter event on a different day. Though he had not trained or prepared for this event, he ran it anyway, and won first place. And yet, this was not his greatest accomplishment in my mind.
Eric lived in a time when the co-called "muscular Christianity" movement was in sway, and there were, in fact, numerous others at that Olympics who refused to participate when asked to do so on the Sabbath. What set Liddell apart was what he did with his life later. Shortly after the Olympics, he set aside any personal ambition, and traveled to China as a missionary. Quite literally, he spent the rest of his life there. During the war, the Japanese invaded and occupied China, and Liddell was kept in a concentration camp along with other Westerners. It was there that he died (of a brain aneurism, as I recall) shortly before the end of the war. However, through his time there it was by the force of his faith and commitment that many others imprisoned with him saved (and changed) changed their lives.
I read two biographies of Eric Liddell. I don't remember which was which now, and no longer have them in my possession, but in one of them the latter third of the book consists of interview excerpts that the author had with people who knew or were associated with Liddell. Many of them were people who were in the concentration camp with him, and their recollections of him are heartfelt. One was powerful to me; he spoke of Liddell's habit of rising very early each morning for scripture study, meditation, and prayer, and expressed his belief that it was due to that habit that Eric was able to have the influence for the better that he did with so many people.
Read a biography of his life...you won't be sorry.
Eric lived in a time when the co-called "muscular Christianity" movement was in sway, and there were, in fact, numerous others at that Olympics who refused to participate when asked to do so on the Sabbath. What set Liddell apart was what he did with his life later. Shortly after the Olympics, he set aside any personal ambition, and traveled to China as a missionary. Quite literally, he spent the rest of his life there. During the war, the Japanese invaded and occupied China, and Liddell was kept in a concentration camp along with other Westerners. It was there that he died (of a brain aneurism, as I recall) shortly before the end of the war. However, through his time there it was by the force of his faith and commitment that many others imprisoned with him saved (and changed) changed their lives.
I read two biographies of Eric Liddell. I don't remember which was which now, and no longer have them in my possession, but in one of them the latter third of the book consists of interview excerpts that the author had with people who knew or were associated with Liddell. Many of them were people who were in the concentration camp with him, and their recollections of him are heartfelt. One was powerful to me; he spoke of Liddell's habit of rising very early each morning for scripture study, meditation, and prayer, and expressed his belief that it was due to that habit that Eric was able to have the influence for the better that he did with so many people.
Read a biography of his life...you won't be sorry.
papi's review
5.0
When I first watched the movie Chariots of Fire, I was intrigued by Eric Liddell's story, the Scot who loved to run. He is famous for having refused to run the 100 meter race in the Olympics, for which he had been selected, because the race was to be run on a Sunday. As a devout Christian, he was unwilling to break the Sabbath. Instead, through a confluence of events, he was given the opportunity to run in the 400 meter event on a different day. Though he had not trained or prepared for this event, he ran it anyway, and won first place. And yet, this was not his greatest accomplishment in my mind.
Eric lived in a time when the co-called "muscular Christianity" movement was in sway, and there were, in fact, numerous others at that Olympics who refused to participate when asked to do so on the Sabbath. What set Liddell apart was what he did with his life later. Shortly after the Olympics, he set aside any personal ambition, and traveled to China as a missionary. Quite literally, he spent the rest of his life there. During the war, the Japanese invaded and occupied China, and Liddell was kept in a concentration camp along with other Westerners. It was there that he died (of a brain aneurism, as I recall) shortly before the end of the war. However, through his time there it was by the force of his faith and commitment that many others imprisoned with him saved (and changed) changed their lives.
I read two biographies of Eric Liddell. I don't remember which was which now, and no longer have them in my possession, but in one of them the latter third of the book consists of interview excerpts that the author had with people who knew or were associated with Liddell. Many of them were people who were in the concentration camp with him, and their recollections of him are heartfelt. One was powerful to me; he spoke of Liddell's habit of rising very early each morning for scripture study, meditation, and prayer, and expressed his belief that it was due to that habit that Eric was able to have the influence for the better that he did with so many people.
Read a biography of his life...you won't be sorry.
Eric lived in a time when the co-called "muscular Christianity" movement was in sway, and there were, in fact, numerous others at that Olympics who refused to participate when asked to do so on the Sabbath. What set Liddell apart was what he did with his life later. Shortly after the Olympics, he set aside any personal ambition, and traveled to China as a missionary. Quite literally, he spent the rest of his life there. During the war, the Japanese invaded and occupied China, and Liddell was kept in a concentration camp along with other Westerners. It was there that he died (of a brain aneurism, as I recall) shortly before the end of the war. However, through his time there it was by the force of his faith and commitment that many others imprisoned with him saved (and changed) changed their lives.
I read two biographies of Eric Liddell. I don't remember which was which now, and no longer have them in my possession, but in one of them the latter third of the book consists of interview excerpts that the author had with people who knew or were associated with Liddell. Many of them were people who were in the concentration camp with him, and their recollections of him are heartfelt. One was powerful to me; he spoke of Liddell's habit of rising very early each morning for scripture study, meditation, and prayer, and expressed his belief that it was due to that habit that Eric was able to have the influence for the better that he did with so many people.
Read a biography of his life...you won't be sorry.
rlangemann's review
4.0
It's been a long time, so I'm due for a re-read. I remember liking this, especially, of course, the part where he wins the Olympic race. :)
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