Eric Liddell: Something Greater Than Gold (Christian Heroes: Then and Now)

This book is well written and is one in a series of Christian Heroes and Martyrs by the authors. If you saw the movie "Chariots of Fire", you'll recall that Eric Liddell [pronounced 'little'] refused to run the race he was favored to win, instead ran four times that distance 400 meters and won, breaking the world and Olympic records in the 1924 Olympics in France. It is the life and ministry her followed following those games that the book focuses on. Born in China to missionaries from Scotland, Eric returns to the land of his birth, northern and between 1924 - 1945 , shares his faith with both Chinese and foreigners during the next 21 years. His powerful witness still resonates today in the Eric Liddell Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland. During the Olympics in Peking, an entire portion on a display pavilion was devoted to his work. The last three years of his life in and all other foreigners were interred in a camp guarded by the Japanese who took over northern China. What Liddell enabled the 1800 children and adults not just survive, but endure and help one another and keep busy with athletics, studies, and worship which Liddell led and taught. He died of a brain tumor five months before the camp was liberated. All in the camp wept and all of Scotland mourned his untimely death at age 43.

I teach middle school and ordered this for each of my students during the past quarter of digital learning during the COVID lockdown. During this time we also read it together as family. I can't say enough beautiful things about Eric Liddell's inspiring life story. His depth of character and commitment to Christ is rare to behold in this world. Definitely will be ordering more in this series. Well written. My students (and own children) responded well and we had some wonderful discussions.

Eric Liddell's life story inspired me. This audio book is one all young people (and older, too) should hear. Eric's life was punctuated at every turn by faithfulness to God. He did not spend his time judging what others should do, but he encouraged and inspired others by continually doing what God wanted him to do. His story was presented in a way that not only held my attention, but caused me to think about the consequences of faithfulness. When someone is true to God, everyone around is blessed and uplifted. In wartime his life was a beacon of hope.I bought the audiobook because of Eric Liddell's mention in another book I read entitled "A Boy's War." I was intrigued by the mention of him there, and wanted to know more. I'm so glad I did.

An engaging and more complete story of Eric Liddell = The gold medalist from Scotland featured in the movie Chariots of Fire who lived a rarely principled life sorely needed in our morally crippled modern realm.Inspiring but not without tragedy. Also educational with regards to the world of China and the Japanese occupation of China during WWII.They also interred foreigners which is rarely mentioned in our politically correct culture. A read worth your time that you will move through quickly and likely enjoy.

Eric Liddell gave his all to God as a champion runner, later as a missionary to China, and later his imprisonment in a Japanese camp in WWII where he helped teach children and was a Christian example to them.

My children love to read this series of books. The stories are inspiring and hold their interest. It is nice for them to become familiar with various people who have chosen to follow God & live out their faith.

These authors are amazing in keeping things simple but making the story come alive for adults and older children. A 4th or 5th grader should be able to read this story, and any from these authors, as well as adults. It is important to keep the memories of Eric and all of the others of the "Heroes" autobiographies alive! These are the people who went through the very difficult times and walked faithfully with Christ. Great is their reward in heaven!

The actions and lifestyle of the hero of this book just confirms the scriptures: "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (PSALM 37:4) and "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (MATTHEW 5:16). Under most difficult circumstances, the LORD enabled him to blossom, and like the Lord Jesus Christ, Eric Liddell has left us a shining example that we should strive to emulate, in accordance with GOD'S perfect will.

I homeschool and as such, do a lot of reading aloud to my children. I thought that with the Olympics coming up, and our lack of TV, I really ought to do SOMEthing to make my children aware of the upcoming games. They loved Gladys Aylward when we read that this past year, so I decided to order Eric Liddell, from the same YWAM series. My kids are 11 and 8 and absolutely love the book. We're on chapter 14 now. I had kind of decided quite late that we should order this book, so we have to read 3 chapters a day if we want to finish by Fri, when the Olympics start. By the time we got to the middle of the book, they were begging for more. Today, we read 1 chapter in the morning and another 4 before bed. They wanted me to carry on to the end of the book, but with another 2 hours' worth of chapters left, I said we had to save some for tomorrow.It was only just now, looking for our next title to order (Cameron Townsend) , that I realised that YWAM also do a Young Readers version of this series.I don't think my kids would have liked to have to read this normal one on their own, but as a read-aloud, it's been greatly enjoyed and they are looking forward to the next chapter, while also dreading reaching the end and having run out of story. The Benges do a great job of giving the reader plenty of interesting detail without making the book a hard slog to get through. Some parts are more riveting than others, but then nobody's life is pure excitement/adventure, and I appreciate that they don't cut out the less exciting bits. My kids need to know that there WILL be uninteresting bits in life, but there will also be bits where God does amazing things.If I wants my primary school aged children to read about these Christian Heroes Then and Now, I would opt for the Young Reader version. I haven't had the opportunity to leaf through a copy, but this 'adult' version would probably be a bit too boring for many children to get through on their own.

The story of Eric Liddell's life is a challenge to me at 70 years old to make my life count for much more than it has to date. Over the last year, I have been learning how to take God at His word more than ever. Reading this book is another encouragement that each step of faith becomes a valuable asset to be used in the Lord's service hand-in-hand with my wife Karen (almost 50 years) for as long as He gives us. "Each step I take is a step of faith... And if our God is for us, then who can be against us?". Colin.

An amazing and sensitively written book which I couldn't put down, and which had me feeling I was there with Eric sharing his experiences with him. He was blessed to bless others and gave his all to a troubled China.Eric was very much more than an outstanding athlete, he was a true Christian, following Jesus, helping those in need, and bringing God's love to everyone he met. His life is an example to us all.He achieved a lot in his short life, living through much war conflict with many "narrow scrapes"; but how desperately sad he wasn't able to spend his last few years with his wife and three daughters whom he obviously adored and missed terribly.Eric's heart was in China, and that is where he spent a significant part of his life, and where his body was laid.A really wonderful book, and a prized possession, which I shall be re-reading many times.

Truly an incredible athlete, who had the Lord's calling on his life and went on to fullfil it.Inspiring , brings back the basic of the gospel of love.The book is well written and fact based.The movie was a fitting memorial to Eric's life, this book removes a little of the tinsel in the movie.

Only negative is that you have to get used to the American accent / pronunciation. Can become a little wearing - but we listened in small chunks which made it acceptable.