Should Christians spend time reading biographies of people who weren’t believers? My answer to that question is yes. For one thing, all of history is God’s history, so as we learn about post-Biblical events, we are still learning about God’s providential actions in the world. Also, by God’s common grace, there are many unbelievers who displayed great integrity, courage and wisdom from which all Christians can find inspiration. And it’s always interesting to learn about the spiritual convictions of great historical figures.
This biography of Civil War general and U.S. president Ulysses Grant is long, but it is a testimony to Ron Chernow's writing skills that it never feels like it is too long. And of course it did not hurt that Chernow had such great material with which to work – Grant's life story is fascinating from start to end. He was a man who showed little promise in the beginning, but who turned out to be the hero of a nation and the one man who did more than anyone besides Abraham Lincoln to dismantle the institution of slavery in the United States.
What is so fascinating about Grant is that he was a mysterious combination of strength and weakness. He was a military genius and gifted writer (a talent he did not discover until the end of his life), but also possessed a humble and almost childlike nature uncommon for one of his stature; engaged in a lifelong battle with alcohol abuse; and was stunningly naïve particularly in his financial dealings, being left nearly destitute at the end of his life. He was the president credited with holding the nation together after the Civil War, but also one who could not understand why anyone would read a book about him. (p.930).
It is hard to know where Grant stood spiritually. He was "never reluctant to profess his faith," attended church regularly, and highly recommended the Bible (p.811), but he also was "not a praying man," had never been baptized (p.942), and seemed uncertain about the afterlife (p.950). Only God knows the man's heart, but I do know there is much to be admired in Ulysses Grant as a soldier, husband, father and man. Perhaps nothing speaks to his character more than the fact that confederate soldiers who fought against him in the Civil War sang his praises and attended his funeral. As Frederick Douglass wrote, "In (Grant) the Negro found a protector, the Indian a friend, a vanquished foe a brother, an imperiled nation a savior." (p.957).
This is not only the best biography I have read, but even one of the best books in any category I have read. It will take time to read but it is worth it.