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Best biographies I read in 2025
If you know me, you know that I nerd out on history. In 2025, I read a lot of biographies. These were particularly interesting to me:
*Confessions of St. Augustine. The spiritual and psychological autobiography of one of the greatest theologians in history. What more can I say? Read it!
*William Carey, by S. Pearce Carey. A masterful story of the father of modern missions by his great-grandson. Inspiring beyond measure. Thanks to Dr. Bennie Crockett for recommending it.
*The Revolutionary, Samuel Adams, by Stacy Schiff. With our nation’s 250th anniversary coming up, I wanted to read up on that era. Schiff shows how Samuel Adams was perhaps the greatest instigator behind the revolution. Fascinating.
*Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow. No wonder they made a Broadway play based on this book. The guy had more drama in his lifetime than some nations have in their entire history.
*The Pirates Lafitte, by William C. Davis. Entertaining and illuminating about the Gulf Coast culture and history in the early 1800s through the raucous lives of the pirates Jean and Pierre Lafitte. I really enjoyed this one.
Guest post: The Saints robbed of the Super Bowl and the unfairness of life
Article copyright by Larry Robertson.
(Below is a guest column written by my friend Larry Robertson, senior pastor of Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville, Tennessee.)
Perhaps you’ve heard by now that the New Orleans Saints got robbed of a chance to go to the Super Bowl, during the closing moments of the NFC Championship Game on January 20, 2019. Even the NFL admits that pass interference should’ve been called on Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman and that the call would’ve most likely led to the win for the Saints…and a trip to the Super Bowl. But after the Rams player virtually assaulted Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis at a critical point in the game, no yellow flag was thrown.
This is not opinion; it’s a verifiable fact. Robey-Coleman even admits that the refs missed the call. But, per league rules, judgment calls like pass interference are not subject to video review.
Life’s not fair.
That’s one of the most basic life lessons that parents should teach their children, because they’re going to experience it soon enough on their own. At least if you’re expecting it (as much as you can expect the unexpected), the reality of it all won’t knock the breath out of you when you get kicked in the gut.
Life’s not fair.
In Genesis 39, Joseph was falsely accused of sexual assault by his employer’s wife but only because he refused her relentless sexual advances. Joseph did the right thing. Yet he was thrown into prison by his employer, Potiphar, who understandably believed his wife’s false narrative.
Life’s not fair.
“…But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him…” (Genesis 39:20-21). Life’s not fair; that’s true. But the LORD is faithful: He’s faithful in His presence…He’s faithful in His providence…He’s faithful in His promises.
I really believe that one reason some folk “lose faith” is that they mistakenly think that God’s will is always to manipulate circumstances for people of faith so that they get to eat cotton candy while riding unicorns through rainbows. And certainly no one will ever be able to push you down without a penalty! But that’s as false a narrative as Potiphar’s wife’s.
Read Romans 8:31-39. Read the list of hardships that Paul detailed. Take note, though, of verse 37. “…in all these things we are more than conquerors…” Not “in THE ABSENCE OF all these things,” but “IN all these things.”
Listen, life’s not fair. But the LORD is faithful. So, count on that…
Bob Rogers 