Charles W. Colson: A Life Redeemed [Hardcover]

Jonathan Aitken (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 2005

He was Nixon’s hatchet man. A jailed felon. And now, one of the most significant Christian leaders of our time. Here is his life story.

Charles Colson has become one of the most revered leaders of our time. His ministry outreach, Prison Fellowship, has swelled to 40,000 volunteers working in 100 countries. His Angel Tree Christmas program provides presents to more than half a million children of prison inmates every year. His daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint, airs daily on more than 1,000 radio outlets across the country. And his twenty books have sold more than five million copies in the U.S.

But God had to work some mighty miracles to bring this unusual servant to this prominent place of service. After all, Colson was known as President Nixon’s “hatchet man.” His involvement in the Watergate conspiracy led him to prison–and then to a life-changing encounter with God.

Now, noted author Jonathan Aitken has written the first biography that compellingly presents a first-rate understanding of the political, historical, and spiritual journeys of Charles W. Colson… a life redeemed.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Evangelical leader Chuck Colson could hardly ask for a more friendly biographer—not only did Aitken write a sympathetic biography of Richard Nixon, whose downfall Colson shared in the wake of Watergate, but Aitken is himself a former politician (a British M.P.) who went to jail and then discovered evangelical Christian faith. Yet his theological and political affinities with his subject do not prevent him from delivering a largely candid assessment of a man whose early career was both brilliant and resolutely godless, and whose postconversion ministry to prisoners has vaulted him to the top rank of evangelical heavyweights. Given unfettered access to Colson's associates, family and papers (even his personal, heavily annotated study Bible), Aitken excels at retelling Colson's early years of political machinations. His portrait of Colson's process of religious conversion is gripping as well, though it overlaps with the story Colson himself told in Born Again. Aitken's prose, usually lively, sometimes turns breathless. At times Aitken's obvious admiration for his subject leads him to downplay Colson's critics, including the disaffected associates he has left behind in his ministry career. But if this falls short of the definitive critical biography, it is still a compelling portrait of a flawed but faithful man. (July 19)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Aitken, a disgraced former member of the British parliament, calls this a "warts and all" portrait of political-henchman-turned--evangelist Colson, whose own tarnished past he cites to substantiate unblinking scrutiny of his character. Well, that may have been Aitken's intention. His chronicle of Colson's life shows him as no more or less human than Colson has shown himself in his published confessions. Nor does Aitken break any new ground seeking the rationalization for Colson's sins by examining his parents, teachers, and mentors. What does stand out is the portrayal of what can happen when one decides to turn prodigious talents away from the dark side of politics in the Nixon administration and toward the service of goodness, only to rejoin politics as an advisor to President George W. Bush. Colson seeks through his Prison Fellowship to redeem not only himself but others who have fallen from grace. Therein lies the reason to read this book: the story of helping others to help themselves perhaps cannot be told often enough. Donna Chavez
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (July 12, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578565103
• ISBN-13: 978-1578565108
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.3 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,489,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jonathan Aitken is a well-known British author and former politician. He was a Member of Parliament for twenty-three years, serving in the Cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and also as Minister of State for Defense. His political career ended when he pleaded guilty to charges of perjury as a result of having told a lie on oath in a civil libel lawsuit. During an eighteen-month prison stay, he converted to Christ. He is president of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a director of Prison Fellowship International, and executive director of The Trinity Forum in Europe. He is the author of twelve books, including the award-winning Nixon: A Life and Charles W. Colson: A Life Redeemed.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, December 15, 2010

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mycrazyschemes - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Charles W. Colson: A Life Redeemed (Hardcover)

I haven't finished reading it all, but liked what I have read so far. Helped me with my paper on leadership.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charles Colson: A Life, August 14, 2009

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F. M. Couch - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Charles Colson (Hardcover)

I have been a fan of Chuck Colson's books and have followed his Prison Fellowship ministry which now extends around the World. He is one of the greatest theological minds of our century. This biography is extremely thorough, honest, and well-written. Taking you into the political turmoil of the Nixon era and the Watergate fall-out in great detail, it was compelling reading. Mr. Colson's life story is an inspiration to read.

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brutal honesty, March 28, 2006

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Christian Book Previews "Christian Book Previews" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Charles W. Colson: A Life Redeemed (Hardcover)

Notorious as Richard Nixon's hatchet man, Charles (Chuck) Colson's involvement in the Watergate scandal sent him from the White House to "the big house." Today, this former felon is a respected Christian leader. He is the founder of the far-reaching Prison Fellowship, which is one of the most respected and productive Christian parachurch organizations in America, powerfully reflecting the resurrection and redeeming grace of Jesus Christ.

Colson truly stands as a modern-day Paul, whose life was radically changed after an encounter with the Lord. This book is well documented and well written. On the one hand, it presents Colson as a man who has had a very positive impact on American culture and religion; yet, on the other hand, it does not downplay the bad choices he made earlier in his life that led him to prison. There is a brutal honesty in the presentation of Colson's political ambitions, his drive for power, and his insensitivity to people who got in his way. However, this makes the story of his redemption all the more astounding.

Noted British researcher and author Jonathan Aitken was given full access to Colson's personal papers and private archives. Additionally, he did extensive interviews with Colson's wife, children, co-workers, and friends. The result is an intriguing study of this Hyde-turns-Jekyll individual. This book will be of interest not only to Christians but also to anyone interested in the machinations of politics or the events of American history. - Leilani Joy Wells, Christian Book Previews.com