Customer Reviews

David Livingstone: Africa's Trailblazer (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I thought the book was well written and covered the highlights of Dr. Livingstone's life. After reading the book, I had no major questions that were left unanswered. But, while doing other research on the life of Dr. Livingstone, I found out there were a few other events that probably should have been included. David was mostly blinded in one eye through an accident. This could have been said in the book without taking up too much space and seems to have been an important event.

I agree with another reviewer in that David was probably not the best role model for how missions should be done today and for how to treat a family. But one thing that needs to be remembered is that his life was not too different from many missionaries of the time. It was not unusual to send (or leave) the children back home for years at a time to be raised in a boarding school. Thankfully, as missionaries, we don't need to do that anymore. He lived in a very different time than we live in today and the fact that there are many great ministries in Africa today can be traced back to the pioneering work done by Dr. Livingstone.

A well written book, even if you don't agree with the life of Dr. Livingstone.

Throughout his life, David sacrificed all: his family, creature comforts, and his own health to open Africa to future missions. I suppose the reason others were disappointed in this book is because David was not a traditional missionary. However, God called him and he obeyed.

David's missions were a huge success in my mind. The Kalahari, trecherous rivers, bug infested jungles, and mud swamps were not going to stop him!! He travelled where no white man had travelled before, was a kind man, and embraced the Africans. This was a monumental step in keeping communication open to future missionaries and opening up unexplored areas where new mission stations could later be established. He planted the seed of missions in Africa, if you will. It parallels the thought that as we share the gospel with others, we could simply be planting seeds and then others will come along behind and help that planted seed to sprout. We won't always see the fruit of our labors, and although David saw some fruit, he had just begun the task of introducing Africans to God. After he passed on, it became the job of other missionaries to go in behind him to help the seeds to sprout.

I also see him not as a deadbeat dad, but as a man sold out to God. He and his children sacrificed in order that he may obey God. What more of a testimony to his children could he have given? After all, God doesn't say to obey only after the kids are grown and gone. We are to obey all the time no matter what. I was truly humbled by David's life and sacrifices and cried as the book came to a close.

After reading 5 other books in the Christian Heroes Then & Now series and liking them all, I have to say that this was a huge disappointment. I bought this book for my sons to read thinking that it could give them a great role model and hero.
In my opinion, David Livingstone was neither of these. Not only did he marry when he knew he wouldn't stay in one place too long but he also left his kids, five or six of them, with his wife or grandparents for years and years at a time without any contact. For years he wouldn't even know where his kids were or who was taking care of them, or even if they were dead or alive. He never even met his youngest child, a daughter, until she was five years old, even then it was only for a brief time before he was off seeking adventure in Africa and never again laid eyes on her or his other children. This book was not about the great missionary and role model I had hoped for, instead it was about a dead beat dad. I was very unimpressed by his life choices, it seems that his priority was adventure not family. The other thing that bothered me while reading this book was that it mentioned time and time again that David Livingstone was the first white man to do this or that.
After reading this book I felt his goal was to explore and be the first white man to accomplish many things but not neccessarily to minister to the tribes or be a good husband and father.

David was exceptional across the board. My heart hurt for his family although I'm sure David was unaware of the treatment they received. His wife was deserving of better. However, if the way he treated his family seems bad to you, then read the story of Adoniram Judson. Adoniram's letter to his prospective father-in-law gives the bottom line. I'm sure it was in that spirit that David made his decisions. This book gives a perspective on Africa of colonial times that is helpful in understanding much of the time period. I would also suggest you read about the life of Mary Slessor if you'd like to better understand Africa's recent history (i.e. last 125 years).

Both my 9 year old and I love this book! It's well-written, fascinating, and educational. I love that he's learning about Christian heroes and he loves that the story is exciting!

We look forward to reading more from this series.

Did you ever read a missionary story only to find it boring? Does serving God in remote areas seem not glamorous enough for you? When you attack life as David Livingstone did, head on fearlessly, you bring the excitement with you! Trough a lion attack, threats from canibals,injurious falls, malaria, wrong information, lost rivers, frequent separation from his familly, David Livingstone never flinched nor lost his fervor to press on to do what God called and continuously kept calling him to do. Because of his perseverance to Map Africa in a day before airplanes and GPS, for the purpose of getting the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ to people in darkness, He pressed on. When others thought he should give up, or criticized him, or equipment failed, he pressed on. If you have sons who want to read about righteous adventure, let them read a TRUE adventure. It may inspire them to greatness!

Everyone should read this book! We could all use his character traits to see a dream through to the end.

Not quite what I expected when I read this. This book chronicles more of Livingston's ventures as an explorer, and less that of a missionary. In fact, at some point in the book there's this subtle shift from Livingston the missionary to Livingston the explorer, and while he should be credited for his efforts as an explorer, what happened to his missionary service? He all but abandoned it! And speaking of abandonment, one thing despicable about Livingston was how he would frequently abandon his wife (who had suffered a stroke earlier!) and his own children, to go off on lengthy ventures through Africa. This wasn't admirable, and I found myself actually growing to detest what seemed almost like an obsession of Livingston: turning his back on family to trudge through Africa with a band of natives.
By the end of the book, when Livingston ultimately dies in Africa, the only sense of pity that I really felt was for his abandoned family. Livingston's insane obsession, and abandonment of his ministry, his wife and family, had ultimately left him dead, deep within the African continent.