Customer Reviews

William Wilberforce: A Hero for Humanity

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was a fabulously written and researched book. The depth of the original documents that were touched made it authoritative and the writing style was captivating. The descriptions of his personal and family life and how he related to his peers was particularly valuable to me. I also gained any insights into the reading list of Wiliam Wilberforce which is always a window into a man's soul. Highly recommended.

I read a lot of biographies, and have to say that while I am a fan of William Wilberforce and the movie Amazing Grace, this biography is not on my favorites list. Primarily, I disliked the structure of the book. It is written topically instead of chronologically having sections on his early life, his political life, his influence, his family life, etc. For example, the book has 10 chapters, and his marriage to Barbara Spooner isn't introduced until chapter 8! This made the book feel like a collection of essays instead of a typical biography. I won't read it again.

Kevin Belmonte meticulously researched the facts and the emotion of this biography. It is pure and simply delicious reading with insights that touch the heart and move the senses. Awesome!

I was truly unaware of who William Wilberforce was before reading "Amazing Grace" by Metaxes. Then I found "Real Christianity" by Wilberforce and now I am almost finished reading "William Wilberforce: A Hero for Humanity." The book, "William Wilberforce: A Hero for Humanity", is a can't put-it-down kind of read. It brings in notable contemporaries of Wilberforce which richly adds to the fiber of the text. Wilberforce's "Great Change" made him a mighty force for Biblical Christianity. I believe it should be a strongly suggested read for all politicians at every level of government (village, town, city, state, and federal). We need to see a moral turnaround in our beloved U.S.A. seen in the hearts of its citizens. Morality cannot be legislated. I give the book a five stars (thumbs) up.

The story--or at least the legacy--of William Wilberforce is one that should be standard issue in all history courses. He is highly unknown in the US, perhaps because his greatest work came after its separation from Britain. But even I, who studied Political Science with strong philosophical and international emphases, had not heard of him until over 4 years after I graduated. Very well written book about the man who championed the cause and accomplished the abolition of the slave trade, and later the total abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire. Belmonte captures the essence of the man and his life through a text rich in its use of sources and first hand accounts, with appropriate use of personal insight and conclusions. True to the subtitle, Wilberforce is duly shown as a hero for humanity, a champion for everything human, and a role model for all who desire to make a real difference in this world. Couple with the movie "Amazing Grace," this book provides a rich look at a man who was the wealthies man of his time in all the ways that truly matter.

Kevin Belmonte brings Wilbeforce to life. The book was hard to put down. What an inspiration Wilberforce was and continues to be as the father of the abolition movement in England. He is truly a hero of the Christian faith. Much can be learned from his life and the way he lived it. This is one of my all time favorites!

This is no ordinary biography. William Wilberforce is one of the brightest lights in human history. Few people have made such a visible positive and constructive influence on society.

Kevin Belmonte's outstanding account of Wilberforce's life is rich. The depth of insight into his life is surprising. The transparency is refreshing. Wilberforce, while being portrayed as the extraordinary man he was, is still revealed in his humanity. Weakness and struggle are not left out, but prove to make this book all the more challenging to the reader. Wilberforce is not just a man to be celebrated, but also one to be emulated.

All that said, the book is very readable. It is also full of rich primary source material making it a great resource.

Oh, that heroes of the quality and character of Wilberforce would stand up in our day. Read this book and let it challenge you to be a hero for humanity.

This is a miserable read written by a miserable author. I don't think the author could have made it more unenjoyable to read. Actually, all that was done was to collect some writings of William Wilberforce and put them in this book and even those are not complete. Lots of -----. Names are mentioned that the reader has no idea who they were and quotes from contemporaries of Mr. Wilberforce that the reader has no idea who they were. The time sequences jump back and forth so you never really know what year you are reading about. William Pitt dies and then he reappears in the book. Very Confusing. Certainly not the book to read to learn about William Wilberforce. I highly recommend "Amazing Grace" by Eric Metaxas.

Kevin Belmonte's "William Wilberforce: A Hero for Humanity" is a terrific biography of the man who's actions in late Eighteenth and early Nineteenth Century Britain would ultimately help bring about the end of British involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. While it does a great job of amassing the information about Wilberforce, and is dramatic as well as enlightening, the book's one drawback is that Belmonte chooses to use several of his chapters to focus on one specific area of Wilberforce's life, instead of a cohesive narrative. But this is a minor drawback overall, and the wealth of information presented in this book makes "William Wilberforce: A Hero for Humanity" a necessary read for students of Wilberforce and British history.
Grade: A-

This is a great introduction to the life and pursuits of William Wilberforce. His deep love and concern for humanity is fantastic.