Born Again [DELUXE EDITION] (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

CharlesColson, once a powerful aide to President Richard M. Nixon, describes the day he sat in his prison cell and began jotting down notes of the events that brought about the fall of a president and the rebirth of his former "hatchet man". His story has brought hope, encouragement, and inspiration to the many thousands who have read it.

From the Back Cover

Twenty years ago, against the backdrop of the explosive Watergate scandal, Charles Colson revealed the story of his own search for meaning during the tumultuous investigations that led to the collapse of the Nixon administration. A convicted former special counsel to the president, Colson paradoxically found new life not with success and power, but while in national disgrace and serving a prison sentence.

In the new foreword for this anniversary edition of Born Again, Colson describes the day he sat in his prison cell and began jotting down notes of the events that brought about the fall of a president and the rebirth of his former "hatchet man." Those notes developed into this book, which has sold more than two million copies.

"All I knew was that I had a story I must tell, a story that might bring hope and encouragement to others," Colson recalls. In a new epilogue, he describes some of the ways the story has indeed brought hope, encouragement, and more.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Revell; 20th Anniv edition (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800786335
• ISBN-13: 978-0800786335
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #820,608 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Could anything good come of Watergate?, March 14, 2004

By	Paul M. Dubuc (Columbus, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's been 30 years since the events of Watergate started making history. A whole generation has grown up largely unaware, I suspect, of the significance of those events. I've followed Chuck Colson's work and writing almost since the beginning of Prison Fellowship and have developed a tremendous respect for the man. But only recently have I bothered to go back and read this book which tells how it all got started. I should not have waited so long.

This is the very inspiring and honest story of Colson's early career as chief counsel, confidant and friend to President Richard Nixon. As an insider, he gives his own account of the Watergate scandal and an honest confession of his own wrongdoings. This is also the story about how God can change the life of a man caught up in the corrupting influence of political power and bring great good out of evil. Since he was not directly involved in the Watergate doings, Colson probably could have easily avoided being convicted and sent to prison. But his encounter with Jesus Christ and conversion to Christianity strengthened his conscience and led him to plead guilty to an unrelated crime that he did commit. He went to prison and saw a different side of the "law and order" society that the Nixon Administration sought to promote. Even through the fear and despair of those times, the power of God became even more evident to Chuck Colson while in prison.

This is an amazing account of how a life submitted to Jesus Christ can reconcile enemies, create strong bonds of friendship, and heal terrible wounds in the hearts of both the rich and powerful and the poor and helpless. It's wonderful to read. If this book has an impact on you, then you will also want to read its sequel, "Life Sentence".

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful Reminder of Christian Faith and Community, April 16, 2002

By	Matthew R. Green (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Born Again is a somewhat trite title, but the contents of the book are not so. There are so many biographies out there that are lists of events and facts that surround a person; this is not one of them. Colson explains to you what is happening in his mind and heart. It is not merely a book about his conversion, it is the story of the changing of his heart.

Throughout the story, you see the power of God working, not only in Colson, but in the lives of the people around him. I sometimes wonder if Colson painted too bright a picture of the Christians he met like Doug Coe and Tom Phillips, but even if he did, those lights are surely what Colson saw in the midst of his darkness. The changing power of God was evident in them in this work, as was the power in him. Also evident was the power of Christian community that is often lacking in the church. Hughes' offering that the bonds of Christianity overrided their political separation and that he would be willing to give Chuck anything and trust him with it was a powerful statement.

I read this book years ago and found it good. Having grown and come back to reread it, I found it better. It is very much worth reading.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, encouraging, and uplifting, August 23, 2001

By	ransome22 "ransome22" (Washington DC area) - See all my reviews

If ever a gust of fresh air wafted out of the smog of Watergate, the story of Christ coming into the life of Chuck Colson has to be part of it. I loved this book. It is a simple, quick, and uplifting read. Colson rejected a full scholarship to Harvard on a matter of principle, and his grittiness, perseverance, and humbling transformation shine as examples of God's artistic handiwork. As other readers have mentioned, Colson is extremely forthright and honest, both in recounting his pre-Christian mentality and his post-conversion weaknesses. He does so to the point of making himself vulnerable and willingly so. I so much appreciate that decision, as I am sure do many others. He details the "obvious" at the risk of seeming simplistic, if only because those simple observations stuck with him and impacted him. One clear example can be found upon his entry to the prison at Maxwell Air Base: "Not only were all uniforms the same drab brown; so were the expressions on the faces. Something strange here. Then it struck me--no one was smiling." This is a fine book and worth reading. One final excerpt to encourage you: "My new friend then handed me a copy of the Phillips version of the New Testament, inscribed: To Charles--It is better to fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail--God bless you! Doug. Matthew 6:33. How those words were to haunt and lead me in the days to come!"