Sometimes I’m asked, “What is your favorite, of the books you’ve written?”  Each time I point to this one. Why?  I got to write about my heroes, some of the people who  have most deeply affected me. Everyone should have the opportunity to write a book about their heroes!

I felt immensely privileged to draw together profiles of thirteen mentors, some of whom I interviewed (Frederick Buechner, Annie Dillard, Henri Nouwen, et al.), some of whom I encountered through their writings (John Donne, G. K. Chesterton, Shusaku Endo, et al.).  They helped to form my own spiritual autobiography, which the book recounts as well.

Endorsements and Honors

“I found (Soul Survivor) utterly captivating.  You taught me a lot that I didn’t know about these various mentors―but more than that, you revealed significant insights about faith, joy, pain, and grace from their life stories.  The authenticity of your own journey shone through in a way that further illuminated those insights.”
Francis Collins, Director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), and founder of The BioLogos Foundation

“I love Philip Yancey’s work.  He is a brilliant, graceful writer.  I am grateful for every marvelous book Philip Yancey writes.”
Anne Lamott, author of Traveling Mercies

“This book is a godsend for people who are religious but not churchmen, and for those who like spiritual companionship along the way of their journey.  Yancey’s fellow travelers here make good company for all hurting, hopeful, and thoughtful people.”
Rev. Peter J. Gomes, Harvard University Chaplain and author of The Good Book

“Let me…recommend it to anyone interested in a relaxed and conversational account of how an assortment of odd fish were variously caught up in and transformed by the Christian Gospel.”
Frederick Buechner, author

“Soul Survivor is not simply the best book I’ve read this year, I added it to the list of books I feel every Christian should read.  At its core this is a story of Yancey’s own growth in faith, told through the lens of biographies of the people who have impacted him…”
Wesley George (Read review: )