Billy Graham: A Parable of American Righteousness

This ranks as the most straight-ahead biography of Billy Graham published before my own The Prince of War: Billy Graham's Crusade for a Wholly Christian Empire. While not nearly as comprehensive as William Martin's A Prophet with Honor : The Billy Graham Story, this is a more interestingly told tale. Originally published in 1979, it catches Graham near the height of his influence and dynamism. After publication, Graham expressed dismay that he had helped Frady with the project because the author published comments and anecdotes from Graham associates that didn't reflect particularly well on the preacher.

I have read many articles and books on Billy Graham but this one tops them all. Frady seems to have walked with Billy as he grew up. We get more details about his dating life and his conversion than in any other book. We also get details about his time at Bob Jones college that I had never known about until now. This book is a reprinting of the original that was printed in 1979, I think. It is a great book and very informative. You get the idea that Billy is a person just like you and I. Other biographies tend to put Bro. Graham on a bit of a pedestal. This book reveals him to be a person like anyone else, but a person whom God has chosen to change the world.