Will Campbell's award-winning book shares two interrelated stories. One is of his youth in rural Mississippi and his devotion to his brother, whose life ended in seeming tragedy. The other tells of his ordination at age seventeen and his gradual realization that civil rights -- for blacks, for women, for gays -- were an essential part of a ministry that has not yet ended.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
One of a Kind!:
I am blown away and delighted that this book is still available for today's generation of young, progressive Christians (and any other seeker). I remember the first time I read this book I was on an airplane. I would be laughing out loud (couldn't help myself) on one page and turning my head towards the window to hide my tears on the next page. Campbell elicits this kind of response with every nugget of wisdom and story. It is a powerful and moving read. Although some connection to the south (as well as to... more info
poignant reflections by renegade christian:
If you were raised in the south as I was, have an interest in the civil rights movement, or want to enjoy one of the most irreverent Christian curmudgeons ever to irritate the church, then read Will Campbell (b. 1924). Campbell was born and raised in the rural and very poor deep south of Amite, Mississippi, "ordained" by family members at a local Baptist church when he was seventeen, and, in a delightfully improbable life, played a central role as an activist and agitator on behalf of African Americans. But... more info
More than a memoir:
Brother to a Dragonfly is the story of 2 brothers who, in their own way, idolize each other. Will looks up to his older brother Joe. Joe is the protector. He always wants to make things right. And Joe knows that Will is destined to have a mark on the world. But Will D. Campbell has written more than a memoir in writing about growing up with his brother Joe in rural Mississippi. He has captured a piece of America's past. This book reads like a novel - poverty, war, race relations, the civil rights movement,... more info
Life changing:
I've read this book several times, and it never fails to move me. I don't think I've read a more powerful book. Oprah needs to get on this one.
