What are the best Christian biographies to read?

The strongest are the ones written by the subjects themselves — autobiographies. Augustine's Confessions, Bunyan's Grace Abounding, John Newton's Authentic Narrative, Teresa of Ávila's Life, George Müller's Narrative, Hudson Taylor's Retrospect, and John Paton's autobiography are among the finest, and each is the primary source the later biographies retell.

What's the difference between a Christian biography and an autobiography?

A biography is written about someone by another author; an autobiography is written by the person themselves. Every book here is an autobiography — a first-person account, the original source that the biographies draw on. You get the voice and the detail firsthand.

Are there good Christian autobiographies for men, for women, and for teens?

Yes. For men, Newton, Paton, and Müller read like adventure and rescue stories; for women, see our collection of women's spiritual autobiographies; for teens, St. Patrick, Hudson Taylor, and John Paton are accessible and gripping. Each page notes background and questions.

Are these free to read?

All are in the public domain, and we link a free source for each. Our clean editions add readable typesetting; buying one supports the library.

The best Christian lives, firsthand

Best Christian biographies & autobiographies

The best Christian biography is usually the one the subject wrote themselves. These are the great Christian autobiographies — the primary sources the later biographies retell — free to read in the public domain and offered here as clean editions. Firsthand accounts of the lives that shaped the faith.

1
397 · Roman North Africa · The first spiritual autobiography
Confessions
Augustine · 397
The book that began the genre — Augustine's own account of his restless search and conversion. The primary source behind every later biography of him.
Read it · clean edition $1.99 → · free source
2
1764 · The Atlantic slave trade · The 'Amazing Grace' story
An Authentic Narrative
John Newton · 1764
John Newton's own conversion story — the slave-ship captain turned preacher. The firsthand source behind the many retellings and behind the hymn.
Read it · clean edition $1.99 → · free source
3
1666 · Puritan England · Author of Pilgrim's Progress
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
John Bunyan · 1666
Bunyan's own account of his conversion, told before the allegory that made him famous — the primary source for who he really was.
Read it · clean edition $1.99 → · free source
4
1565 · Golden-Age Spain · Doctor of the Church
The Life of St. Teresa of Ávila, Written by Herself
Teresa of Ávila · 1565
Teresa of Ávila's autobiography — the classic of Catholic spiritual life, written by herself, and the source the biographies draw on.
Read it · clean edition $2.00 → · free source
5
1837 · Bristol, England · Faith & the orphan houses
A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller, Written by Himself
George Müller · 1837
George Müller's own narrative of a life of prayer that fed thousands of orphans — the primary source behind the popular faith biographies.
Read it · clean edition $1.99 → · free source
6
1894 · Inland China · China Inland Mission
A Retrospect
J. Hudson Taylor · 1894
Hudson Taylor tells his own call to China — the cornerstone missionary autobiography and the source behind the retellings.
Read it · clean edition $1.99 → · free source
7
1889 · The South Pacific · Missionary to the New Hebrides
John G. Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides, An Autobiography
John G. Paton · 1889
One of the most gripping missionary lives, in Paton's own words — the primary source behind the many children's and popular versions.
Read it · clean edition $1.99 → · free source
8
1789 · The Atlantic world · Formerly enslaved abolitionist
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Written by Himself
Olaudah Equiano · 1789
Equiano's own story — one of the most important autobiographies in the English language, and a landmark of both faith and abolition.
Read it · clean edition $1.99 → · free source
9
1876 · Revivalist America · The skeptical lawyer
Memoirs of the Rev. Charles G. Finney, Written by Himself
Charles G. Finney · 1876
Charles Finney's memoirs — a skeptical young lawyer converted and turned into one of America's most influential revivalists, in his own account.
Read it · clean edition $2.00 → · free source
10
1922 · India & the Himalayas · The Christian sadhu
At the Master's Feet
Sadhu Sundar Singh · 1922
Sundar Singh, the Sikh-born wanderer who carried the gospel across India and Tibet — a non-Western Christian voice, in his own parables and words.
Read it · clean edition $1.99 → · free source

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Questions about Christian biographies

What are the best Christian biographies to read?: The strongest are the ones written by the subjects themselves — autobiographies. Augustine's Confessions, Bunyan's Grace Abounding, John Newton's Authentic Narrative, Teresa of Ávila's Life, George Müller's Narrative, Hudson Taylor's Retrospect, and John Paton's autobiography are among the finest, and each is the primary source the later biographies retell.
What's the difference between a Christian biography and an autobiography?: A biography is written about someone by another author; an autobiography is written by the person themselves. Every book here is an autobiography — a first-person account, the original source that the biographies draw on. You get the voice and the detail firsthand.
Are there good Christian autobiographies for men, for women, and for teens?: Yes. For men, Newton, Paton, and Müller read like adventure and rescue stories; for women, see our collection of women's spiritual autobiographies; for teens, St. Patrick, Hudson Taylor, and John Paton are accessible and gripping. Each page notes background and questions.
Are these free to read?: All are in the public domain, and we link a free source for each. Our clean editions add readable typesetting; buying one supports the library.