On the morning of April 9, 1945, German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer was  executed at Flossenburg concentration camp. The camp doctor, H.  Fischer-Hullstrung, later remembered: [Just before the execution] "I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer kneeling on the  floor, praying fervently to God...so certain that God heard his  prayer...I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the  will of God." Others testified that, up to his last day, the 39 year old  Bonhoeffer remained cheerful. He knew what he had to do, was reconciled  to God's will, and was able to climb the steps to the gallows "brave and  composed." Who was this man who died so bravely--who Hitler himself, from his  bunker beneath Berlin just three weeks before his suicide, ordered to be  "destroyed?" He's the subject of best-selling author Eric Metaxas's new  biography, "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy." Shortly after his conversion in 1988, Metaxas read Bonhoeffer's The  Cost of Discipleship and learned the story of the young man who,  "because of his Christian faith stood up to the Nazis and ultimately  gave his life." From then on, he was determined to tell the story to  others. And tell it he has. Metaxas takes readers, in 592 pages, through Bonhoeffer's entire  life, from his parent's courtship to his memorial service. No corner of  the subject's life is left unexplored. Through the author's use of  Bonhoeffer's personal letters to family and friends, earlier  biographies, interviews with those who knew Bonhoeffer, and other  thorough research, readers get a comprehensive and balanced look into  one of recent history's greatest theologians. Appropriately, Metaxas emphasizes Bonhoeffer's theology and how it  played out in his life. In contrast to "cheap grace," Bonhoeffer  believed that true grace influences all aspects of a Christian's life.  Christianity is more than formal religion, and it requires believers to  be willing to sacrifice everything to God. Christianity is also more  than legalistic morality. Ethics, according to Bonhoeffer, can't be  reduced to a set of rules. These beliefs are what led this humble and  devout follower of Christ to be involved in a plot to assassinate  Hitler. How Christianity and assassination plots can be reconciled is hard  for many to fathom--especially those who have lived only in peace and  safety. We must consider Bonhoeffer in the context of his life, his  country, and the war that he had no choice but to be a part of. Ethics,  once so clear, become unclear. Do we lie to the Nazis, or do we give  them information that leads to the deaths of innocents? Do we obey our  nation's laws, or do we defy them by leading Jews into safety? Do we  fight in Hitler's army, or do we refuse, knowing that we will be  beheaded and leave our family destitute? These are some of the questions  Bonhoeffer faced.  But readers can sympathize with Bonhoeffer. Metaxas masterfully puts  us in his world. We celebrate with him in his family's parlor. We study  with him in his illegal seminary. We watch with him as his world  unravels. And we see him agonize over decisions, decisions that are not  so clear, and decisions that he often had to make without the support of  others.  Metaxas's "Bonhoeffer" will be one of the best books of the year.  I've learned, as expected, much about the life of a great and inspiring  Christian.  But I've also learned about the world, sin and evil, what it  really means to be a Christian, and what it really means to live.   There are a few books that, years after I have read them, I realize have  had a great influence on me. This will be one of them. You can't go  wrong with this book; I give it my highest recommendation.