cover image BILLY GRAHAM: A Tribute from Friends

BILLY GRAHAM: A Tribute from Friends

, . . Warner, $17.95 (192pp) ISBN 978-0-446-52909-9

Fifty-six friends and associates offer brief odes to octogenarian evangelist Billy Graham. Many of the contributors are political luminaries: Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee describes how hearing Graham preach in 1972 changed his life, and former President Ford recalls Graham's praying for him. Not all of the contributors know Graham personally; writer Zig Ziglar describes how influential Graham has been in his own work, even though Ziglar has only seen him on television. If any 20th-century Protestant deserves a Festschrift, it is Graham. Unfortunately, because many of the entries are generic—witness Senator Robert Byrd's two-paragraph statement that Graham's "faith is strong"—the book quickly becomes tedious. Rather than the personal, intimate portrait of Graham that readers might hope for, they instead find reminder upon reminder that Graham hobnobbed with powerful people and shared the gospel with folks from all walks of life. A few entries—particularly those by the collection's eight female authors—deviate from the boilerplate, offering touching, specific memories of Graham's profound influence. Kay Arthur reflects on how many opportunities Graham's ministry has provided her to teach and write, while Millie Dienert offers a vivid account of how Graham's attitude toward finances shaped her own life, and tells a humorous story abut Billy's wife, Ruth. Elisabeth Elliot Gren recalls a trip to Jamaica with the Grahams and Johnny Cash. Despite such welcome contributions, this volume is a drab tribute to America's evangelist. (May 2)

Forecast:Although this compilation pales in comparison to other books on Graham, particularly William Martin's biography, it should sell well. Print advertising is planned in major magazines such as Time and People as well as Christian publications.