David Livingstone

Missionary, Explorer, Abolitionist

By: Vance Christie

Narrated by: Vance Christie

David Livingstone was one of the most consequential individuals who lived in the 19th century. An unpretentious Scottish missionary doctor, explorer, and abolitionist, he opened the door for Christianity in southern Africa.

Vance Christie’s biography is the most comprehensive and accurate ever written about Livingstone. During his lifetime, he was a hero in Britain and beyond, and gained a degree of respect, trust, appreciation, and even affection from many African people. He was a man who overcame many deprivations and discouragements, and displayed the utmost measure of courage, self-control, faith, wisdom, and ingenuity. Christie takes a balanced look at Livingstone’s amazing achievements, but also at his very real flaws. This gripping and in-depth biography is a must-listen insight into a fascinating man.

©2023 Christian Focus Publications (P)2023 Christian Focus Publications

Long explanations

If you want to know things that occurred behind the scenes then you’ll appreciate this volume. Personally I got tired of the long explanations of situations that occurred between the Doctor and his various cohorts. As someone who has done a year’s missionary work I do know that the drama is a true reality -I very much could relate. However, that was not my intention for listening to this book. I was disappointed that there weren’t more stories of how he doctored people (wounds, disease etc he encountered) and shared Jesus. From what is described, it was a horrible god-forsaken place where everyone died of a fever, starvation, malaria, malnutrition, wild animals, and squabbling between tribes- but there were oh so many pestilences too! Attacked by 2 types of ants… just all that he endured, and all the death and hardships…Idk why or how anyone would subject themselves to that- (again and again) how he went on with his throat hurting, piles, shoulder not healing properly, and leaving medical care plus his family to go back to that unhealthy place..smh. And he doesn’t talk about the Lord being his strength or how the angels were obvious there for this or that occurrence. That was disappointing as well. I thought him to be more godly than as portrayed here. Who can say? You have to speed up the narrator/reader reads very sluggishly otherwise and there are definitely boring parts and explanations of seemingly everything.

The courageous and sacrificial life of a man for Christ!

I really appreciated the unbiased approach to Livingston's life. No hagiography here! The book can feel a little slow getting started, but before you know it will have you spell bound. The trials, dangers and snares of frontier missionary work were daily occurrences for Livingston. He was attacked by lions, hippos, men with spears, men with guns, companions with sticky fingers, malaria, hemroids, and the worst attack of all the words of his own country men. He pressed on through it all to spread Christ kingdom, end the savage slave trade and explore the far reaches of Africa. His life for 30 years was risked almost daily for his Lord! I highly commend this book to you!

Change your speed to 1.20

My only difficulty had been the pace of the authors reading. Changing the speed to 1.20 helped dramitically and makes it much easier to listen to.

Fantastic biography needs professional voice over

This is a carefully researched and balanced biography of David Livingstone that has no shortage of drama and adventure of his life in Africa. The only negative is that it is read by the author who is not a voice over artist so it takes some getting used to at first to listen to him. Even though I did adjust to his voice, it would be much better with a professional.