Book Review: A Greater Story

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One of my favourites things is listening to stories.

We each have them. The story of how we came to be — of what shaped us and transformed us. The words that describe us. The gritty and grace-led moments that spread their way across the pages of our lives. It’s uniquely ours.

And the stories that I love most are the ones that feel authentic and messy. The ones that grapple with real-life questions and face them head on, rather than hiding beneath filters or Instagram-perfect poses. The ones that point to an over-arching story that reaches far beyond our day-to-day lives. The story that points us to Christ. To a greater story.

This is the premise that immediately drew me to Sam Collier’s book.

From the publisher:

Each of us is living a story

Sam Collier’s story started with rejection. When he and his twin sister were born, their biological mother gave them up for adoption. Though Sam loved his adoptive family, he sometimes felt like a puzzle missing crucial pieces. But God reached into Sam’s life and showed him that he didn’t have to write his own story, because it was really God who was telling his story through Sam.

In this deeply personal yet remarkably universal book, Sam Collier tells his inspiring story of abandonment, sacrifice, gratitude, and rescue, revealing how God is always doing something bigger and better than we might imagine. He has a purpose and a plan for every single one of us, and he is always telling his greater story through our trials, our relationships, and our triumphs.

If you’re in the middle of a challenging time and long to know that God is working through it, Sam’s story will teach you how to see the big picture, even when there are pieces missing.

Readers Thoughts:

Sam’s story is incredible. From abandoned and rejected, to adopted and redeemed — his story is truly an inspiring testament to the faithfulness of God.

The chapters are written memoir-style, walking readers through much of Sam’s inspiring life story. They conclude with reflection style paragraphs designed to dig deeper into the key concepts introduced in the previous sections and gently nudge readers towards finding their true purpose and story.

With less than 200 pages (and a large font size) this book is a quick but encouraging read. I was immediately hooked by Sam’s story and captivated by his thoughts and insight into adoption and family. He shares about his pursuit of music and how God ultimately led him to the place he is today. All of which is inspiring and God-glorifying.

Reading through Sam’s story, I was constantly blown away by the number of things he’s been able to pack into his life. God has blessed him with an incredible ministry and amazing opportunities and connections. His writing is sprinkled with humor and impactful anecdotes about those who have supported and walked alongside him. It’s equally interesting and encouraging.

While I loved the majority of this book, I occasionally struggled with the career-heavy aspect of it. I recognize his desire to help readers find their own greater story, but honestly, I just wanted to hear more about Sam’s! I would have loved for the author to have flushed out some of his stories just that much more, all the while, encouraging readers to do the same.

After reading this book, I’m looking forward to checking out Sam’s podcast. For those seeking to align their stories with God’s purpose for their life, this book is an encouraging testimony.

A Greater Story is available on Amazon.

**Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group
and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. All opinions expressed are my own.