Diary of a Parish Priest

Ida Friederike Goerres: The Hidden Face: A Study of St. Therese of Lisieux
Attempt to find the "real" St. Therese. Helps make St. Therese more accessible to the modern reader.

Miguel De Cervantes: Don Quixote
Some call it the best novel ever written. Read or listen to it on tape.

Augustine Thompson: Francis of Assisi: A New Biography
OK, this is interesting. A biography of a Franciscan by a Dominican! The author looks for the "historical St. Francis," not the St. Francis of myth or popular piety. Antidote to the pious version of Francis we might have grown up with. Worth reading whether you love Francis or are somewhat skeptical about his legendary image.

HEATHER KING: POOR BABY: A Child of the 60's Looks Back on Abortion
Interesting read from first-hand experience of post-abortion healing, especially Project Rachel.

Jon M. Sweeney: Beauty Awakening Belief: How the Medieval Worldview Inspires Faith Today
Quick but inspiring read on the faith context of gothic architecture.

Mary Eberstadt: Adam and Eve After the Pill: Paradoxes of the Sexual Revolution
Fascinating contemporary commentary on the consequences of artificial contraception.

Garret Keizer: The Enigma of Anger: Essays on a Sometimes Deadly Sin
Thought provoking modern thoughts on anger in the spiritual life.

Henri J. M. Nouwen: The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

C. S. Lewis: The Screwtape Letters: With Screwtape Proposes a Toast

Roy F. Baumeister: Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
Will power is a muscle: can be strengthened, needs to be conserved for the tough decisions.

Charles Duhigg: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
Newly published book advises how to break bad habits and form new ones. Interesting new research on the topic.

Alain De Botton: The Consolations of Philosophy
With kudos to Boethius, the author lauds the virtues of the examined life.

Geoff Colvin: Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from EverybodyElse
Good encouragement for those who are discouraged when practice doesn't yield immediate results.

Sandy Hotchkiss: Why Is It Always About You? : The Seven Deadly Sins of Narcissism
Know anyone like this? Good reading for Lent.

Tony Wagner: The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don't Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need--and What We Can Do About It
Wake-up call to American educators about qualities needed in our school system.

Matthew R. Linderoth: Prohibition on the North Jersey Shore: Gangsters on Vacation
Breezy read on the colorful local history during prohibition. Illuminating passages on the KKK in Red Bank, Long Branch and New Jersey.

Barbara R. Blackburn: Rigor is NOT a Four-Letter Word
One educator's view of excellence in education

Susan Cain: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Nice critique of the modern American tendency to choose extroverts as leaders.

Edwin G. Burrows: Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 (The History of New York City)
Interesting history of the earliest days of New York City including anti-Catholic bias in the colonies.

Michael Coren: Why Catholics Are Right
Debunks some tired myths critics use to bash the Catholic church. Fight back when the Catholic church is blamed for every social evil in the world since original sin.