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Catholic Converts. By Patrick Allitt From the mid-nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth, a succession of English-speaking intellectuals converted to Catholicism. Since the Reformation almost no English-language writers of any influence had tried to advance the cause of the Catholic Church to those outside the fold. Outspoken, intellectually gifted, and impressed by their own example, Catholic converts said they would show up the fallacies of Protestants and religious skeptics, end the long schism in Christendom, and place Catholics once more at the center of Western intellectual life. Historian Patrick Allitt gives us the first major study of the general impact of converts like John Henry Newman, G.K. Chesterton, Isaac Hecker, Orestes Brownson, Christopher Dawson, Evelyn Waugh, Thomas Merton, and Dorothy Day, among others, on Catholic intellectual life during this era and the distinctive style of Catholicism they helped to create. -- June 5, 2007 [ Available at Amazon.com ] 
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The Dangerous Book for Boys. By Conn & Hal Iggulden Brothers Conn and Hal Iggulden wrote The Dangerous Book for Boys as a collection of everything they wanted to know and experience when they were boys. The result is a one-of-a-kind guidebook to exploring, creating, and dreaming. With tips on everything from the lost arts of making slingshots, go-carts and secret ink to a first aid primer in dealing with breaks, burns, and other injuries, the Igguldens have put together a roadmap to experiencing -- or revisiting -- the mysteries and adventure of childhood. In this age of video games and mobile phones, The Dangerous Book for Boys is an important reminder that there is still a place for old-fashioned ingenuity and courage. Full of inspiring ideas for unforgettable father-son activities, The Dangerous Book for Boys is a must-have resource for the long summer ahead. You should order one for every boy -- and father -- you know! -- June 4, 2007 [ Available at Amazon.com ]
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The New Nuns. By Amy L. Koehlinger In the 1960s, a number of Catholic sisters in the United States abandoned traditional apostolic works within Catholic institutions to experiment with unprecedented ministries among non-Catholics. Nuns who formerly had held assignments teaching in Catholic parochial schools or staffing Catholic hospitals turned away to pursue life "on the outside." Calling themselves the "New Nuns," these sisters left their Catholic communities in order to live in close proximity to non-Catholics -- counseling drug addicts, assisting labor organizers, and holding "racial sensitivity" training sessions in neighborhoods that were experiencing integration. The New Nuns explores this dramatic shift, especially with regard to racial-justice activism. -- June 1, 2007 [ Available at Amazon.com ]
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The Case Against Perfection. By Michael J. Sandel We live in a world, observes Michael Sandel, where "science moves faster than moral understanding." Genetic engineering, designer babies, human egg harvesting, performance enhancing drugs, embryo stem cells -- all these important issues have moral implications that most Americans have not yet thought through. In The Case Against Perfection Sandel gives a succinct overview of these implications from the point of view of someone who opposes "genetic enhancements" on purely ethical grounds. If you're looking for an excellent primer on ethics in the age of bioengineering, this is a must-read. -- May 31, 2007 [ Available at Amazon.com ]
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Inside Islam: A Guide for Catholics. By Daniel Ali Whether Islam evokes fear or intrigue, it has become increasingly clear that the modern Western world cannot afford to ignore this enigmatic religion. Aside from high rates of immigration and rapid population growth, Islam is growing in the West mainly because it stands for something: Islam has clearly ennunciated beliefs and values, something that can be very attractive to people living in a secular, skeptical age. That being so, most Catholics still know next to nothing about the religion of the Prophet Muhammad. Authors Daniel Ali and Robert Spencer have put together a well-organized catechism on Islamic belief and practice that demonstrates that "although there are undoubtedly millions of virtuous Muslims, Islam itself is an incomplete, misleading, and often downright false revelation." Ouch! If you want the PC version of Islam, look elsewhere. Ali and Spencer present Islam unvarnished. -- May 30, 2007 [ Available at Amazon.com ]
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The One-Minute Apologist. By Dave Armstrong Catholic apologist and former Evangelical Dave Armstrong has assembled over sixty claims and arguments that Protestants of all stripes most frequently level against the Catholic Church. Drawing on Scripture, history, and the works of Catholic and Protestant theologians, Armstrong delivers succinct, but not superficial, replies to such claims as: "The Catholic Mass is an abomination," "Celibacy for priests is unnatural and unbiblical," "Mary had children besides Jesus," "Indulgences allow Catholics to indulge in sin" and many more gems of that sort. Well-organized, concise, and extremely useful, The One-Minute Apologist packs centuries of learning and wisdom into 140 tightly structured pages. -- May 29, 2007 [ Available at Amazon.com ]
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Generation Me. By Jean M. Twenge It's common to hear older people complain that "kids these days" are self-centered, entitled, arrogant, and disrespectful. Previously, it's been difficult to tell whether these perceptions are a function of age -- maybe younger people are always more self-centered than older people. Or, maybe the younger generation actually is more self-centered than the older generation. That's Jean M. Twenge's conclusion, and she's one of the first scientists to present hard evidence that "Generation Me," those born after 1982, is rooted in narcissism. Told as children they were "special," this generation was reared to adolescence in the age of self-focused technology like MySpace, YouTube, and iPods. These young Americans may be more confident, assertive, and entitled -- but they're also more miserable than ever before. -- May 25, 2007 [ Available at Amazon.com ]
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