Six-Month Book Review

Okay...here goes.

No Man Is An Island by Thomas Merton. I've heard good and bad things about Merton's works, but I am absolutely loving this book. Despite his literary/philosophical bent later in life, Merton wrote this volume with apparent Western (rather than Eastern) influences in mind. If you want to do some searing soul-searching, this is a great book for Adoration reading. *****

Vital Friends by Tom Rath. Very quick read, but Rath offers a great, fresh perspective on our friendships that is well worth the time. The Archdiocese of Washington has been basing their recent popular lecture series regarding relationships on this book. ****

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Re-read this one for the third time. It is balm for the soul. :) ****

Introduction to Metaphysics by Martin Heidegger. I admit it: I love Heidegger, and I love this book in particular. It embodies my own personal philosophy that has developed over time. *****

Misanthrope/Tartuffe by Moliere. Two hilarious (yet meaty) plays that have made me an undying fan of Moliere. Mommy and I are going to see his grave in Paris! ****

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume. Although Hume makes great sense, I honestly don't like him at all. But if you want to see where a lot of the problems of modern/contemporary philosophy are born, this is a great work to read. **

The Unity of Philosophical Experience by Etienne Gilson. Although Gilson ultimately has a rather depressing thesis, his roundup of the history of philosophy is positively delicious. ***

Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution by C.P. Snow. Snow identifies a major problem that is only growing exponentially with each and every day. But because the writing style leaves something to be desired, I cannot give it a high rating. If you are interested, you can read my book review from May 2009. **

Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power by Richard Carwadine. An excellent and unbiased (though somewhat dry) biography of A. Lincoln's career, released for the bicentennial of his birth. ****

Lincoln’s Quest for Union: A Psychological Portrait by Charles Strozier. Yuck. Freudian and altogether dated. *

Lincoln’s Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness by Joshua Shenk. AWESOME psychological biography of A. Lincoln. (Again, if you like, you can read my comparative book review of this and the Strozier book from April 2009.) *****

Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. Dan convinced me to read this one that had been sitting on my shelves for years, unread. This sequel to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is an exciting romp that should not be missed. *****

Solaris by Stanislaw Lem. Great work of science fiction. As all really decent sci-fi should do, it gives plenty of food for thought. *****

The World’s First Love by Fulton Sheen. As always, Sheen dates himself a bit with all the discussion of the evils of Communism, but even that can't ruin this beautiful work of love by a devoted son who truly, deeply, loves his Mother. *****

The Tasks of Philosophy by Alasdair McIntyre. We only had to read a chapter or two of this book for class, but I ended up reading the entire thing in my free time. McIntyre is slightly cynical (realistic?) about where philosophy is headed; however, the way he meshes classical, medieval, and contemporary philosophy so that they are constructive and relevant is the work of genius. I cannot WAIT to hear McIntyre lecture in person at CUA in a couple months. *****

Phenomenology of the Human Person by Robert Sokolowski. As always, Monsignor Sokolowski shows us the beauty of truth as evident in the world around us. I do not find his works as philosophical per se as those of McIntyre, Heidegger, or Descartes - Sokolowski's seem more meditative in nature - but that does not detract from "Fr. Soko's" (as his students term him) wisdom. ****