What books do you recommend?

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vince2paul

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I need recommendation of books for different genre, such as
  • Saints (their life stories)
  • Conversion
  • Self-improvement
  • Prayer life/meditation
  • Apologetic
  • Evangelisation
  • Charismatic & Healing
  • Apparation
  • Christian Sexuality (Theology of the Body, etc)
  • Inspirational
  • Youth & Teen
  • etc
The purpose is that I’m trying to make a list of books that are readable to friends from different background and different topics. Well, since I like to read and I feel that my spirituality has improved so much from reading, why don’t I try to ‘push’ it to friends & family? Most of the time, it’s not that they don’t want to read religious books, but it’s because they don’t know what and where to get it.

If possible, tell me why you recommend the book(s) and whether it is easy to read or for advanced readers? Thanks 🙂
 
vince2paul said:
I need recommendation of books for different genre, such as
  • Saints (their life stories)
  • Conversion
  • Self-improvement
  • Prayer life/meditation
  • Apologetic
  • Evangelisation
  • Charismatic & Healing
  • Apparation
  • Christian Sexuality (Theology of the Body, etc)
  • Inspirational
  • Youth & Teen
  • etc
The purpose is that I’m trying to make a list of books that are readable to friends from different background and different topics. Well, since I like to read and I feel that my spirituality has improved so much from reading, why don’t I try to ‘push’ it to friends & family? Most of the time, it’s not that they don’t want to read religious books, but it’s because they don’t know what and where to get it.

If possible, tell me why you recommend the book(s) and whether it is easy to read or for advanced readers? Thanks 🙂
Click to expand...
For Evangelization: John Paul II and the New Evangelization, Ignatius Press, 1995 is an absolute must, and a inspiring easy read, that will get you excited about telling the Good News of Jesus to all you encounter!
For Conversion, especially for fallen away Catholics: I liked I’m Not Being Fed, Discovering the Food that Satisfies the Soul, by Jeff Cavin, Ascension Press, 2005. Jeff fell in love with Jesus as a teen and left the Church He established to go find Him, “to be fed”. He even went so far as to become a protestant minister for 12 years, before finally finding Him where he left Him, and came home.
For Apologetics: The primer is Catholicism and Fundamentalism, by Karl Keating, Ignatius Press, 1988, which will help you understand fundamentalist protestant thinking and belief so you can better share the Good News to them as well.
You should also include Church History, or better said the writings of the Early Church Fathers: One great read is The Four Witnesses, The Early Church in Her own Words, by Rod Bennett, I believe published by Ignatius Press. It is a delightful story about a So. Baptist guy that was searching for the worship and beliefs of the early Christians. He promised God if he could find out what that was he would become a part of that way. Much to his dismay he found the Catholic Church, and in keeping his promise was welcomed into the Church shortly after his findings became clear to him. You can find lots of more scholarly books on the early Church Fathers, like the three volume set by William A. Jurgens, titled The Faith of the Early Fathers, published by the Liturgical Press, 1970, but The Four Witnesses is a better place to start.

As for where to get them, first try www.Half.com and search the titles or authors in the books section. You can get new and used books at greatly reduced price and instead of going from book store to book store they are shipped to your door. Saves lots of gas!

Peace & Joy to you all
 
Here are my favorites:

Apologetics
Catholicism & Fundamentalism - Karl Keating
(The book I think every Catholic must read!!!)
Why Do Catholics Do That - Kevin Orlin Johnson, PhD
(very readable and chock full of good info.)
Where We Got the Bible - Henry G. Graham
The Faith of the Early Fathers - William A. Jurgens
(a 3-volume set with selected texts, well organized)
Radio Replies - Fathers Rumble & Carty
(3-volumes, a bit dated but always pertinent, logical, and comprehensive in its answers to questions about Catholic beliefs)
Free From All Error - Fr. William G. Most
(defends biblical truth against detractors)
By What Authority? - Mark Shea
(easy to follow, logical arguments for the Church as the ultimate authority)
This Is My Body - Mark Shea
(a short but great to read defense of the Real Presence)

Apparitions and Marian
Apparitions - Kevin Orlin Johnson, PhD
(IMO, the book to own. Deeply researched, factual, fun to read, info about every aspect of apparitions)
A Woman Clothed With the Sun - edited by John Delaney
(8 true stories about 8 church-approved marian apparitions)
Our Lady of Fatima - William Thomas Walsh
(the story of the famous apparitions in Portugal)
Rosary - Kevin Orlin Johnson, PhD.
(Detailed information on the history of the rosary as well as on every one of the 15 mysteries before the mysteries of Light were added. I can’t say enough good things about this author. He does his homework and gives tons of accurate and factual information in a style that leaves you wanting to know more and glad you learned what you did.)

Good Reads
Rome Sweet Home - Scott Hahn
(His conversion story in print.)
Surprised by Truth - edited by Patrick Madrid
(Conversion stories from numerous people now in the Catholic Church. I know of 2 books so far, there may be more.)
To Know Christ Jesus - Frank Sheed
(a wonderful read of the events in the life of Jesus.)
 
vince2paul said:
I need recommendation of books for different genre, such as
  • If possible, tell me why you recommend the book(s) and whether it is easy to read or for advanced readers? Thanks 🙂
Click to expand...
rather than specific books, order catalogs from reliable publishers, or check on-line
ignatius press at ignatius.com
ewtn religious catalog at ewtn.com
emmaus road, which you can access from Catholics United for the Faith, cuf.org
Our Sunday Visitor at osv.com
those should get you started
 
Thanks all!
Btw, has anyone read Confession by St. Augustine? So many people recommend the book, but I cant seem to understand a single word there. Well, may be the Holy Spirit is telling me, not the time yet to read the book. 🙂
 
vince2paul said:
Thanks all!
Btw, has anyone read Confession by St. Augustine? So many people recommend the book, but I cant seem to understand a single word there. Well, may be the Holy Spirit is telling me, not the time yet to read the book. 🙂
Click to expand...
Or maybe the HS wants you to get Cliff Notes to read along with it!🙂
 
For Prayer life - The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

For Youth / Teen - I Kissed Dating Good-bye by Joshua Harris
 
A great novel, intended for youth but good reading for adults too, is A Philadelphia Catholic in King James’ Court] Very good and wonderful teaching.

Peace,
Linda**
 
  • Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic is a great all around book. It mainly works from a conversion standpoint, but David Currie also gives a good lot of apologetics in the work as well.
-Rapture by the same author is a fantastic work on the eschatology of the church.
 
Eschato said:
  • Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic is a great all around book. It mainly works from a conversion standpoint, but David Currie also gives a good lot of apologetics in the work as well.
Click to expand...
Indeed a great book. You can see the solid logic and philosophical training of the author.
 
Has anyone read
Catholicism for Dummies?
An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales?
Mass of the Early Christian by Mike Aquilina?
Or books by Christopher West?
 
vince2paul said:
Has anyone read
Catholicism for Dummies?
An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales?
Mass of the Early Christian by Mike Aquilina?
Or books by Christopher West?
Click to expand...
I’ve read the de Sales and a West book. I highly recommend the de Sales book. I’d say that it is a good starter book about prayer and meditation. The only reason you might not like it is if you are looking for a short devotional that has passages that are only a paragraph long for each day. His book is in digestible chunks, but they are more like two to three page chunks.

No one shoot me, but I am less partial to the one West book I read. I found reading the actual Wednesday audiences themselves (the theology of the body audiences) to be more useful. However, if those are not your cup of tea, and I think for many they are not, then I would say the book I read, “the Theology of the Body Explained” would be enlightening for many people. I understand that he has a shorter book out, though, and it might be a better choice. I haven’t read the shorter one. I would not call the long one I read to be an easy read for most people.
 
vince2paul said:
I need recommendation of books for different genre, such as
  • Saints (their life stories)
  • Conversion
  • Self-improvement
  • Prayer life/meditation
  • Apologetic
  • Evangelisation
  • Charismatic & Healing
  • Apparation
  • Christian Sexuality (Theology of the Body, etc)
  • Inspirational
  • Youth & Teen
  • etc
The purpose is that I’m trying to make a list of books that are readable to friends from different background and different topics. Well, since I like to read and I feel that my spirituality has improved so much from reading, why don’t I try to ‘push’ it to friends & family? Most of the time, it’s not that they don’t want to read religious books, but it’s because they don’t know what and where to get it.

If possible, tell me why you recommend the book(s) and whether it is easy to read or for advanced readers? Thanks 🙂
Click to expand...
  • Saints (their life stories) - Lives of the Saints by Fr. Alban Butler
  • Conversion - No Price Too High by Alex Jones & Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn
  • Self-improvement - Confessions by St. Augustine
  • Prayer life/meditation - Any books by Thomas Merton or Day By Day with St. Augustine
  • Apologetic - All books by Scott Hahn. Also Catholocism and Fundamentalism, the Attack on “Romanism” by “Bible Christians” by Karl Keating
Also…for all of the above, the Holy Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Lambs Supper
 
vince2paul said:
Has anyone read
Catholicism for Dummies?
An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales?
Mass of the Early Christian by Mike Aquilina?
Or books by Christopher West?
Click to expand...
I’ve read Catholicism for Dummies. It’s a very enjoyable book and surprisingly deep. It’s written by a very orthodox priest who has had several shows on EWTN so I would recommend it highly.
 
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