To start, there’s a wonderful book by Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins called “Walking with God”. It begins with a summary of Genesis and takes the reader through the rest of the Old Testament, and then it ends with a short guide about the New Testament. It makes for a great explanation on what is happening in the Bible, and it is actually a perfect book to read during Advent as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.
There’s a book that every Catholic should read and then after reading it, should pass it on to anyone that they know, Catholic or not. Trent Horn’s “Why We’re Catholic” is the perfect book for explaining all the major reasons why everyone should identify as being Catholic.
Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope in you.
1 Peter 3:15
Trent Horn’s book is a Catholic survival guide that helps you to defend your faith and can answer many questions that you many not have even thought about before. Highly recommended as a gift to buy for yourself and for others (Catholic or non-Catholic that are open-minded).
Dr. Holly Ordway has compiled a list of four books with a theme of beauty, joy, family, and fellowship. Here’s a summary of her article from wordonfire.org:
In Caelo et in Terra: 365 Days with the Saints by the Daughters of St. Paul.
This book of saints’ lives, with included devotional reflections, is a wonderful example of ‘leading with beauty’—both the beauty of the book itself (with its compelling illustrations by Sr. Danielle Victoria Lussier, FSP) and, above all, the beauty of the lives of these holy men and women. I’m particularly pleased that this book includes many modern saints and blesseds, and showcases the grand diversity of the great cloud of witnesses: people from all walks of life, from all over the world, and with all different gifts, personalities, and experiences.
The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris.
The Lost Words is officially categorized as a children’s book, but it’s a delight for anyone who loves language and appreciates the beauty of God’s creation. Macfarlane and Morris were inspired to create this book by the realization that many words describing animals and the natural landscape were disappearing from children’s vocabulary. This book sets out to help children recover those words.
Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Tolkien is best known for his classic tales The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, which have reached and enchanted millions of readers; what is less well known is that Tolkien, a devoted father, also poured his creative energies and artistic gifts into delighting his own four children. For over twenty years, he created a “Letter from Father Christmas” for his children, in which Father Christmas (and, as time went on, his assistant the North Polar Bear) recounted the various adventures and misadventures of life at the North Pole. Charmingly illustrated by Tolkien himself (even to the last details such as the construction of North Pole postage stamps on the envelopes), the letters radiate love and a delight in the imaginative world of childhood. Various editions of the Letters from Father Christmas have been produced; the most recent and best value is the new Centenary Edition, marking the anniversary of the first letter in 1920.
Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child’s Heart to the Beauty of Learning by Sally Clarkson
We need to cultivate that sense of wonder, all the more in our distraction-inducing, hurried, technological age. This is a particularly good gift for mothers and fathers of school-aged children; Sally offers a refreshing and encouraging approach to learning that every parent (and grandparent, and godparent, and teacher!) can learn much from. And we can all benefit from her reminder to slow down, to develop our capacity for wonder, and to nurture it with goodness, truth, and beauty.
Dr. Holly Ordway – WordOnFire.org
Check out more great books on the “Recommended Books” section of our website here.
If you read a book that you would like to recommend, please email it (see address at the bottom of the page) or send a message about it on twitter @catholicstop.
Happy Advent!