Book(s)

Made This Way

Book cover: Made This Way
Author(s): 
Leila Miller
Trent Horn

This new book by Leila Miller and Trent Horn is an answer to Christian parents' prayers. Which of us hasn't wondered how to talk to our kids about these difficult moral issues or felt overwhelmed at the thought of figuring out how to do it lovingly and without fear? Especially since these issues weren't even on the radar when we were growing up. As the back cover notes:

Persuasive Pro Life

Book cover: Persuasive Pro-Life
Author(s): 
Trent Horn

In Persuasive Pro-Life, Trent Horn draws from his extensive experience as both a pro-life advocate and trainer of other advocates to teach us how to be effective advocates for life wherever God has placed us. He covers what to say and how to say it, dos and don'ts, and specific strategies that can effectively persuade. He also shares mistakes he's made and what he's learned from them, which both allows us to benefit from his errors as well as points to the right attitude toward our own inevitable mistakes.

The publisher describes Horn's book this way:

Something Other Than God

Author(s): 
Jennifer Fulwiler
Jennifer Fulwiler was raised a pro-abortion atheist and was committed to that belief system for many years, but over time a number of little things made her wonder. Eventually she came to see that this was God working in her life. In this delightful and engrossing book, she shares this great illustration of how God works in mysterious, unexpected and sometimes hilarious ways!

Here's a brief sample from a conversation she had with the man she would later marry:

You Can Share the Faith

Author(s): 
Karen Edmisten
I highly recommend this terrific little book for everyone who wishes to share their faith with others – especially with their family and friends. Karen is an atheist-turned-Catholic (and Catholic homeschool mom, and contributor to this website) who shares in this book many common aspects of the conversion journey through her own experiences and those of a number of her friends. These stories are organized around a very practical set of “do’s” and “don’ts” that will help readers be better prepared to witness to and support those who are being drawn to the faith.

The Monuments Men

Book Cover
Author(s): 
Robert M. Edsel
"The Monuments Men" is an engaging and little known story about servicemen who specialized in trying to preserve the art and culture of Europe during World War II. Not only were they involved in trying to get the Allies to do as little damage as possible in fighting the war, but it became almost another front of the war with Hitler, who not only stole and hoarded unbelievable quantities of art (in order to create his own "Fuhrermuseum"), but also gave orders to destroy these hoards of art as the Allies made headway into Germany. It's a fascinating story to begin with.

Deathbed Conversions

Book Cover
Author(s): 
Karen Edmisten
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories about famous (and at times infamous) people who converted to Catholicism after many years of wrestling with God. The author handles their often tough life stories with gentleness and understanding, and with special attention to God's grace working through friends and family members who stuck with these individuals in good times and in bad. Many of the stories include very messy life situations - including extra-marital affairs and abortions - but, of course have a good ending.

Tin Cups & Tinder

Author(s): 
Alice Cantrell
Alice Cantrell’s newest book, Tin Cups & Tinder : A Catholic Boy’s Little Book of Fire, Food & Fun arrived the same day I was pondering ways to liven up my son’s education. While considering if we were called to homeschool my little boy, I had some serious concerns over whether I could provide enough enrichment for him, as my interests tend to be very domestic and feminine.

Gregor Mendel

Author(s): 
Simon Mawer
Regarding the scientific life of Gregor Mendel, there’s not much to tell. He grew up desperately poor and sought the priesthood to escape the robata system of farming. After carrying out his now famous experiments, the significance of which not even the best scientific minds of the day could grasp, he became abbot of the St. Thomas friary, a position whose demands prevented further scientific endeavors. Mawer tells Mendel’s story and gives the details, but only enough to give us a sense of Mendel the scientist.

Charles and Emma

Author(s): 
Deborah Heiligman
I learned a few things from this young adult book about the life of Charles Darwin after his adventures on the H.M.S. Beagle. The book is based on his and his wife’s diary entries and because Charles was the more prolific writer we have more of his insights than Emma’s. The quoted material is more of a sprinkling than a basis for the book so it is mostly the author’s interpretation rather than their actual words. Charles was agnostic from the start.

Bigger Stories for Little Folks

Author(s): 
Nancy Nicholson
This summer I had the supreme pleasure of reading Nancy Nicholson’s Bigger Stories for Little Folks to my two youngest girls, ages 5 & 7. After flipping through the first, more well-known volume of Devotional Stories for Little Folks, I was hesitant, thinking that perhaps the stories would seem a bit involved and preachy to my two precocious gals. I am happy to say that my fears were unfounded. Each evening, after Beth and Mae were cozy in their pajamas and had brushed their teeth, they would bounce into my bed and Beth would hand over the book.

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