I was excited to be able to get a chance to review the book A Civilization of Love: What Every Catholic Can Do to Transform the World by Carl Anderson. I read some reviews on it, and thought that it would be a book that I would enjoy.
Then, I have to admit, when it arrived, despite its size (just over 200 pages), it was a pretty heavy book. You know…weighty, and not in its actual weight as a book. I had been expecting something considerably more touchy-feely, and instead, I was greeted with discussions of Nietzsche and Descartes, among many others. It was apparent to me that this was not the book I was expecting it to be.
I think, perhaps, this initally made me not really want to read the book. Because I was anticipating a light book, only to be met with something much deeper, I wasn’t sure what to think. Unfortunately, because I kept thinking that, after about three weeks of trying to read it off and on (mostly at my many doctor’s appoints for my kidney stones), I was still only on page 19. Seriously!
Now, before you start thinking that I’m trashing the book, I must admit, I sometimes have a hard time getting into books. And, this was certainly no exception.
However, this past Wednesday evening, with no cable or Internet, I cozied up in a chair after everyone was asleep and really allowed myself to just take time to appreciate what this book WAS, not what I expected it to be. And, because of that, before I went to bed that night, I had finished the book!
A Civilization of Love touches on so many important topics in our society and in our past. I was really moved by so many portions of the book, and I learned a lot about various times in history, as well as different figures throughout time and the effect that they have had (both positive and negative) on our current times. (I was particularly moved by chapter eight, which is titled “A People of Life and for Life,” which discussed both St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose story I did not fully know, although I was slightly familiar with it, as well as the pro-life movement.)
Another really nice feature of this book is that at the end of each chapter, there are “Suggestions for Contemplation and Action” to help the reader find ways to incorporate what they have read into their lives.
I would definitely recommend this book, but with the caveat that this is not a lovey touchy-feely book. This is the kind of book that will make you think, and will probably be the kind of book that you read and think, “Wow — I never knew that!” or “Huh…I never thought of that in that way.”
Now that I have read my copy though, I would love to pass it along! If you are interested in having my copy of this book, please leave a comment on this post by Friday, August 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. We’ll do a random number drawing to choose a winner! Good luck!
This review was written as part of The Catholic Company product reviewer program. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on A Civilization of Love.
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