I bought this book after reading the online chapter, which I loved. My intent, was to eventually buy a copy for each of my CCD students (7th grade). The first chapter was interesting, but as the book progressed, on every page I found my mind wondering out of boredom. Reminding myself that I wsn't reading for my own enjoyment, I pressed on. Chapter 5, "Newman and 'Liberal' Religion" began as a sensible condemnation of relativism (what Newman called Liberal religion), which Weigel then conflated with a defense of U.S. political neoconservatism. I then skimmed the chapter on the great Chesterton, thinking I might share at least that one with my students, but it was a dull as the rest.

I picked this book up on a whim, having never read George Weigel before. I know he's put out a few short books lately: "The Courage to be Catholic," "The Truth of Catholicism," and others. I have his biography of Pope John Paul II at home, but to be honest I've been a little daunted by the sheer size of it. I know I'll get to it one of these days, but I thought I'd try a shorter book by Weigel first. "Letters to a Young Catholic" is the kind of book that makes me want to read more of Weigel. It's concise, clearly and well written, cogently argued, and he has more than a couple of good points to make. First, that Catholicism is more than just a box you check on a school application. It's a way of looking at and understanding the world, or as Flannery O'Connor writes, a "habit of being." Second, that Catholicism is something to be taken seriously, because it's about serious "stuff": who we are, why we're here, what's our purpose, what's our longterm goal. Third, that there's a purpose to life, that we're not alone in this world, and that God matters. Finally, he makes a good point when he says that while religion may be on the decline in the "first world," this is not the case throughout the rest of the world, and people for whom faith matters are not a minority, whatever their faith tradition is. This book is addressed to young Catholics, but really it's a book for all Catholics to read. It's a good introduction to some of our Catholic treasures that are often overlooked: Flannery O'Connor, John Henry Newman, G.K. Chesterton and Evelyn Waugh, among others. He talks about the great heritage of Catholic beauty seen in places like Chartres and the Sistine Chapel. He reaffirms the role of and the need for a Christian humanism as opposed to an atheist humanism, of the sacramental imagination over the gnostic imagination. This is one of the most enjoyable books I have read for some time, and I highly recommend it. After reading this book, it's easy to see why George Weigel is regarded as one of today's leading Catholic intellectuals.