December 2022
Doing Nothing Is No Longer an Option: One Woman’s Journey into Everyday Antiracism
By Jenny Booth Potter
The art of storytelling gives us a feeling of ownership of our lived experiences and consciousness of the intricate role our contexts play in influencing us. Storytelling, as Jenny Booth Potter suggests, allows us the opportunity to know ourselves and grow in the knowledge of the events that have shaped our worldviews.
By telling her story, then, Booth Potter invites us to journey with her into a collective consciousness of the effects of racial disparity and tensions in our society. She summons Black, Brown, and white communities to a deeper knowledge of our histories so that we can collaborate to end racial disparity and hatred. The merits of this book lie in the author’s persuasive use of storytelling to challenge readers and society to grapple with the social malaise of racial inequality for the sake of our collective humanity.
—Father Ferdinand Okorie, C.M.F., editor-in-chief, U.S. Catholic
“If you’re overwhelmed by the enormity of racism and compelled to do something, but uncertain if you can actually make any difference—then this book is for you.” —InterVarsity Press
Paperback: $17.00
Available at bookstores or from InterVarsity Press at (800) 843-9487 or ivpress.com.
November 2022
The Coming Race Wars: A Cry for Justice, From Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter
By William Pannell
In 1993, after Rodney King was beaten by police who were then acquitted of all crimes, William Pannell wrote The Coming Race Wars? (Zondervan), a book dedicated to unpacking white evangelicals’ participation in racial oppression. Now, nearly 30 years later, Pannell offers a new, expanded version of his book—minus the question mark in the title. The race wars, it has become apparent, are not in question.
Despite being written three decades ago, the book makes a timely plea for Christians to account for our complicity in racism. “The truth is that the history of America is one unending war against people of color,” Pannell writes in the new afterword.
The book offers a powerful reminder that Christians are all part of the problem and part of the solution when it comes to racial inequities in our country. “Moving forward from here will require a greater investment in discipleship, a deeper commitment to beloved community, and a reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit,” Pannell writes. “In other words, we’ll need to be the church.”
—Emily Sanna, managing editor, U.S. Catholic
“Pannell meticulously unpacks reasons why our nation—and the church—needs to come to terms with our complicity in America’s racial transgressions before we face a more dire reckoning.” —InterVarsity Press
Paperback: $18.00
Available at bookstores or from InterVarsity Press at (800) 843-9487 or ivpress.com.
October 2022
Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s
By Marcia Lane-McGee and Shannon Wimp Schmidt
Marcia Lane-McGee and Shannon Wimp Schmidt, hosts of the popular podcast Plaid Skirts & Basic Black, are known for sharing honest and often hilarious stories about their faith lives and the Black Catholic experience. Their new book, Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s, is an essential read that can help Catholics continue this important conversation.
Well-written and thought-provoking reflections on the liturgical year make up this hopeful and helpful book. Lane-McGee and Schmidt honor and celebrate Black Catholic culture with stories that will help readers see the feasts and seasons through a new lens and share deeply personal stories that highlight the need for racial justice work in the church. A necessary read for anyone who wishes to heal and strengthen our church, Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s is an important reminder that confronting racism and promoting diversity in our pews is not only essential work but joyful work too.
—Sarah Butler Schueller, senior editor, U.S. Catholic
“In Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s, Marcia Lane-McGee and Shannon Wimp Schmidt share their reflections on the liturgical year to honor the Black Catholic experience and help other Catholics understand Black culture.” —Ave Maria Press
Paperback: $17.95
Available at bookstores or from Ave Maria Press at (800) 282-1865 or avemariapress.com.
September 2022
God’s Great Story and You
By William A. Barry, S.J.
In his last book, late spiritual director and retreat leader Jesuit Father William A. Barry tackles a monumental task: leading readers through the entire Bible. Barry warns readers against speed-reading, as his book contains copious information within its small binding. But readers won’t find themselves bored by stuffy theological jargon. Instead, Barry cracks open scripture and invites us to see that we are not merely props in the divine story, but rather “partner[s] in God’s plan for the world.”
The book feels deeply personal, not only because it is Barry’s last project, but also because he asks questions directly, as if we are in the room with him. In every chapter, he relates a section of the Bible and then asks, “Where are you in this story?”
Barry writes, “We don’t make friends without spending time with them . . . a lot of time. So it is with friendship with God.” This is the perfect book to build that friendship as we reflect on God’s “great story” and how it relates to us.
—Bri Rooke, editorial assistant, U.S. Catholic
“Jesuit Father William A. Barry leads the reader through the overarching story of God’s relationship with us, God’s beloved creation. His message is simple but profound: God desires our friendship and participation in the grand story of grace.” —Loyola Press
Paperback: $14.99
Available at bookstores or from Loyola Press at (800) 621-1008 or loyolapress.com.
August 2022
Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life: On Love, Friendship, and Becoming the Person God Created You to Be
By Haley Stewart
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen is one of the most talented novelists and insightful social critics to write in the English language. Less commonly acknowledged, however, is that Austen is also an excellent life coach and spiritual guide, even for readers far removed from Austen’s 19th-century Britain.
This is the side of Austen that Haley Stewart seeks to reveal in Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life. Stewart delves into each of Austen’s six novels, highlighting along the way the virtues that make each of Austen’s heroines a great example of a life well lived. Part literary exegesis and part spiritual advice, Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life is approachable without being simplistic and wise without being preachy. Whether you’re a lifelong Austen devotee or just dipping your toes into her novels for the first time, Stewart’s book will make an excellent companion in your literary journey.
—Nathaniel Hunter, associate editor, U.S. Catholic
“In a uniquely Catholic take, popular podcaster and bestselling author Haley Stewart reveals Jane Austen’s thoughtful, deeply personal exploration of human relationships—including one with God—throughout Austen’s six novels.” —Ave Maria Press
Paperback: $16.95
Available at bookstores or from Ave Maria Press at (800) 282-1865 or avemariapress.com.
July 2022
My Body Is Not a Prayer Request
By Amy Kenny
How we talk about disability matters. This includes religious talk about disability.
Amy Kenny, a disabled scholar, talks about her experiences with ableist Christians who, however well intended, intrude on disabled persons with uninvited offers of prayer or declarations about God’s will. Their discourse often reduces disabled people to a kind of public property—and reveals prejudices against disabled bodies as less capable of imaging Christ.
Kenny reminds us that we worship a God with a wounded body and that the holistic healing Jesus offers goes far beyond quick-fix medical cures. What if, she asks, we work for disability justice and accessibility instead of fixating on disabled bodies as imperfect? “We should invite disability to teach us something,” she writes.
This book teaches us to embrace the gift and witness of disability, which enrich our theology of bodies. And the picture Kenny paints of radical accessibility can deepen our understanding of what it means to be church.
—Rebecca Bratten Weiss, digital editor, U.S. Catholic
“In My Body Is Not a Prayer Request, Amy Kenny, a disabled Christian, reflects on her experiences inside the church to expose unintentional ableism and cast a new vision for Christian disability justice.” —Brazos Press
Paperback: $19.95
Available at bookstores or from Brazos Press at (800) 877-2665 or bakerpublishinggroup.com.
June 2022
Seriously, God?
By Michael White and Tom Corcoran
Father Michael White and Tom Corcoran ask the hard questions alongside readers in Seriously, God? as they tackle topics such as “Why does God allow people who are corrupt or unjust to remain in charge?” They gracefully shed light on our most desperate questions with biblical wisdom, and the book is chock-full of Bible stories about people who grappled with the same questions we do today.
Throughout the book, White and Corcoran don’t pretend to hold all the answers. They posit that we haven’t seen God’s whole picture yet. In the meantime, they remind readers that “we can’t confuse God not making sense with life not making sense” and offer encouragement to guide us along the way.
—Bri Rooke, editorial assistant, U.S. Catholic
“Father Michael White and Tom Corcoran explore suffering and encourage us to lean into our feelings and to take each circumstance as a chance to learn more about God.” —Ave Maria Press
Paperback: $16.95
Available at bookstores or from Ave Maria Press at (800) 282-1865 or avemariapress.com.
May 2022
Faithful Antiracism
By Christina Barland Edmondson and Chad Brennan
Do Christians need another book on anti-oppression? Christina Barland Edmondson and Chad Brennan have convinced me that the answer is yes. Their new book, Faithful Antiracism, is one of the first I’ve seen that connects wide-ranging sociological data on Christians’ views of race and racism with concrete steps for building the Beloved Community.
Each chapter analyzes data from the Race, Religion, and Justice Project—national research directed by Brennan—and applies them to the gospel call to love and care for one another. The end of each chapter includes reflection questions and a prayer to help readers apply the data and studies to their own lives.
Edmondson and Brennan don’t shy away from the difficulties inherent in this work. However, in the epilogue they also dare to dream of a world where racial justice has been truly achieved. This valuable book is for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of race in the United States or driven to work toward anti-oppression.
—Emily Sanna, managing editor, U.S. Catholic
“Compelled by our previous social moment and by the timeless truth of scripture, Faithful Antiracism will equip readers to move past talk and enter the fight against racism in both practical and hopeful ways.” —InterVarsity Press
Paperback: $25.00
Available at bookstores or from InterVarsity Press at 1-(800) 843-9487 or ivpress.com.
April 2022
Give Up Worry for Good!
By Gary Zimak
When looking for a group study book for personal growth in the upcoming year, consider Gary Zimak’s Give Up Worry for Good! Divided into eight-week sections, each with seven daily reflections, the book includes thought-provoking verses and response sections to help readers “break free from worry” by focusing on Christ in the midst of hardships.
Throughout the book, Zimak reminds readers that “we are made for joy” and invites us to turn to Christ for help with trusting the worries of life to Gods care. To do so, he suggests replacing worry with hope by focusing on the work of Christ: “Recognizing your weakness and God’s power is the secret to achieving the peace you seek.” While this book obviously won’t cure anxiety or take away hardship, it provides a good reminder to readers that when things seem out of control, we have someone on our side.
—Bri Rooke, editorial assistant, U.S. Catholic
“In Give Up Worry for Good!, Gary Zimak guides readers through an eight-week program packed with insights and habits to win the battle against worry and experience the peace that only Jesus can provide.” —Ave Maria Press
Paperback: $15.95
Available at bookstores or from Ave Maria Press at 1-(800) 282-1865 or avemariapress.com.
March 2022
Return to the Root: Reflections on the Inner Life
By Joyce Rupp
Bestselling author and international retreat leader Joyce Rupp has for decades guided faithful readers toward inner peace. In her newest book, Rupp draws on a lifetime of spiritual insights that will help even the most overwhelmed and distracted feel grounded. Return to the Root: Reflections on the Inner Life includes and expands upon reflections from Rupp’s popular online newsletters to guide us through the year. With reflections, poems, and prayers for every month, Rupp helps readers reflect on how to root ourselves liturgically, in nature, and in simple everyday moments. As we enter the Lenten season, Return to the Root will help even the most stagnant spirit find room to grow.
—Sarah Butler Schueller, associate editor, U.S. Catholic
“Through reflections, as well as new poems and prayers, Joyce Rupp guides us to see the essential—what keeps us rooted—so that we can feel at peace no matter the events of the world around us.” —Ave Maria Press
Paperback: $18.95
Available at bookstores or from Ave Maria Press at 1-(800) 282-1865 or avemariapress.com.
February 2022
Spiritual Practices for the Brain
By Anne Kertz Kernion
It turns out that the long lineage of Christian spiritual teachers—from St. Francis of Assisi to Thomas Merton and beyond—was really on to something. Practices like nurturing gratitude, engaging in meditation, and spending time in nature have been recommended for centuries by countless saints to encourage spiritual growth and well-being, and now modern science is beginning to discover that these practices benefit not just the should but the mind and body as well.
Anne Kertz Kernion’s Spiritual Practices for the Brain examines these and many more traditional spiritual practices and, through the lens of modern scientific research, shows the surprising health benefits of these ancient practices. Each chapter provides not only scientific insight into the benefits of spiritual habits but also an approachable, practical guide to incorporating each habit into one’s life. Spiritual Practices for the Brain is a must-read for anyone looking to lead a healthier life.
—Nathaniel Hunter, assistant editor, U.S. Catholic
“This book relies on the most current research to link spiritual practices to improved health. Kerning relates seemingly simple practices with powerful results for your mind, body, and soul.” —Loyola Press
Paperback: $14.99
Available at bookstores or from Loyola Press at 1-(800) 621-1008 or loyolapress.com
January 2022
A White Catholic’s Guide to Racism and Privilege
By Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M.
White Catholics who seek to increase their awareness of race-based injustices in the church and world will find a welcome companion in Franciscan Father Daniel P. Horan’s A White Catholic’s Guide to Racism and Privilege. The book covers not just the history of racism at play in the church and world but also how the problem continues to exist today—and what we should do about it.
From page one, Horan makes it clear that the onus of righting this egregious wrong lies firmly in the hands of those of us like himself who enjoy privilege. While this book serves as a thorough introduction to these topics, Horan has also curated further reading lists at the end of each chapter that contain more in-depth resources (many writers who identify as nonwhite) on the themes of each chapter.
—Stephanie Clary, digital editor, U.S. Catholic
“Father Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M. shares what he has learned about uncovering and combating racial inequity in our nation and in our church, urging us to join the fight.” —Ave Maria Press
Paperback: $17.95
Available at bookstores or from Ave Maria Press at 1-(800) 282-1865 or avemariapress.com
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The U.S. Catholic Book Club is a collaborative project of U.S. Catholic magazine and the Catholic Book Publishers Association. The titles featured in the U.S. Catholic Book Club are selected each month by the magazine’s editors from submissions by participating book publishers. The publisher provides a paid advertising in U.S. Catholic magazine for the featured book.
