Mike and Jess talk about July's reading category: biographies. What makes a great biography and a great biographer? They share some tips for picking a biography and a couple of recommendations. They also chat about Jess's recent opportunity to share their family's story of coming into the Catholic Church. __________________________ On this episode: St. Thomas Aquinas Inside the Gate: Sigrid Undset's Life at Bjerkebæk Love is the Measure: A Biography of Dorothy Day St. Catherine of...

Mike and Jess talk about the books they read in June. As it turns out, their travel writing selections were not what they thought they would be. They open the episode with a reading tip that applied to their experiences this month and might help you as well. Also...this episode debuts the podcast's  new theme music--have a listen!

Mike and Jess talk about traveling anywhere at any time with the right book. They share some of their favorite selections for June's category and the authors that have inspired their travels -- in mind or body. Books mentioned in this episode: The Great Gatsby  The Return of the King  The Way of Kings  Console Wars  Crossing to Safety  How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark  Balkan Ghosts  Eastward to Tartary  The Coming Anarchy  An Empire Wilderness  The Ends...

Mike and Jess chat about their picks for the May category of science/speculative fiction. Jess went with a book by one of her favorite authors that's been on her TBR list for a while, and Mike chose the sequel to an acclaimed classic. They share common themes of the genre and and their personal selections. Perhaps you noticed similar themes in your book!

Mike and Jess talk about the importance of speculative fiction and science fiction in our reading lives and collective culture. If these genres are new to you or out of your comfort zone, then take a listen for a whole host of recommendations! Mike shares why this is one of his favorite genres and how he is handling his indecision for this category. Jess is going with a pick from one of her favorite authors. ___________________________________________ Books mentioned in this episode: The...

Did you know that essays make great bathroom reading? Well, opinions differ, apparently. After settling that important matter, Mike and Jess discuss the essays they read in April by their respective authors: David Foster Wallace and G. K. Chesterton.  _______________________________________________________ Books mentioned on this episode: A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments by David Foster Wallace Quack This Way by David Foster Wallace and Bryan A. Garner In...

Mike and Jess discuss the neglected, yet brilliant, genre of the essay and why we should be reading more of them.  Books mentioned on this episode: ------------------------------------------------------------- Mystery and Manners God in the Dock The Givenness of Things What are we doing here? In Defense of Sanity: The Best Essays of G. K. Chesterton A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments Consider the Lobster and Other Essays Self-Reliance and Other...

Mike and Jess share their picks for March...a little late...but there's a good reason. As it happens, they both picked war histories. 

Did you hate studying history in school? Maybe you weren't reading the right books. Mike and Jess talk about the value of reading histories and why perspective makes a difference. They also share what they are reading for Lent. ________________________________________________ Books mentioned on this episode: 1776 by David McCullough Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich by Norman Ohler Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam HIgginbotham The Great Heresies by Hilaire Belloc The Crusades by Hilaire...

Mike and Jess discuss the books they read in February, and they find that their authors, and books, share some interesting things in common. Plus...Flannery O'Connor's thoughts on the author's view of reality spark an interesting discussion of the importance of a distinct metaphysic in the novel.  __________________________________ Books mentioned in this episode: Mystery and Manners by Flannery O'Connor The Second Coming by Walker Percy Lost in the Cosmos by Walker Percy The Women on...

Mike and Jess kick of the episode with a tip for your reading life: using "lead measures" to meet your reading goals. Then they dive into one of their favorite categories of this year's reading challenge: novels by Southern American authors!  _____________________________ Books, authors & resources mentioned on this episode: Deep Work, by Cal Newport Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole The Women on the Porch, by Caroline Gordon The Moviegoer, The Last Gentleman, The Second...

Mike and Jess discuss their book picks for January's category, "a faith memoir." Interestingly, we picked books/authors with a lot of similarities, though the books are quite distinct themselves. Have a listen as we talk about Tyler Blanski's An Immovable Feast and Sheldon Vanauken's A Severe Mercy. And don't forget to share picks with us on social media. #thecatholicreadingchallenge

Mike and Jess introduce the podcast and book categories for the year. We discuss some possible selections for our first category: "a faith memoir". ----------- For a free printable of the 2019 reading categories visit Jessica's blog.  ---------- Book and authors mentioned on this episode: Shelby Foote's The Civil War (3 volumes) Thomas Cahill Christopher Dawson Robert Kaplan, Balkan Ghosts Doctors of the church: Edith Stein, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, St. Therese  The Two...