Dr. Peter Kreeft | The 10 Books Nobody Should Be Allowed to Die Without Reading

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[@dantebbe]

Here's the list with time links. His third choice for each is in parentheses. Autobiographies 8:30 Confessions, by Augustine with translation by Sheed 11:12 A Severe Mercy, by Sheldon Vanauken (Seven Story Mountain, by Thomas Merton; or Suprised by Joy, by CS Lewis) Novels 12:40 The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky 14:04 Till We Have Faces, by Clive Staples L. (A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens) Plays 15:36 A Man For All Seasons, by Robert Bolt 16:44 Our Town, by Thornton Wilder (Hamlet, by William Shakespeare) Epics 19:44 Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien 22:45 Chronicles of Narnia, by Clive Staples L. (Silmarillon, by J.R.R. Tolkien) Fantasy 26:16 The Great Divorce, by Clive Staples L. 29:20 The Screwtape Letters, by Clive Staples L. (Descent into Hell, by Charles Williams) Science Fiction 30:56 A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter Miller 32:00 Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley (The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury) Spirituality 33:55 The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence 34:50 Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux (Abandonment to Divine Providence, by de Caussad) Apologetics 36:00 Pensees, by Blaise Pascal 36:50 The Problem of Pain, by Clive Staples L. (In Defense of Miracles, by CS Lewis) Philosophy 37:55 The Apology of Socrates, by Plato 39:30 The Consolation of Philosophy, by Boethius (Republic, by Plato) Popular Philosophy 40:12 The Introduction to Thomas Aquinas, by G.K. Chesterton 41:20 Orthodoxy, by G.K. Chesterton (Ethics, by Aristotle) History 43:10 The Everlasting Man, by G.K. Chesterton 44:00 Our Lady of Guadalupe: And the Conquest of Darkness, by Warren Carroll (The City of God, by Augustine) Theology 45:00 Mere Christianity, by Clive Staples L. 45:45 Summa Theologiae, by St. Thomas Aquinas, with a condensed, edited version by Peter Kreeft (The Theology of the Body, by Christopher West) Poetry 46:50 Lepanto, by G.K. Chesterton 47:33 The Waste Land, by T.S. Eliot (The Dream of Gerontius, by John Henry Newman)

[@GinaGonzalez1]

Thank you!

[@suzysteel]

Thank you

[@garyhoover9750]

Cool, but really white and really male….. sad!

[@daisybird1952]

Thank you so much for doing this list!

[@daisybird1952]

Isn't the Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis?

[@geoffreymeier2158]

"The greatest call for an artist, the greatest job description for any artist... is to break the human heart. Because no heart can possibly be a whole heart unless it has first been broken. Just like nothing can rise from the dead unless it first dies, so our ordinary heart has to be broken before it can be complete. And great works of art do that." Absolutely beautiful

[@stephencarter2664]

Having one's heart broken requires a risk that comes with experiencing other people. There is no risk in vicarious experiences.

[@OrigenisAdamantios]

God grant Peter Kreeft many more blessed years!!

[@davidbraun6209]

Your phrasing recalls to my mind a text at the end of the Byzantine Divine Liturgy.

[@luciusrex22]

​@@davidbraun6209 God grant you many years!

[@trevorbaier7072]

Had the privilege of learning Socratic Logic personally from Dr. Kreeft at The King’s College in NYC. He would commute in from out of state on the train to teach. The most engaging and best professor I have ever had.

[@randalcolucci6833]

Trevor It's a marvelous thing when you realize your tuition, at least in part, was worth paying. I had a biochemistry prof in University and it was a 5 credit class that met daily for one hour M-F. The best class I've had ever as he connected biochemistry with life.

[@rickmcentee9204]

Agree. I had him for Logic and took a number if his other classes after that in the late 80s at Boston College. I was delighted to stumble across this on KZbin. He still has that boyish enthusiasm. He's a gem at any age.

[@elbapilrose7983]

You’re a lucky man!

[@gazisher2372]

I really enjoy listening to Peter Kreeft. I feel that he brings a coherent and original perspective to a wide rage of topics.

[@MsDormy]

He seems a really top chap.

[@taywil64A]

A stimulating lectures, and the recommended books are a starting point, and one may have others as one's own favourite. A great starting point.

[@jessiemacisaac7619]

Thank you, Roberto Rosas, for listing these great books that are recommended by Dr. Peter Kreeft in this amazing KZbin Presentation. .

[@mariel3469]

Good lectures are still great years later I learn and enjoy your lectures greatly

[@calebpolvi8947]

A profoundly insightful man to give ear to. A sheer delight to hear these reccomendations.

[@josephzammit8483]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5bZooKApquLmMU

[@TolkienStudy]

I love Peter Kreeft! Thank you! Helped save me.

[@MiracleWeaver2012]

1. Augustine’s Confessions 2. Severe Mercy by C.S. Lewis 3. Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton 4. Surprised by joy by C.S. Lewis 5. The Brothers Karamazov Dostoyevsky 6. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis 7. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens 8. A Man For All Seasons (Play Movie) by Robert Bolt 9. Our Town by Thornton Wilder 10. Hamlet by Shakespeare 11. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 12. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 13. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien 14. The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis 15. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis 16. Descent into Hell by Charles Williams 17. A canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller 18. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 19. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury 20. The practice of the presence of God by Brother Lawrence 21. Story of a Soul by Therese of Lisieux 22. Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade 23. Pensees by Blaise Pascal 24. The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis 25. Miracles by C.S. Lewis 26. Apology of Socrates by Plato 27. The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius 28. The Republic by Plato 29. Introduction to Thomas Aquinas by G.K. Chesterton 30. Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton 31. Ethics by Aristotle 32. The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton 33. Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Conquest of Darkness by Warren Carroll 34. The City of God by Augustine 35. Religion and the Rise of Western Culture by Christopher Dawson 36. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis 37. Summa of the Summa by Peter Kreeft 38. Theology of the Body Explained by Christopher West 39. Lepanto by G.K. Chesterton 40. The Wasteland by T.S. Eliot 41. The Dream of Gerontius by St John Henry Newman

[@blakeatkin8093]

Roberto Ros

[@kolinelida]

severe mercy is not by C S lewis

[@MiracleWeaver2012]

Colin Stephen - You are right! It is by Sheldon Vanaunken, a friend of C.S. Lewis. Thank you!

[@seangallagher9580]

Thanks for taking the time!

[@TheJackieo]

Are these Kreeft's recommedations?

[@felson8]

Thanks for your recommendation Dr. Kreeft. I haven't read much but It's my desire to read all the books you recommended before I leave this world and go back to my creator.

[@Salam99-1]

A wonderful, practical and thoughtful talk and collection of literature - it certainly has given me some reading targets for the coming year. Excellent, as always, Dr Kreeft.

[@martinkent333]

Brainwashing is a beautiful thing, Buttercup!!! It makes the choirboys sexier. too!!

[@sarahjones79]

Thank you sir for speaking ‘the truth’ !! It is beautiful and liberating. ❤️

[@jamessgian7691]

The list of 26 (not 10) books: 1) Confessions - St. Augustine (pronounced a gus tin) Yes, Frank Sheed’s translation is very good. Also see Sheed’s Theology and Sanity. 2) A Severe Mercy - Sheldon Vanauken (helps to read and understand Lewis before reading this, but not absolutely necessary). 3) The Brothers Karamazov - Dostoevsky. Yes, the greatest novel ever written. His Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, and Notes from the Underground are also worth reading. 4) Till We Have Faces - C. S. Lewis. Lewis’ space trilogy also very good, but it sounds like Kreeft may get to that later. 5) A Man for All Seasons - Bolt. Yes, a very good play and closer to the truth about More than modern ideas about him, though a balanced biography will show more of More’s flaws than this play admits. 6) Our Town - Thornton Wilder. Beautiful depiction of a small town, revealing the greatness in every human life. 7) The Lord of the Rings - Tolkien. 8) The Chronicles of Narnia - Lewis 9) The Great Divorce - Lewis. Yes, much easier than The Divine Comedy, and a lesser book than Dante’s, but a good book. Please read Lewis’ essay, “The Weight of Glory” as well. 10) Screwtape Letters by Lewis. Well worth seeing a play version of this if you can find one, which you might on some streaming platforms. 11) A Canticle for Liebowitz - Yes, the Catholic Church and cockroaches and Tupperware - only things to survive apocalypse. 12) Brave New World - very good for understanding so much of the propaganda going on now. Other sci-fi books are Lewis’ trilogy I mentioned above, and the Ender series by Orson Scott Card. 13) The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence - simple, beautiful return to our place before the Father. 14) Autobiography of St. Therese of Liseaux. (First one on the list I haven’t read, but in my stack of books to get to soon :) 15) Pensees by Blaise Pascal. Very good and challenging. 16) The Problem of Pain - Lewis. The problem of evil addressed. Aquinas answers more thoroughly, but always more difficultly. 17) The Apology of Socrates. 18) The Consolations of Philosophy by Boethius. 19) St. Thomas Aquinas - G. K. Chesterton 20) Orthodoxy - Chesterton. The one book I wish everyone would read with understanding so that sanity could return and be kept safe in the world. It is Chesterton giving his defense of his faith through seeing how it is the only key that fits the lock of the world. 21) The Everlasting Man - Chesterton. History of the world completed by Christ. 22) Warren Carroll’s telling of the story of Guadelupe. (Another I haven’t read. Sounds great!) 23) Mere Christianity - Lewis. 24) Summa Theologiea - Kreeft’s book on it helpful, but original if you can handle it. 25) Lepanto - Chesterton. Also see his The Ballad of the White Horse. 26) The Wasteland - T. S. Eliot. If you understand it, you see all that is happening now more clearly. Other poet to read is Gerard Manley Hopkins. Many more wonderful books. Short stories of Flannery O’Connor. The Catholic Church and Conversion by Chesterton. Moby Dick by Melville. Les Miserables by Hugo. Anna Karenina by Tolstoy. David Copperfield by Dickens. The Odyssey by Homer. Too many to list here. Enjoy!!

[@endpc5166]

IMO the opinion of Thomas Aquinas as morally & intellectually a great man if very misguided. As a human being he is highly reprehensible: he argues in his Summa Theologica ( II II Q. 64 A.2 & II II Q. 64 A.3) that sinners and heretics should be executed as too dangerous to let live. This horrible thinking is a major part of the basis of every horrid tyranny, including Stalin's communism and Islamic rule. The thing is that reason is only as good as the input assumptions used. Like a computer program, garbage in => garbage out. The Assumption used here and by all horrid religions/ideologies is that _error has no right, and the ruling powers get to determine what's error._

[@macjeffff]

Thanks for taking the time to put this list together.

[@hagerstephen3899]

@@endpc5166 Question 64 in the Part II of Section II in the Summa is on murder, thus article 2 and 3 are about what we call capital punishment. Aquinas comes down on the side that capital punishment for murderers is justifiable. Most governments still hold to this today. If you read Aquinas as saying we should kill all sinners, or kill people for any sin they have committed, you have misread him.

[@karenkaykay1236]

I have read Chesterton’s Orthodoxy. I forced myself all the way thru but I have to admit the flowery language he uses made it impossible for me to understand a single word. Are there cliff notes?

[@sdoherty5988]

Thank you!

[@soulshebang]

I've read a few of those mentioned. Each has profoundly affected me. I will be adding those I haven't read to my 'want to read list.' Thank you for this!

[@PatMcAnn]

I'm a big fan after hearing Prof. Kreeft's commencement speech.

[@tommore3263]

Peter Kreeft is a delightful , lightfull man. Wonderful humble teacher.

[@markeadiesahd752]

I thought he was arrogant, rather than humble.

[@TwoGrainsOfGold]

What a truly brilliant mind to listen to! And how cool that his words transcend time and space!

[@marka.arcenas9507]

It would be very fortunate to meet Dr. Kreeft i love all his books i was first introduced to back to virtue by Dr. Kreeft. When i was newly diagnosed with a medical condition that has no cure his writing helped shine a light in my mind and my life i have read many of his other books

[@adamwhite1920]

Thank you, that will be most useful. I deeply appreciate your lectures and teachings.

[@royrogers6533]

What a wonderful man, great to listen too

[@Floridiansince94]

Yes, I loved the chronicles of Narnia - The Horse and his Boy is my favorite book! Aslan ❤️

[@michaelkelleypoetry]

Agreed. The Horse and His Boy is my favorite too, though unfortunately it is probably the least read.

[@ogmakefirefiregood]

I reread that book 5 times in my 46 years... it captivated me as a boy..

[@nicolab2075]

Magician's Nephew is my favourite 😊

[@hermajesty52]

I read the whole series every year and every single time I discover more. And yes.....I love Aslan EMOTIONALLY more than Jesus but I KNOW Jesus understands 😃

[@SpectatorAlius]

When I read the Chronicles of Narnia as a child, I liked them, overall, but I was already suspicious of the author's habit of describing British things as good and Mediterranean things as awful, e.g., one of the characters being so happy he can have butter on his bread and not olive oil as did the Calormen (who are obviously counterparts to the Saracens in reality). Now that I am no longer a child, I see I was right to be suspicious. CS Lewis really does have a prejudice against everything Mediterranean and Eastern, regarding only Western Christianity as genuine.

[@johnlshilling1446]

Thank you for not only the list but also for explaining why... God Bless you for your work.

[@marymcgloin3663]

Thank you so much Dr. Peter Kreeft

[@susanmcdonald6879]

..I thoroughly enjoyed this, thank you! I would add more ancient Greek works such as the Iliad/the Odysssey/Euripides, Cicero, Seneca, but I have many to read that are suggested here :) I have always loved "Mere Christianity". I still believe that Western Civilization as expressed represented as a family whose father was Greek; whose mother was Hebrew; and they packed up the family & moved to Rome... I love that . thank you again.

[@bluegirl4079]

I agree! Great talk giving me much to delve into.

[@lordemed1]

that is the problem with Catholicism. The family never moved to rome...it was stolen, plagiarized, then taken to rome. the real thing is still in jerusalem, thank you.

[@michelleishappy4036]

"Church History" by John Laux is so helpful 👍🏼

[@jhthemom6749]

Thank you Silver Surf for the neat listing down! Great help for those with English as 2nd language in particular!

[@johannaprice4880]

Miss listening to your screw tapes. Leave me with a smile and a heart of openness and love of brilliance..

[@jeannebaker6905]

thank you I'm for your list...I am pleased that I have only read half of them so I have hours of enjoyment coming my way. I also was please to hear you include Lord of the Rings. I won't forget the year I started reading it just as finals were approaching...probably around 1970...I never did get to study but I did make it to class and took the tests required. I don't think my grades suffered a bit because my brain was so awake.

[@aryehfinklestein9041]

Though not a Catholic myself, I have long greatly admired Dr. Kreeft and am privileged to own several of his consistently edifying books. As usual, he doesn't disappoint in this address. Thankyou for posting.

[@richardmiranda640]

myself is redundant

[@coffeemachtspass]

@@richardmiranda640 But not as redundant as a pedant.

[@michelleishappy4036]

Yes, Dr. Kreeft is wonderful. I pray you investigate Christ's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, and come Home. God Bless!

[@doctor1alex]

How can one “come home” to a church which has departed from the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, saying that we must be declared righteous in the sight of God by works? (Compare the Canons of the council of Trent vs Romans 3:22-28) How can one who seeks to honour the Lord Jesus Christ knowingly submit to a church that has apostatised from many biblical doctrines and introduced perversions and idolatry? (I refer to such teachings as purgatory -c.f. Romans 8:1-3; the teaching of “sacrificium” in the Mass - c.f. Hebrews 10:11-14; prayers to Mary as “Mediatrix” - c.f. 1 Timothy 2:5; the teaching of “indulgences” - c.f. Acts 8:20, among other things.) Actually if you truly want to honour God in love and faith, I urge you to come out of Rome into a local faithful church where the word is preached faithfully, the Lord’s supper and baptism are administered, and church discipline is present.

[@HeroOfTime303]

​@@doctor1alexPlease, refer to James 2:24. May God bless you!

[@E.R.Hewitt]

I’m grateful for this talk for introducing me to A Severe Mercy.

[@markm1565]

Thank you. Very enjoyable and has given me reading ideas!

[@jz295491]

Re-Posted : Thank you Here's the list with time links. His third choice for each is in parentheses. Autobiographies 8:30 Confessions, by Augustine with translation by Sheed 11:12 A Severe Mercy, by Sheldon Vanauken (Seven Story Mountain, by Thomas Merton; or Suprised by Joy, by CS Lewis) Novels 12:40 The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky 14:04 Till We Have Faces, by Clive Staples L. (A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens) Plays 15:36 A Man For All Seasons, by Robert Bolt 16:44 Our Town, by Thornton Wilder (Hamlet, by William Shakespeare) Epics 19:44 Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien 22:45 Chronicles of Narnia, by Clive Staples L. (Silmarillon, by J.R.R. Tolkien) Fantasy 26:16 The Great Divorce, by Clive Staples L. 29:20 The Screwtape Letters, by Clive Staples L. (Descent into Hell, by Charles Williams) Science Fiction 30:56 A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter Miller 32:00 Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley (The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury) Spirituality 33:55 The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence 34:50 Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux (Abandonment to Divine Providence, by de Caussad) Apologetics 36:00 Pensees, by Blaise Pascal 36:50 The Problem of Pain, by Clive Staples L. (In Defense of Miracles, by CS Lewis) Philosophy 37:55 The Apology of Socrates, by Plato 39:30 The Consolation of Philosophy, by Boethius (Republic, by Plato) Popular Philosophy 40:12 The Introduction to Thomas Aquinas, by G.K. Chesterton 41:20 Orthodoxy, by G.K. Chesterton (Ethics, by Aristotle) History 43:10 The Everlasting Man, by G.K. Chesterton 44:00 Our Lady of Guadalupe: And the Conquest of Darkness, by Warren Carroll (The City of God, by Augustine) Theology 45:00 Mere Christianity, by Clive Staples L. 45:45 Summa Theologiae, by St. Thomas Aquinas, with a condensed, edited version by Peter Kreeft (The Theology of the Body, by Christopher West) Poetry 46:50 Lepanto, by G.K. Chesterton 47:33 The Waste Land, by T.S. Eliot (The Dream of Gerontius, by John Henry Newman)

[@maryf10116]

Thank you

[@elbapilrose7983]

Thank you Silver Surfer. I was about to write it out myself. Saved me some time. I think I’ll do some reading.

[@ferdinandtjombe6016]

Thank you so much, Silver Surfer, for this great list so neatly presented.

[@JaneROldham]

Much appreciated! Thank you kindly for taking the time to provide everyone with this very useful information

[@jimscanoe]

Too much religious nonsense.

[@lmb1931]

Milton's Paradise Lost is the greatest epic poem ever written. I've read it many times, and know Adam's silliquey, and Eve's lament, by heart.

[@alexemery3045]

This talk is absolutely excellent

[@alj521]

such a wonderful book review...this made my bucket list for books to read much longer.....Cheers.

[@seekingishwara737]

I just watched a Man for All Seasons. Glorious. And I've read Till We Have Faces twice. Lord of the Rings 4 times. The rest of Lewis. Recently the Consolation. Thanks so much Dr. Kreeft.

[@shivabreathes]

“An ordinary heart has to be broken, before it can be complete” ❤️❤️❤️

[@st.joanne]

Great Catholic gentleman. Loved all his books . Thank you sir.

[@a.kalenik709]

Thank you for the list Fernando!!

[@miranspelic8957]

Excellent and inspiring talk. Just one suggestion: put the list for those books in the description of video, please!

[@KingsDaughter1957]

Then nobody would listen ...

[@vernonhedge4530]

You could easily list the books in the comments.

[@KingsDaughter1957]

@@vernonhedge4530 Someone went above and beyong and posted a list with timelines! :O

[@sushmasagar316]

Yes, that would save us his ramblings.

[@joolz5747]

Yes I could not hear all he said!!!!

[@dottorb7054]

Dr. Kreeft does it again! We are so blessed to have such a great philosopher walking among us.

[@cfG21]

Dottor B what happened to his hair?

[@paularoratekkem]

Really...@

[@tomrhodes1629]

A philosopher is one who seeks Truth. A prophet is one who has found it. I am the latter. And in 2021 there is one book that takes less than ten minutes to read (for free, online) and will change the life of every reader who is ready for it. "The Book of God" at A Course in Truth. It takes less than ten minutes to read, but no Truth seeker will read it only once. I read it about ten times every night. For, THIS is the information that we came into this world to find. And I won't rest until its information has completely saturated my conscious mind.

[@arnoeeuwigheid4499]

Thank you for this unique channel, which I was able to find just a few minutes ago! Coincidence???....... I am quite certain this is not the case.🙏 Greetings and support from a new subscriber from the Netherlands! 💒🇳🇱🌷

[@Wardcreek]

What a genius God given mind! And how many lives he has brought to God!

[@saradejesus9869]

Lovely lecture. I wish the list of books was available below the video window

[@fernandoreynaaguilar1438]

Daniel Tebbe hace 1 mes Here's the list with time links. His third choice for each is in parentheses. Autobiographies 8:30 Confessions, by Augustine with translation by Sheed 11:12 A Severe Mercy, by Sheldon Vanauken (Seven Story Mountain, by Thomas Merton; or Suprised by Joy, by CS Lewis) Novels 12:40 The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky 14:04 Till We Have Faces, by Clive Staples L. (A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens) Plays 15:36 A Man For All Seasons, by Robert Bolt 16:44 Our Town, by Thornton Wilder (Hamlet, by William Shakespeare) Epics 19:44 Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien 22:45 Chronicles of Narnia, by Clive Staples L. (Silmarillon, by J.R.R. Tolkien) Fantasy 26:16 The Great Divorce, by Clive Staples L. 29:20 The Screwtape Letters, by Clive Staples L. (Descent into Hell, by Charles Williams) Science Fiction 30:56 A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter Miller 32:00 Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley (The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury) Spirituality 33:55 The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence 34:50 Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux (Abandonment to Divine Providence, by de Caussad) Apologetics 36:00 Pensees, by Blaise Pascal 36:50 The Problem of Pain, by Clive Staples L. (In Defense of Miracles, by CS Lewis) Philosophy 37:55 The Apology of Socrates, by Plato 39:30 The Consolation of Philosophy, by Boethius (Republic, by Plato) Popular Philosophy 40:12 The Introduction to Thomas Aquinas, by G.K. Chesterton 41:20 Orthodoxy, by G.K. Chesterton (Ethics, by Aristotle) History 43:10 The Everlasting Man, by G.K. Chesterton 44:00 Our Lady of Guadalupe: And the Conquest of Darkness, by Warren Carroll (The City of God, by Augustine) Theology 45:00 Mere Christianity, by Clive Staples L. 45:45 Summa Theologiae, by St. Thomas Aquinas, with a condensed, edited version by Peter Kreeft (The Theology of the Body, by Christopher West) Poetry 46:50 Lepanto, by G.K. Chesterton 47:33 The Waste Land, by T.S. Eliot (The Dream of Gerontius, by John Henry Newman)

[@connordavey4422]

Thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏

[@donidino3349]

Thank you!

[@e-4airman124]

@@donidino3349 thanks so much

[@billschwarz2185]

Thank you!!!!

[@janoid]

Thank you very much!

[@navy7633]

Great talk Dr. Kreeft. I read some on your list and will post the rest and cross them off as I read them. Some of the comments, by the posters, are so snarky I wonder if they read anything at all.

[@user-vo8so5sh3n]

Really wonderful…I’m going to get started on this list!!!

[@StephenS-2024]

Interesting talk. I agree, The Brothers Karamazov is great.

[@lawmaker22]

thank you God for people like this, our teachers

[@patty4349]

Here I am watching you speak 3 years later!

[@neville132bbk]

I expected "Crime and Punishment "

[@isaiahceasarbie5318]

Same here!

[@noelig4152]

Till We Have Faces is my favorite book. I wish someone would make an authentic movie of this title.

[@mondopinion3777]

It is an amazing book. The older I become, the more it means. I am 80 now.

[@realitywinner7582]

ah super book...very consoling too =)

[@davidtagauri2034]

great

[@lisamoag6548]

The Great Conversation gift that last for eternity. I thank you all for sharing your thoughts with me through the written words of beauty,goodness and Truth.

[@elizabethbrown8859]

Fascinating. I must admit CS Lewis That hideous strength has stuck in my head as a sci-fi classic. Sort of brave new world meets narnia.

[@Jay-xh9dl]

"In order to educate, you have to make a judgement about what is worth educating someone about". Well said, and although I generally promote the avoidance of dogmatic beliefs, one still has to make autonomous choices that impact his or her community; Not acting without belief is still a choice and makes an impact with or without your consent. We should act as if we are convicted of a proposition by utilizing our cognitive skills as best we can in order to make rational decisions and judgements when needed, but remain open to new evidence and update our credences when necessary.

[@jumperstartful]

Truth by definition is exclusive.

[@Jay-xh9dl]

@@jumperstartful Truth is a phenomenological happening that occurs at the forefront of a fusion of horizons and in the art of play. It is both objective and probable given a particular set of circumstances.

[@ashtracold]

Great list, thank you! I recommend you Don Quijote de la Mancha.

[@steray8112]

Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot is the one book all my daughters and I have read multiple times.

[@evagelosgeronicolas4019]

Very good! Thank you.

[@mrv7080]

I appreciate the explanation on subjective v objective truth.

[@zigulimiguli]

... thank you for sharing this lecture... i am from Serbia, (ex Yugoslavia), and i could add some more writers from my country too... 🌹❤️, ...but on the first place of any of lists of books that should be read in a lifetime,, is New Testament... ❤️🌹

[@szymonbaranowski8184]

Not the book favoured by Nikola Tesla?

[@peterpetrow9822]

Ivo Andric perhaps? /even if more yugoslav than serbian)

[@zigulimiguli]

@@szymonbaranowski8184 ..".Faust",but Nikola also very much liked the epic serbian folk poems ,of mostly unknown autors, created in the period of 300 hundred years, starting about from the year 1500...they were usualy told by heart or sang along playing on string old instrument called -gusle- ... ❤️🌹🙏

[@lordemed1]

Vey ess meir!

[@RainbowSuzy1982]

Thank you for the recommendations and I see a few I am looking forward to reading now! After reading Huxley’s dystopian “Brave New World” (1932), I found C.S. Lewis’ “Space Trilogy” < Silent Planet (1938), Perelandra (1943), and That Hideous Strength (1945)> such an important follow up read, where Lewis intervenes on Huxley's Brave New World.

[@frankmccann29]

thanks, Susan for the information!

[@RainbowSuzy1982]

​@@frankmccann29 A pleasure Frank. Lewis is one of my favourites, yet I never had an interest in that work until I heard my daughter-in-law's lecture. It is a very informative read :)

[@hippiechick73]

Thanks for that. I recently got that trilogy as a present but had not been motivated to start reading yet. I did enjoy Brave New World many years ago. Now I am intrigued.

[@RainbowSuzy1982]

A pleasure Frank :)

[@RainbowSuzy1982]

​@@hippiechick73 I really enjoyed it and I'm sure you will too! CS Lewis was doing battle with Huxley's philosophy!

[@garyb2392]

Interesting ! Gave me lots of food for thought ! TY

[@shawnbruce6934]

I Love This Guy! I Love Books as Well.

[@Tybourne1991]

Wow, just 11 out of 26 books were written by Catholics! I find that fascinating! Imagine the exchange of wisdom possible between literary critics and philosophers - a two-way street of understanding. And isn't it intriguing how Hamlet still holds its ground against Our Town and A Man for All Seasons? The Four Quartets certainly seem as if they deserve a second read, maybe even more so than The Wasteland.

[@philodonoghue3062]

I’ve just lucked across this gentleman recently and thank God I did. It’s an indictment on the mainstream media that he’d have gone unknown were it not for KZbin. God bless free, frank - and good-humoured speech.

[@poots7591]

Thank you

[@louisebarretto2413]

Indeed...feel I have lost out in my ignorance of this gem of a life (and mind).

[@franrushie1383]

I have one of Peter Krepft’s books,.. outstanding..

[@dynamic9016]

Really appreciate this video.

[@alphamale3141]

Consider the great works of western civilization that comprise the four year curriculum of St. John’s College in Annapolis, Md. I saw the list published in a newspaper in 1987. I finish reading every book about two years ago. A wonderful journey.

[@galapagoensis]

Which are? May we have your list :) please?

[@everything_is_theatre]

Yes please comply

[@maxilopez1596]

He picks my number 1 novel as the greatest of all time! The Brothers Karamozov. Dr Kreeft knows his stuff.

[@elizabethvalenzuela7379]

I was just going to write the same book.

[@marciasloan534]

TOLSTOY would agree

[@josephsmith7718]

Wonderful!

[@adamwhite1920]

That last comment at the end about purgatory was hilarious! A pity we didn't get to hear the Q&A though. I would have liked to have heard that.

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

10 became 26 - book lover math checks out

[@Mari_Oh]

😂 LOL

[@gkseeton]

His books are so good!

[@doveboyz857]

Thanks so very much ❤️🙏!

[@anheuserbusch65]

Added these all to my list, only read 5 so far (Confessions, Lord of the Rings, Consolation of Philosophy, The Silmarillion, The Republic), but I am eager to read many of these! Hopefully I will get to them all in my lifetime!

[@fredblahblah.6352]

Start off with 'The Screwtape Letters'. You will love it! And 'The Trial and Death of Socrates' (Apology + Crito + Phaedo), penned by Plato, is bound to change you in some significant way. A short, simple, engaging, easy-to-read, non-Christian book that can be of great inspiration, and which i personally cannot get enough of, is 'Siddhartha'. Gorgeous, really. As a Christian you will surely be able to dig deeper into it than others, and discover great treasures hidden within! Another book, oddly enough not mentioned above although it is a major Christian classic, is 'Pilgrim's Progress'.

[@fredblahblah.6352]

Siddhartha is about a boy in India and his painful yet steadfast quest for perfection, the attempts, the thorns along the way, the questions, the answers. Although Christ is not mentioned, it seems clear to the Christian reader that Christ is fully present right from the outset and all the way.

[@AnnaLVajda]

Philosophy is so important in my opinion I was very fortunate to attend a high school that offered a course in it. Students learn how to DISCUSS and debate ideas intelligently instead if just bickering and arguing. It is not just about the information but how to process it.

[@octoberride]

This list means I'll live a long life.

[@eagleswings5693]

I love listening to his videos

[@rebeccaboudreau7589]

Forgot one of the absolute best: Ramanaya. Deeply profound and beautiful

[@RealAugustusAutumn]

I loved a Canticle for Leibowitz. Its a great bit of "SciFi", and its a crime not many have heard of it

[@franklinblunt69]

Science or social speculation

[@hanichay1163]

I loved it too. The monk who spent his life copying the blueprint of a thermostat!!!

[@aiztarxxx]

My all time favorite, King of The Castle by Gai Eaton

[@Frisbieinstein]

Til We Have Faces is my favorite book. And I've read thousands of books.

[@danielyoung5137]

If l get and read the Brothers Karamazov l will have completed the main first choice list. This surprises me. It took me 50 years of picking and choosing, but l am pleased, satisfied and grateful with the results.

[@lenahrdlickova8155]

I loved Death of Ivan Iljich by Tolstoj as well. I have never seen anyone who understands death better.

[@nvraman]

Just to say i also read this story. found myself moved. I have taken time to read about Tolstoy now. Very complex person he was in his time.

[@davidmuhs3853]

I have read many, and I need to read the others. I would humbly suggest another great book is the Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard. I am not nearly as well read as Dr. Kreeft, but this book has made me think deeply and act differently.

[@mac8179]

Reading through this with my two teenagers this summer.

[@FigaroHey]

Not sure whether the drinking game should be a shot every time he says 'uh' or a shot every time he heaves a sigh. Better to focus on every time he tells me something useful. I learn so much from professor Kreeft.

[@ellenpearl6466]

I would recommend Bonhoeffer’s Ethics and The Cost of Discipleship. In addition, I have found that God can speak to us even in run of the mill literature about human issues that He may want to make us aware of in our personal lives that aye wants to heal.

[@littoy]

The best orator I've ever seen.

[@dorothysay8327]

Gee you need to get around more.

[@dannybaseball2444]

Wonderful! The only Great Book List I've actually mostly read! Slight correction. Book # 22 is Our Lady of Guadalupe: And the Conquest of Darkness by Warren Carroll is the book mentioned @44:00 not the Miracle of Guadalupe.

[@hanichay1163]

Mere Christianity and The Great Divorce were life-changing for me. I read them often.

[@1Corinthians15_1-4]

The gospel (good news) for lost souls, how can you get saved?: Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven, there is no other way! You only have to believe in what Jesus Christ did for you on the cross at Calvary, He died for the sins of the whole world and that's including you, so why not live for Him? Because He lives, I can face tomorrow! It's all about Jesus Christ's precious blood - Romans 3:25 - Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Believe and trust from your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins and resurrected to save you and is coming back very soon, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. 1 Corinthians 15.1-4 saves lost souls when you truly believe from your heart. Jesus Christ paid the death penalty in our stead and nailed it to the cross. Trust in Jesus Christ to save you from hell, Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ephesians 1:13, saved and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Heaven and Hell are real, literal places, there is nothing in-between. Choose your eternal destination wisely for your soul. Time is running out, tomorrow is not promised!

[@marccrotty8447]

Janice. Likewise. These are also my favorite Lewis books. Mere Christianity points towards the Catholic Faith. I recommend this to Protestants who are searching. Lewis did not convert but was close. "Divorce" shows the "insignificance" of hell. A grain of dust.

[@antidotum8287]

My God, there are much more such books and I'm afraid I won't have time to read them all before I die.

[@PInk77W1]

“Be not afraid.” Jesus

[@adeodata6364]

@@PInk77W1 😂 To have read or not to have read before dying isn't really the question 😆

[@al1665]

If you read three of those books, that's more than a lot people ever do.

[@injakim3882]

Thanks, I got it.

[@joolz5747]

Oooh just saw the transcript! Good. On here when I clicked on video.

[@paulkelly2701]

This reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode "All the Time in the World". That was a true hell, just as Dr. Peter describes.

[@MiracleWeaver2012]

I think I got all the suggestions on a list that I have added below for those of you interested in following Dr. Kreeft's advice. You are welcome!

[@dianeabbondante9070]

Roberto Rosa

[@aanler]

Reading the Screwtape Letters right now after watching this video yesterday. I'm speechless. I feel like such a fool. Why isn't this required reading in school? How did it take me this long to find it? 😵‍💫

[@nbenefiel]

I was fascinated with .Our Town when I first read it in high school.I liked LOTR but not as much as I liked Portrait of the Artist and Ulysses. I can’t believe Joyce is not on your list.

[@heavymeddle28]

I'm a 50 year old man. Interested in nonfiction such as philosophy, psychology and things like that. But I have ADHD and has never really been able to take in what I read if I read it by myself so audio books is one of the most appreciated things I can think of when it comes to Internet. 😊

[@alitlweird]

You should have ended your comment with *SQUIRREL!*

[@heavymeddle28]

@@alitlweird OK?!? What difference would that make?

[@alitlweird]

@@heavymeddle28 it would be funny.

[@heavymeddle28]

@@alitlweird well, if I can make someone happy, I'll write "squirrel" just for you

[@alitlweird]

@@heavymeddle28 😄😇🙏

[@colonelfredpuntridge8799]

He's right about A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, but the reason it's so great is very simple. Simple enough to be explained in just two words: ROBERT SHAW.

[@arlosdad]

Read Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall for a different view of Thomas More.

[@user-qr2gd7me6c]

That is NOT an explanation ! Do you mean Robert Shaw, orchestral and choral director ? That's who I thought of. Some people haven't seen the old movie. Maybe some only know your Robert Shaw from "Jaws". Kreeft was referring to a book, not to a movie.

[@franknberry6397]

@@user-qr2gd7me6c Robert Shaw!

[@CHRISTOPHEREDWARDS1945]

@@arlosdad and a more accurate view.

[@arlosdad]

@@CHRISTOPHEREDWARDS1945 Probably.