Shannon Beck

October 2009

The Long Loneliness, The Autobiography of Legendary Catholic Social Activist Dorothy Day. Harper Collins

Reading Day’s autobiography was like accompanying Day on her journey into the Catholic Social Movement. Her work feels pertinent even to this day. This is not a “how to be spiritual” book. It documents her development as a human being, her conversion to Catholicism, and the fascinating company she kept during these days. Day was a lover. She loved people. She loved life. She showed much resilience in her development. And she was passionate about the hard work of political change. She was a bridge to many “non-Catholics” and helped root American Catholicism in practical applications. Definitely a must-read for all peace-seeking people.

August -September 2009

To End All Wars, Woodrow Wilson and the Quest for a New World Order. Thomas J. Knock, Princeton University

This is a fascinating read about the beginning of a movement that helped define a liberal movement in the U.S. Wilson’s efforts to negotiate conflict and involve international cooperation in matters of mutual concern was met with little support in the U.S. Across the globe, however, Wilson was welcomed and idolized. Come to find out, countries with less power and prowess are grateful to be included as respectable separate entities.

Much could be learned from Wilson. For me the most compelling reality was the ways in which Wilson attempted to convince his contemporaries that the world was changing in such a way that we must consider all political entities as partners. Sadly, this lesson is hard to learn.