Surprised by Truth

Surprised by Truth

11 Converts Give the Biblical and Historical Reasons for Becoming Catholic
Book cover: Surprised by Truth
Author(s): 
Patrick Madrid (editor)
Number of pages: 
269 pages
Copyright: 
1994
ISBN / ID: 
9780964261082
Publisher: 
Basilica Press
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

These are relatively short (usually about 20 or 30 pages each) autobiographical essays from Catholic converts. The stories cover a number of converts who are becoming well-known for their vibrant Catholic ministries of various sorts, and so you may have heard the names Marcus Grodi, James Akin, Steve Wood, Tim Staples and Dave Armstrong before). Because of the variety of authors, the reading levels and vocabulary used vary greatly - some are simple and succinct and others more complex - but all are compelling in their own way; all help to shed more light on what it means to be a Catholic and why the Catholic Church is so different from other beliefs. Although primarily intended for adults, the book would make excellent apologetics reading for high schoolers because it provides a wealth of information and "holy ammunition" in intellectual battles with non-Catholics.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4-26-01

Surprised by Truth 2

15 Men and Women Give the Biblical and Historical Reasons for Becoming Catholic
Book cover: Surprised by Truth 2
Author(s): 
Patrick Madrid (ed.)
Number of pages: 
298 pages
Copyright: 
2000
ISBN / ID: 
9781928832188
Publisher: 
Sophia Institute Press
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

The sequel to Surprised by Truth provides even more stories of how the grace of God, the witness of others and important conversations about the truth, brought these men and women back to the fullness of the Catholic faith.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4-26-01

Surprised by Truth 3

10 More Converts Explain the Biblical and Historical Reasons for Becoming Catholic
Book cover: 'Surprised by Truth 3'
Author(s): 
Patrick Madrid (ed.)
Number of pages: 
320 pages
Copyright: 
2002
ISBN / ID: 
1928832598
Publisher: 
Sophia Institute Press
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
This third collection in the series features the stories of ten more converts. As with the previous collections, these make great reading for those inquiring into the Catholic faith. Each story also invites those of us already blessed to be Catholic to a deeper understanding of our own Faith in areas in which many struggle, such as: materialism and doubts about the supernatural, answering the challenge to seek the truth, marriage and sexuality, and separated groups ranging from anti-Catholic Protestants to "More Catholic than the Pope." It never fails to amaze me how many different routes there are to the one Truth. Well-known Catholic writers Carl Olson, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, and Pete Vere are among the converts and reverts in this volume. This particular set of stories includes one, entitled "Sex, Lies, and the Catholic Church," that parents may want to preview before giving it to their children to read. As the title indicates, issues of sexuality are raised, specifically contraception, cohabitation, premarital sex, sterilization, and adultery. Another story ("More Catholic Than the Pope" no More) mentions the writer's previous involvement in satanism. I consider the book appropriate for mature teens and adults.
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
7-25-2008