Logic of the Heart, The: Augustine, Pascal, and the Rationality of Faith Paperback – March 1, 2009

It is rare that a academic book with such philosophical depth and insight can be understood by non-philosophers but The Logic of the Heart defies this pattern. The fact that the book is non-technical is, in fact, precisely in accord with its theme of seeing St. Augustine and Pascal as continuing the Socratic tradition of engaging every man and woman in the philosophic quest instead of regarding it as the pursuit of an elite.Because of the laudable goal of engaging non-philosophers the author simplifies the thinkers he discusses--one can still capture, however, a sense of some of the major themes of St. Augustine, Pascal. Hume and the Post-Modernists. Again, in a book of this size it is understandable that he doesn't try to reply to reasonable critics of trust in human intuition like Einstein who pointed out that many of our intuitions can be shown to be wrong--but perhaps some discussion of this major topic could have been included?Furthermore, the author doesn't seem to explain that for Pascal our intuitions are shaped by our moral choices and experiences and that only those with a righteous heart, as the Psalmist says, can see the hand of God by their intuition.But these are minor points compared to the overall effect of reading a book that is simultaneously academic and popular without being condescending to the lay reader. Highly recommended to all.

a very good book to have

But they are so seldom! I read and review books in theology all the time. Increasingly, I grow weary of the turgid, inept prose in them, and their seeming eagerness to make important, interesting ideas as obscure and meaningless as possible. This book is written in some of the most elegant prose I've read in years. It also bursts with the passion that the author has for his subject matter, and is based on a depth of knowledge of the subject that is amazing. These qualities mean that on every page, a reader will find insights and analyses that s/he will understand and treasure. If you are interested in the relation of faith and reason and would like a guide in your investigation, this is definitely the book for you. I can't recommend it enough.