4 Conversion Stories for Your Summer Reading List and a Bonus

Created by the author in Canva using Canva stock image.

I love reading about other people’s conversions. I’m always interested in what aspect of the Faith drew someone from life as he or she knew it to life within the Church. I share my favorites here with the hope that you’ll find something to love and that notes in the comments will lead me to my next inspiring read!

The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

I was so excited to win a copy of this from a giveaway here on CatholicMom.com! I have seen the trailer for the movie, and expected a personal narrative. When I opened the book, though, I found a series of interviews presenting popular skeptics’ arguments to super-qualified experts in history, archaeology, psychology, and medicine. I had no idea of the academic scholarship behind most of these issues, and was wowed by the evidence presented. Did you know it’s physically possible to sweat blood? That line isn’t meant to be read just figuratively, like I’d thought! Faith doesn’t come from the intellect alone, but reason is part of our existence and how we were made. This book makes clear it is not to be ignored.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

After seeing a play about C.S. Lewis’s conversion to Christianity, I was hungry for more about this literary phenomenon’s life. I’d been hesitant to read this book for years, thinking it would be some dense theological treatise I wouldn’t be able to wrap my head around in the pockets of time I get to read. Wrong! The book is a collection of radio talks Lewis was asked to give during World War II, when many British folks were struggling to find meaning in the state of their lives. I love that he starts at the very beginning—what makes sense, based on how we exist?—in order to draw a conclusion honestly and gracefully.

Something Other Than God by Jennifer Fulwiler

If you’ve ever read Fulwiler’s blog or listened to her show on SiriusXM, you know that she’s smart, funny, honest, and inspiring. This story of her conversion as an adult touches on a lot of common misperceptions in our culture about what’s important in life from work to family to personal fulfillment. It’s well written and engaging—and checking in to her blog or show when you’re done is like having a perpetual sequel!

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

The good news is my husband, John, just read this and enjoyed it. The bad news is that I read it three years ago and am foggy on some of the details. Still, I’ve enjoyed asking John each evening over the last two weeks or so what just happened and what he thought of it. We’ve had a kind of dinner table book club, and I love that the kids are hearing us get excited about good literature together. John doesn’t read a lot of fiction, so when he does, I jump on board. I noticed he left our copy on the counter. I think that’s a hint that it’s time for me to reread . . .

Getting Past Perfect by Kate Wicker

This is not exactly a conversion story, but it’s the last great thing I read, and I couldn’t resist. The elements of a good conversion story are there: the realities of what the world presents as truth and the coming around to Truth with a capital T in the midst of life. It’s not about coming to faith as much as it is about deepening faith. We are called to conversion every day, every moment. I love this book for its honesty, humor, and humility. Add it to your list and visit CatholicMom.com's Getting Past Perfect book club!

[tweet "#summerreading for #Catholic grownups: 5 suggestions from @lindsayschlegel"]

What are you reading this summer?

Buy these books through our Amazon links and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase!

Be sure to check out our Book Notes archive.

Copyright 2017 Lindsay Schlegel