The Intentional Household: Living as if People Matter

Laura Range reviews John Cuddleback's new book that emphasizes the importance of the household in forming our families into holy souls and thriving citizens.

The Intentional Household: Living as if People Matter

By John Cuddleback

Published by Ignatius Press

We recently moved into a modest country home on several acres. This has been our goal for a few years as we prayed, discerned, and budgeted. We had a few different reasons for wanting to move here but some of the core ones included wanting our home to be the hub for our family, with room to roam and run for our children, space to invite others in, and plenty of work to keep give our children a sense of shared identity and good work ethic. So when I saw Dr. John Cuddleback’s new book, The Intentional Household, it sounded like a perfect supplement to our discussions as we settle in — and to help us remember our reasons as we unpack the mountains of boxes!

Dr. Cuddleback asserts that long ago the household provided the center for shared relationships, shared work, and shared leisure, which built a solid foundation for individuals to flourish personally as well as in society. Instead of the empty individualism we see raging in our current society, the household done well can foster responsibility, identity, and a deep sense of purpose and meaning to our lives. It was never meant to be a landing space in between "more important" pursuits, but instead the very place where those important pursuits can help us become the people we were meant to be.

8 Principles for Forming Families

Rather than a how-to manual, The Intentional Household is deeply philosophical and focuses on 8 principles we can apply to our homes to help us form our families, focus on each other, and grow in virtue and character. Whereas Instagram might tell you it’s a necessity to raise chickens and bake sourdough, Dr. Cuddleback is more concerned with us embodying such principles as focusing on people over things, respecting and including the elderly, decreasing technology use, and working together as a family (and this might include chickens and sourdough, but it might not!). He deftly weaves in thoughts from writers such as Wendell Berry, Josef Pieper, and Aristotle, showing us that creating and managing a household is not a trend but rather a timeless means of shaping humanity.

I found this book deeply thought-provoking, and it put into words many of the thoughts I have had over the past few years as my children grow and I see our world sinking deeper into materialism, technology, and an unhealthy focus on self-actualization. I have always had an attraction to historic living such as Little House on the Prairie, but as I read this book I realized it’s not simply a nostalgic or romantic view of the past but perhaps an innate draw to the household as place of belonging and becoming, which is often lost in our world today when so much of our lives are now outsourced to school, the workplace, and commercial institutions.

The Intentional Household would be a great read as a couple to discuss your own goals for your family life and your household, but I think it would also make a great book club book for mothers as well as an excellent option to read and discuss with several other couples to impact your greater community.

Further Resources

Also be sure to check out Dr. Cuddleback’s website, LifeCraft, where he and his wife share blog posts, free courses, and their podcast.

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Copyright 2026 Laura Range
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