5. The Long Loneliness by Dorothy Day

I read this first in college for a Religion in American History class. We were to pick out an additional book to read (from a list that the professor handed out) and write a paper about it. I picked this book. I liked the book then; I love it now. I re-read this summer and enjoyed it even more (especially since I didn’t have to write a paper about it). So much of it seemed new to me too. It’s amazing what time and maturity can bring to your reading experience. Maybe I’ll read again in another decade.

Essentially this book is about community and social justice. Also pepper in some self-sacrifice, early to mid twentieth century anarchists, and a Catholic conversion… In all seriousness, this book gives me a feeling of hope. It’s good, real good.

One of the many beautiful quotes you can pull from this book:

“We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.”

more books i like: the memoir:

number one

number two

number three

number four