Jesus Wept: Seven Popes and the Battle for the Soul of the Catholic Church (Philip Shenon)

Jesus wept is the shortest verse in the Bible (John 11:35). But it’s also the title of Philip Shenon’s meticulously researched account of the Catholic Church from Vatican II to the present. Shenon chronicles the seven popes that led the Catholic faith over the past 75 years and the internal struggles between a church whose membership yearned for modernization and openness and the bureaucracy that fought hard against it.

Starting with the end of Pius XII and continuing to Francis, Jesus Wept covers the lives and major events of the Catholic Church’s leadership. Shenon authoritatively discusses the reforms of Vatican II, the counter reform movements of the Catholic Curia, and the drive to silence voices who were outside of the Vatican hierarchy. John Paul II’s relationship with Benedict and Benedict’s increasing control of the church’s conservative thought are given significant coverage. Additional details dive into the church’s scandals around priest abuse of minors and the church’s attempts to cover up and keep those scandals under wraps.

Jesus Wept is a strong, powerful history of the modern Catholic Church and its struggles to modernize in a world that has rapidly changed since Vatican II.

MY RATING: 4

Hard Neighbors: The Scotch-Irish Invasion of Native America and the Making of an American Identity (Colin G. Callaway)

The Scotch-Irish have had a prominent role in American and British history. Originating in Scotland and the border regions of Northern England, this ethnic group migrated to Northern Ireland in the 17th Century. Many subsequently then came to America in various waves, often settling in rural areas and being a driving force in American expansion in the 18th and 19th Centuries. The migration of the Scotch-Irish from Pennsylvania through the Appalachians to Tennessee and subsequently Texas helped drive much of the United States’ growth as they drove Native American populations out of the areas they settled.

In Hard Neighbors: The Scotch-Irish Invasion of North America and the Making of an American Identity, author Colin G. Calloway explores the history of the Scotch-Irish through the late 19th Century. This immigrant group was often marginalized by leaders in the colonies and early United States for its rural and uncivilized behavior. Their behavior was also often violent, such as in the Paxton Massacre of 1763 and the Whiskey Rebellion in the mid 1790’s. Hating both established governments (for not protecting them and their interests) and “the other” (Native Americans, mostly, in the early days of the country), the Scotch-Irish became an insular, often resentful, demographic in the United States. Several of them became battle-tested veterans of the War of 1812 and one of them, Andrew Jackson, became their voice and was elected President in 1828 and 1832. Jackson’s policies towards Native Americans were the culmination of Scotch-Irish desires put into official government action. Despite these actions, some Scotch-Irish and Native Americans co-existed peacefully and intermarried. Like any history of a country (and many family stories), the reality and story can be complicated.

Calloway’s book is a fair, even assessment of a group of people who shaped much of American history despite not often being in the leading role of it.

MY RATING: 4.5

The Language of Mathematics: The Stories Behind the Symbols (Raul Rojas)

In The Language of Mathematics: The Stories Behind the Symbols, author Raul Rojas explores complex ideas by tracing their origins and evolution. Rojas demonstrates how seemingly abstract concepts, such as numbers, geometry, and calculus, arose from practical needs and philosophical inquiries. He effectively illustrates the interconnectedness of mathematical disciplines, showcasing how advancements in one area often pave the way for breakthroughs in others. Some of these breakthroughs are systematic and incremental, Rojas notes, and others are accidental.

One of the book's strengths lies in its ability to highlight the human element behind mathematical discoveries. Rojas introduces readers to the brilliant minds that contributed to the field, emphasizing their struggles, insights, and the cultural contexts that influenced their work. This approach transforms mathematics from a collection of formulas and theorems into a quasi-language of its own. 

Rojas also connects mathematical concepts to real-world applications, showcasing their relevance in various fields, including computer science, engineering, and even art. Math is everywhere among us, even if we don’t want to admit as much, and The Language of Mathematics effectively explores the application of math to real life.

Because some aspects of mathematics can be difficult and complex, concepts that underpin calculus and more advanced math may bog down what is otherwise a very enjoyable book. Rojas does a decent job of helping explain some of these concepts; however, for those who hit the math wall in geometry or algebra, some of the more advanced equations that get discussed may leave you scratching your head or having a bad flashback to your secondary school math classes. But these concepts are only a small section of a fast-reading and mostly enjoyable 

MY RATING: 4