Resources

 
  • The Thoughtful Home, by Dia Boyle
    Without doubt, a good home is of great importance to the happiness of our families. Rapid and profound cultural changes over the past century have left us without a reliable template for creating such a good home, leaving us at the mercy of a consumer culture which values efficiency, productivity, and comfort above the true human good. Consequently, many who do the work of making the home find themselves frustrated, anxious, and lacking in confidence. In these pages, author Dia Boyle accompanies her readers in an engaging inquiry into the nature and purpose of the home, offering criteria for determining—for their unique circumstances—what contents, designs, routines, and practices will help them to accomplish this essential project.

    Organizar tu casa, Pía Nieto (for now in Spanish only)
    Los hogares más organizados son más felices. Hay personas que me preguntan cómo conseguir que la casa funcione bien de una vez por todas. La respuesta es sencilla: ten objetivos claros y luego organiza y supervisa cada una de las tareas hasta lograr el nivel de bienestar que desees. Este Manual es una guía en la que encontrarás los fundamentos para organizar tu casa. Consúltalo en esos momentos de desesperación, porque seguro que encuentras alguna que otra solución.

    Theology of Home: Finding the Eternal in the Every Day, by Noelle Mering and Carrie Gress
    Written by two wives and mothers, Theology of Home is a simple guide to help reorient all of us toward our true home, allowing us to think purposefully about how to make our own homes on earth better equipped to get all those living in them to the Father’s house. Featuring more than 100 beautiful (and inspiring) photographs from homes around the country, profound words from the saints and other literary figures, and in-depth commentary on the theological and spiritual underpinnings of our love for Home, Theology of Home offers readers a tour of both the Home and the human heart.

    Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House, by Cheryl Mendelson
    an engaging and comprehensive book about housekeeping. It is a lively and readable guide for both beginners and experts in all the domestic arts. From keeping surfaces free of germs, watering plants, removing stains, folding a fitted sheet, cleaning china, tuning a piano, lighting a fire, setting the dining room table—this guide covers everything that people might want to do for themselves in their homes.

    Home: How Habitat Made Us Human, by John S. Allen
    Home is where the heart is. Security, comfort, even love, are all feelings that are centered on the humble abode. But what if there is more to the feeling of being at home? Neuroanthropologist John S. Allen believes that the human habitat is one of the most important products of human cognitive, technological, and cultural evolution over the past two million years. In Home, Allen argues that to "feel at home" is more than just an expression, but reflects a deep-seated cognitive basis for the human desire to have, use, and enjoy a place of one's own.

    Dependent Rational Animals, by Alasdair Macintyre
    Alasdair MacIntyre compares humans to other intelligent animals, ultimately drawing remarkable conclusions about human social life and our treatment of those whom he argues we should no longer call "disabled." MacIntyre argues that human beings are independent, practical reasoners, but they are also dependent animals who must learn from each other in order to remain largely independent. To flourish, humans must acknowledge the importance of dependence and independence, both of which are developed in and through social relationships.

    Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey
    This beloved classic presents a principle-centered approach for solving both personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and practical anecdotes, Stephen R. Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity—principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.

    The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness, by Edward M. Hallowell
    Dr. Edward Hallowell offers practical strategies for raising happy children. Through his work and research, and his experience as a parent, Hallowell has identified two primary goals for children: that they develop a sense of connection with those around them and, a sense of mastery over one or more areas of their lives. He has found that happiness lies in childhood-based skills such as playing, and being able to make and keep friends; learning to tackle difficult tasks; dealing with success and failure with grace; and being able to delight in the moment.

    The Young Adult Playbook, by Anna B. Moreland and Thomas W. Smith
    The Young Adult Playbook goes where other life design books refuse to go: it asks deep questions about what constitutes a happy life. After decades of listening to their students, Anna Moreland and Thomas Smith name the underlying desires in young adults: while searching for a lucrative career, they long for meaningful work; their social media and gaming practices point to a deeper yearning for intimacy; and their leisure habits have been crushed under the productivity machine. This book helps them unlock their deepest desires. It offers practical strategies to improve habits. And it leads them to recover activities lost from childhood.

    Click here for PDF of a list of books for further research about the home

    Click here for a PDF of a list of books about family meal time