The Best of "The Public Square", Book Three

Book excerpt: Since its inception in 1990, the journal First Things has concluded each issue with Richard John Neuhaus's "The Public Square." His column has attracted the attention of America's most influential journalists, opinion-makers, and intellectuals. All who read it appreciate its serious discussions of religious and social topics, its lively prose, and its occasional dash of wicked humor. This volume presents a sampling of the best of "The Public Square." Culled from columns written from 1996 to 2000, these thirty-two insightful pieces range from reflections on theology, philosophy, and politics to education, bioethics, law, and family life. Each one demonstrates Neuhaus's authorial flair and keen intellect. As Neuhaus argues, "public life is mainly about culture, and at the heart of culture is morality, and at the heart of morality is religion." Few thinkers today can illumine this relationship as directly as Neuhaus.