Nearer, My God

The other day, I picked up William F. Buckley's Nearer, My God: An Autobiography of Faith. In it, Buckley explores his Catholic journey, starting with his devout parents and atypical, almost idyllic youth. Brought up in a large and intensely Catholic family, the ever-inquisitive Buckley does a fabulous job investigating the perrenial questions of faith and human existence. It has been said that he "questioned but never doubted his faith" and one certainly gets this impression from reading Nearer, My God. With his sharp intellect and analytical skills, and very much in the style of his show, Firing Line, Buckley probes a slew of questions ranging from the purpose of human suffering, the Latin Mass and Vatican II, Lourdes and miracles, contraception, culture, church and state, Hollywood and more. While the book is scholarly in its breadth, it is written in a familiar, conversational style that renders it enjoyable to read. Buckley inserted the comma in the title so as to make it his prayer for himself. This is a beautiful read.