Wisdom of the Heart: The Good, the True, and the Beautiful at the Center of Us All

by Peter Kreeft

No word in our language is more misunderstood than the word “heart.’ And almost no word is more important, for it refers to what is at the very center of our soul. We have mapped the outer world, in fact the whole universe, with amazing exactness . . . but we have neglected the world within. This new book by venerable Catholic thinker Peter Kreeft offers a map of that inner world, of the self.
 
In it, he takes up the mantle of Dietrich von Hildebrand and plumbs the depths of that most misunderstood (by the world) and overlooked (by philosophers and theologians) part of the human being.
 
In Wisdom of the Heart , Kreeft examines the two common understandings of the heart’s purpose and shows how they are not at odds, but rather different (and essential)
 
Feeling and can reduce us to action without thinking, but also drives us to compassion, empathy, and gratitude
An act of the will, designed so that we can follow Jesus’ commandment to love God and others
 
This book, therefore, is a psychological aid to understanding the philosophy behind St. John Paul’s “Theology of the Body” while exploring the three dimensions of the will, the mind, and the emotions, and their three the good, the true, and the beautiful.
 
A new masterwork by one of the foremost Catholic philosophers of our time, Wisdom of the Heart is essential reading for understanding ourselves, our God, and our relationship with him.
 

Genres: Philosophy, Theology, Faith, Catholic, Christianity, Religion

388 pages, Paperback

Published June 22, 2020

About the author

Peter Kreeft is an American philosopher and prolific author of over eighty books on Christian theology, philosophy, and apologetics. A convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, his journey was shaped by his study of Church history, Gothic architecture, and Thomistic thought. He earned his BA from Calvin College, an MA and PhD from Fordham University, and pursued further studies at Yale. Since 1965, he has taught philosophy at Boston College and also at The King’s College. Kreeft is known for formulating “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God” with Ronald K. Tacelli, featured in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. A strong advocate for unity among Christians, he emphasizes shared belief in Christ over denominational differences.

Reviews

[Maria Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly interesting book. I think all intellectuals and academics need to read this book. It is a fitting reminder that our hearts and not our minds are what are primarily significant.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Kreeft's better works, it examines the nature of true joy. It gives us practical ways to understand charity and suffering and how both can lead to joy.

[Avery Amstutz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best of this book can be found in McDonald or Lewis or Zizioulus … if you can ignore a bunch of Thomist bs then it’s an ok read, otherwise read something from someone who isn’t obsessed with current Catholic culture wars.

[Robert Corzine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book itself is classic Kreeft. It’s full of very organized maps of reality that are very worth pondering and incredibly helpful for ordering your thoughts. If you follow Dr. Kreeft’s suggestions rather than just tracking his thought, this book might change your life: very much for the better.

Sadly, I cannot recommend the audiobook. The narrator totally missed the style and clearly doesn’t know the proper names in the text so that he’s constantly distracting the listener by egregious mispronunciations (example: Descartes is consistently and confidently pronounced Day-Kar-Tay). And his emphasis often totally misses the author’s point. Even if you’re normally a tapeworm, be a bookworm for this one. And don’t forget your pencil; you have a lot of underlining to do.

[C.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

He's written perhaps over a hundred books. But both his topic, and his passion, as well as his personal practical training, makes this one of the strongest of his works. If you're looking for depth, as well as accessibility (after all, wisdom is simple), and a plunge into the heart of reality, here you go, mates. Have fun.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Wisdom of the Heart” is another inspiring and inspirational book by Dr. Peter Kreeft. This book examines the heart from various philosophic and theological perspectives to give the reader much to appreciate. Another must read. The bibliography is also an outstanding place to read more about the subject presented. Experienced as an AUDIO book.

[Daniel Gorrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved listening (don't know if that's cheating here but ah well) to this book. The language is easy to understand even though sometimes it delves into heavy philosophical concepts. The subject matter and topics covered within are beautiful and the book is a very good one for any philosophy-minded or mind-focused person (or just someone seeking the truth) to read. Highly Recommend!

[Thomas Edsall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I took too long to read this but very inspiring, very true, and excellently, and simply put.

[sch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apr 2024. Came highly recommended. After several chapter: illuminating and practical, as expected from Kreeft, who is a systematizer and more than a systematizer. The narrator is not very good, though. He frequently misreads names, and occasionally the actual content (e.g., "what we can't NOT know"). He often puts the emphasis on the wrong word, or interrupts clauses, pausing at the wrong spots. With all the lists and subtle distinctions, I suspect this is a book aimed for eyes, not ears. Finished, judgment unchanged. I will buy a copy and reread.

[Daniel Massett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good summary of realist philosophy (why the True, the Good, the Beautiful) with a special emphasis on the heart. What is the human heart? Are our feelings valid? How do they line up with our reason and our will? How do you develop your heart in a meaningful way and resist the Stoic urge to simply turn off your feelings? Good stuff.