When it came to writing about the “permanent things”, Thomas Howard was without peers. An English professor and Catholic convert, Howard wrote prolifically over his long career, in a style that will never cease to be both relevant and refreshing. This collection of his essays is a sampling of his finest work.

The secular world is a rushing whirlwind, often devoid of the consideration of eternal truths. Seeking to voice the beauty of such truths, Howard articulates and respectfully engages with the world’s ideas, contrasting them with the slower-paced, heaven-directed worldview inherent in the tradition of Christian thought. In doing so, he makes this tradition accessible to everyone.

With clarity, wit, and culture evident throughout, Howard adds a personal touch to many of his essays, coloring them with anecdotes and writing in a concise, engaging style. Topics include imagination and storytelling, great literature, poetry, the writings of the Inklings, modern attitudes toward sin and evil, proper worship of God, and the significance of daily, ordinary choices. Howard melds the richness of a deeply Christian worldview with graceful prose, and Musings on a Starry Night is sure to enrich anyone who reads it.

“There is literally no one whose writing sparkles and shines as does Tom Howard’s. No one. That what he has to say is as unutterably glorious as how he says it is an astonishing gift from Heaven. Receive it—and rejoice!”
— Eric Metaxas, Bestselling Author, Bonhoeffer and Is Atheism Dead?

“I have counted myself a Howard groupie, good friend, and even semi-expert, but I had no idea he had written such a splendiferous plethora of gems. Howard loved and embodied great charm and grace, but he also embodied something of another order: great faith, hope, and charity.”
— Peter Kreeft, Bestselling Author and Professor of Philosophy, Boston College

"Reading Thomas Howard is like breathing fresh air right off the page. This beautiful volume brings together quick, insightful, and, at times, astonishing essays. Here, we encounter a personality whose joy and conviction are contagious. This book is a gift, celebrating once again the genius of Thomas Howard and stirring the hearts of the faithful." 

— Tyler Blanski, Author, An Immovable Feast

“Reading Thomas Howard will make you smarter. More importantly, he helps you see and experience the wondrous union of faith and reason in the contemplation of truth, beauty, and goodness.”
— Carl Olson, Editor, Catholic World Report

“Tom Howard’s vast learning, mischievous wit, and modest self-regard rumble on in this collection, and in reading these essays—like countless students over the years—we can still sit at his feet, learning not only from his literary knowledge and insights, but also from his humble and humorous approach to literature, life, faith, this world, and the world to come.”

— Fr. Dwight Longenecker, from the Foreword