From Calvinist to Catholic

With over one hundred books to his name, Peter Kreeft is the most prolific Catholic author of his generation. He’s also one of the most loved, having influenced countless Catholics in the U.S. and beyond. But who, exactly, is the man behind the books? In this new autobiography, Kreeft finally tells readers his own story, including the encounters, people, and ideas that led him to the Catholic Church as a young man.

With his signature insight and sharp wit, Kreeft takes readers through his childhood in midcentury New Jersey, where his family attended a Dutch Reformed church and anti-Catholicism was a given, to his undergraduate years at Calvin College, where he studied philosophy and found himself on the road to Rome. From there, we follow him to Fordham and Yale, where he finally crossed the Tiber in 1960—with his future wife, Maria, as godmother. Finally, he reflects on his post conversion years, distilling the central insights from a long and fruitful life in the Catholic Church.

Replete with delightful anecdotes and bearing the stamp of Kreeft’s wry sense of humor, this autobiography is a human look at one of the great Catholic apologists of our time: a philosopher, a man of letters, and above all, of man of faith.

“This book is a work of mercy for the writer, and for the reader, an actual grace. Like everything Peter Kreeft writes, it is inspiring, informative, and entertaining. But this book is also deeply personal and straight from the heart—certainly not to be missed. I would add that Kreeft speaks effectively not only to those who are Calvinist (as I once was) but also to those Catholics who wish to understand and dialogue with the Calvinists and evangelicals in their lives.”
— Scott Hahn, Author, Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism

"Peter Kreeft has rarely focused on himself—his upbringing, family, education, spiritual life, or conversion. Kreeft fans have hungered for the full story of how Peter the Calvinist became Kreeft the Catholic convert. Here, finally, is that full, fascinating account. Told with Kreeft's usual wit and sharpness, the man who has led thousands of others to become Catholic details what first led him down that path. An utter delight from beginning to end!"
— Brandon Vogt, Editor, Wisdom and Wonder: How Peter Kreeft Shaped the Next Generation of Catholics

“In this fascinating autobiographical work, Peter Kreeft presents not only his journey from Calvinism to Catholicism but also a penetrating argument for the Catholic Church as the source of spiritual, intellectual, emotional, relational, and cultural sanity. He explores not only the necessity of the Church’s sacraments, liturgy, theology, philosophy, morality, and saints for an optimal life towards Christ’s eternal salvation, but also what’s missing in the Calvinistic and Lutheran approaches to the same. This is a must read for all Catholics (and non-Catholics) seeking a powerful elucidation of what Christ had in mind when founding the Catholic Church.”
— Fr. Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., President, Magis Center for Reason and Faith

“Few men in my lifetime have made such an impact through the written word as Peter Kreeft—on the world and on me, personally. I was thrilled to meet him at a conference, and I was stunned to find that this great thinker had one of the ‘lightest’ spirits I’d ever encountered. What I found was someone who had never lost his childlike giddiness. A man who reveled more than opined, he not only studied truth but rejoiced and played in it, just as the Father intended. ‘I wish the world could SEE what I just saw in the spirit of that man!’, I thought. Well, now the world can. Grab a pint and open this book!”
— Chris Stefanick, Catholic Evangelist; President, Real Life Catholic