Matthew Crawford's "Shop Class as Soulcraft" delves into the significance of manual labor and its impact on personal fulfillment. He argues that the decline of skilled trades has led to a sense of alienation and meaninglessness in modern work. Crawford contrasts the tangible rewards of craftsmanship with the abstract nature of many contemporary jobs. He emphasizes the importance of embodied knowledge and the development of practical skills for personal growth and societal well-being. The book serves as a critique of modern work culture and a call for a renewed appreciation of manual labor's intrinsic value.
Martin Heidegger's "What is Called Thinking?" delves into the nature of thinking and its relationship to technology. He critiques the instrumental approach to technology, arguing that it reduces beings to mere resources. Heidegger emphasizes the importance of questioning and critical reflection in understanding our relationship with technology. He explores the concept of "Gestell" (enframing), which describes the way technology shapes our understanding of the world. The book is a call for a more thoughtful and responsible engagement with technology, urging us to reclaim the capacity for genuine thinking and understanding.
Written in Latin between AD 397 and 400, 'Confessions' is a blend of autobiography, philosophy, theology, and critical exegesis of the Christian Bible. The first nine books are autobiographical, tracing Augustine's life from his birth to his conversion to Catholicism. He recounts his sinful youth, his involvement with Manicheism and Neoplatonism, and his eventual conversion in a Milanese garden. The last four books focus on philosophical and theological issues, including memory, time, eternity, and the interpretation of the Book of Genesis. The work is structured as a series of prayers to God, reflecting Augustine's journey of redemption and his understanding of God's grace and providence[2][4][5].
Written between 413-426 CE, 'The City of God' is a response to pagan claims that the sack of Rome by barbarians was a consequence of the abolition of pagan worship by Christian emperors. Augustine argues that Christianity saved the city from complete destruction and that Rome’s fall was due to internal moral decay. The book divides humanity into two metaphorical cities: the City of God, characterized by devotion to God, and the City of Man, characterized by self-love. It also outlines Augustine’s theological interpretation of human history, from the Creation to the Second Coming of Christ, and critiques paganism and pagan philosophy while presenting the true history of the City of God[2][5][6].
Pope Leo XIII's encyclical "Rerum Novarum" is a landmark document in Catholic social teaching. Issued in 1891, it addressed the social and economic problems arising from the Industrial Revolution, particularly the plight of workers. The encyclical condemned both laissez-faire capitalism and socialism, advocating for a more just and humane economic system. It affirmed the dignity of labor, the right of workers to form unions, and the role of the state in protecting workers' rights. Rerum Novarum established key principles of Catholic social thought, including the importance of subsidiarity, the common good, and the dignity of the human person. It remains a foundational text for Catholic social teaching and continues to inspire efforts to promote social justice and economic fairness.
In 'The World Beyond Your Head', Matthew B. Crawford investigates the intense focus of various professionals such as ice hockey players, short-order chefs, and organ builders, as well as the behaviors of gambling addicts. He argues that our current attention crisis is a result of certain assumptions in Western culture that are at odds with human nature. Crawford emphasizes the importance of embodied, social, and situated experiences in forming the self and argues that genuine agency comes from voluntary submission to realities beyond one's own head. The book has implications for how we raise children, design public spaces, and understand democracy[2][4][6].
Maurice Merleau-Ponty's "Phenomenology of Perception" is a seminal work in 20th-century philosophy. It challenges traditional Cartesian dualism by emphasizing the embodied nature of experience. The book explores how our perception of the world is shaped by our physical bodies and their interaction with the environment. Merleau-Ponty's ideas have had a profound impact on various fields, including philosophy, psychology, and art. His work continues to inspire new interpretations and applications in contemporary thought. The book's central theme is the inseparability of mind and body in the process of perception.
In this episode, Andrew Petiprin and Robert Mixa dive into the remarkable election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope — a native of the South Side of Chicago and a lifelong Chicago White Sox fan. But this papacy is more than historic; it’s deeply symbolic and theologically rich.
They explore:
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Why the name “Leo” matters: a conscious link to Pope Leo XIII, architect of modern Catholic Social Teaching through Rerum Novarum.
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What Leo XIV’s roots in Chicago and his Augustinian spirituality reveal about his vision for the Church.
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How his first address to the cardinals cites Benedict XVI’s Spe Salvi.
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The urgent new challenges posed by artificial intelligence to human dignity, labor, and community — and what Leo XIV might teach the world about navigating them faithfully.
This is a wide-ranging conversation about Leo XIV, the South Side of Chicago, Catholic social teaching, and what it means for the Church to lead with both pastoral realism and eschatological hope in the 21st century.
Spe Salvi Institute Podcast 
