519ZqEQu23L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_Our Free Read this week is Josef Pieper’s Leisure: the Basis of Culture.  Pieper, an influential German Catholic philosopher of the twentieth century, discusses the meaning and value of true leisure.  Pieper defines leisure as an attitude of the mind and a condition of the soul that fosters a capacity to perceive reality.  Further, leisure is necessary to lead to contemplation of God.  He also explores acedia, the sin against leisure, questions of faith and reason, the proper anthropological understanding of the human person, and the meaning of festivity and worship.  Pieper frames the idea of leisure within the Western tradition and calls us to return to true leisure in the midst of our busy and noisy world.

For a chance to win a free copy of this book, comment on this page or its corresponding Facebook post. We will announce the winner a week from today, on November 2.