James V. Schall

Father James V. Schall, SJ was a distinguished professor of political philosophy at Georgetown University and a prolific writer on theological, philosophical, and political topics. Born in Pocahontas, Iowa, on January 20, 1928, he authored numerous books addressing social issues, spirituality, and culture. His extensive body of work includes essays published in prominent journals such as "The Review of Politics," "The Thomist," and "Modern Age," reflecting his wide-ranging intellectual engagement.

Schall's academic career spanned decades, beginning with his education at the University of Santa Clara and later earning a PhD in Political Theory from Georgetown University. He taught at the Gregorian University in Rome and the University of San Francisco before joining Georgetown's Government Department in 1977. His writing often explored themes of faith, reason, and the intersection of religion with public life, contributing regularly to publications like "Crisis" and "Homiletic & Pastoral Review." Known for his clarity and depth, Schall's works remain influential in discussions on Catholic thought and political philosophy.

Throughout his life, Schall remained an active scholar and commentator, leaving behind a legacy of insightful analysis on enduring human questions. His dedication to both teaching and writing solidified his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary Catholic intellectual life.
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 The Poor Old Liberal Arts (With: Robert I. Gannon) 1961
2 Human Dignity & Human Numbers 1971
3 Play On 1971
4 The Sixth Paul 1977
5 Welcome, Number 4,000,000,000! 1977
6 Christianity and Life 1981
7 Christianity And Politics 1981
8 The Church, The State And Society In The Thought Of John Paul Ii 1982
9 Liberation Theology In Latin America 1982
10 The Distinctiveness Of Christianity 1983
11 The Politics of Heaven and Hell 1984
12 Sacred in All Its Forms (With: Pope John Paul II) 1984
13 Essays on Christianity and Political Philosophy (With: George W. Carey) 1984
14 Unexpected Meditations Late in the Twentieth Century 1985
15 Studies On Religion And Politics 1986
16 Reason, Revelation, and the Foundations of Political Philosophy 1987
17 Another Sort of Learning 1988
18 On the Intelligibility of Political Philosophy: Essays of Charles N.R. McCoy (With: Charles N.R. McCoy) 1989
19 Religion, Wealth, And Poverty 1990
20 What is God Like? 1992
21 Does Catholicism Still Exist? 1994
22 Idylls and Rambles 1994
23 At the Limits of Political Philosophy 1996
24 Jacques Maritain 1998
25 A Student's Guide to The Core Curriculum and A Student's Guide to Liberal Learning (With: Mark C. Henrie) 2000
26 Schall on Chesterton 2000
27 Reason, Revelation, and Human Affairs 2001
28 On the Unseriousness of Human Affairs 2001
29 Roman Catholic Political Philosophy 2004
30 The Life of the Mind 2006
31 Sum Total Of Human Happiness 2006
32 The Regensburg Lecture 2007
33 The Order of Things 2007
34 The Mind That Is Catholic 2008
35 The Modern Age 2010
36 The Classical Moment 2011
37 Remembering Belloc 2012
38 Reasonable Pleasures 2013
39 Political Philosophy and Revelation 2013
40 The Praise Of "Sons Of Bitches" 2014
41 Docilitas 2015
42 On the Principles of Taxing Beer 2015
43 A Line Through the Human Heart 2016
44 Catholicism and Intelligence 2017
45 The Satisfied Crocodile 2017
46 On Islam 2018
47 The Universe We Think in 2018
48 Run That by Me Again 2018
49 The Reason for the Seasons 2018
50 At a Breezy Time of Day 2019
51 Far Too Easily Pleased 2020
ISI Guides to the Major Disciplines Books
# Title Year
1 A Student's Guide to Liberal Learning 2000
2 A Student's Guide To U.S. History (By: Wilfred M. McClay) 2000
3 A Student's Guide to Psychology (By: Daniel N. Robinson) 2002
4 A Student's Guide to Natural Science (By: Stephen M. Barr) 2014
5 A Student's Guide to Economics (By: Paul T. Heyne) 2014
6 A Student's Guide to Religious Studies (By: D.G. Hart) 2014
7 A Student's Guide to Classics (By: Bruce S. Thornton) 2014
8 A Student's Guide to the Study of Law (By: Gerard V. Bradley) 2014
9 A Student's Guide to Political Philosophy (By: Harvey C. Mansfield) 2014
10 A Student's Guide to International Relations (By: Angelo M. Codevilla) 2014
11 A Student's Guide to American Political Thought (By: George W. Carey) 2014
12 A Student's Guide to Music History (By: R.J. Stove) 2014
13 A Student's Guide to the Core Curriculum: Core Curriculum Guide (By: Mark C. Henrie) 2014
14 A Student's Guide to Literature (By: R.V. Young) 2014
15 A Student's Guide to Philosophy (By: Ralph McInerny) 2014
Political Companions to Great American Authors Books
# Title Year
1 A Political Companion to Henry David Thoreau (By: Jack Turner) 2009
2 A Political Companion to Henry Adams (By: Henry Steele Commager, Patrick J. Deneen, Wilson Carey McWilliams, Richard Samuelson, Natalie Fuehrer Taylor, Russell L. Hanson, B.H. Gilley, Michael Colacurcio, Denise Dutton, James P. Young) 2010
3 A Political Companion to Walker Percy (With: Micah Mattix, Peter Augustine Lawler, Brian A. Smith, Nathan P. Carson, Farrell O'Gorman, Ralph C. Wood, Richard M. Reinsch II, Elizabeth Amato, Brendan P. Purdy, Woods Nash, Janice Daurio) 2013
4 A Political Companion to Marilynne Robinson (By: Shannon L. Mariotti, Joseph H. Lane Jr.) 2016
5 A Political Companion to Flannery O'Connor (By: George Piggford, Sarah Gordon, Henry T. Edmondson III, John D. Sikes Jr., Benjamin B. Alexander, Michael L. Schroeder, Margaret Earley Whitt) 2017
James V. Schall Anthologies
# Title Year
1 The Idea of the American University 2010
2 Thomas More: Why Patron of Statesmen? 2015