"Realism without consequentialism: that is John Paul II's political vision as presented and endorsed by Jeffreys. The greatest strength of the book is that it sees the need to explain the grounding of John Paul II's political project in his philosophical one, and as a result gives the best account to date of John Paul II's use and transformation of Max Scheler's thought. The book is worth its price for that alone. But in addition, this unusually accomplished first book makes dramatically clear what the thought of the present pope has to offer to all Christians-a vision of how peace ought properly to be sought."

-PAUL J. GRIFFITHS, University of Illinois at Chicago

"This is a very valuable book. There are many treatments of the various aspects of Jolin Paul II's philosophy, but very few that study the appli cation of his philosophy to practical political thinking on the interna tional scale, as does this one. Drawing on a thorough knowledge of John Paul II's philosophy, of which he gives a fine initial exposition, and a wide reading in contemporary political theory, the author shows the profound practical relevance of the pope's central ideas on the dignity of the individual person, the necessity of taking into account spiritual values and not just material and economic ones in making political decisions, and the guiding ideals of a family of nations and a civilization based on concern for the common human good rather than a competi tion of power centers."

-W. NORRIS CLARKE, S.J., Fordham University

"For those unfamiliar with the influence of Scheler on the thought of John Paul II, this book is a welcome introduction. However, Jeffreys also helpfully puts his account of the pope's moral and political thought in conversation with the realist school of international relations. No doubt some will challenge his account of realism, but at the very least he has begun a conversation that needs to take place."

-STANLEY HAUERWAS, Duke Divinity School

DEREK JEFFREYS is assistant professor of humanistic studies and religion at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. He has written the intro duction to a recent edition of William James's distinguished work The Varieties of Religious Experience and was recently awarded a Templeton Foundation teaching fellowship.