" Happiness and the Christian Moral Life is a fantastic text. Yet to call this book an 'introduction' seems to diminish its depth. Wadell skillfully moves back and forth from ancient and medieval texts to contemporary insight on the nature of persons and society. In this book he addresses clearly the fundamentals of moral theology in a thoroughly 'un-textbook' fashion. Like a good storyteller, he shares these fundamentals with us - including friendship, freedom, sin, conscience, virtue, and love, in a coherent and compelling manner." --Bernard Brady, Chair and Professor of Theology, University of St. Thomas, Author of Christian Love, The Moral Bond of Community, and co-author "Paul Wadell's Happiness and the Christian Moral Life is an extraordinarily inviting treatment of the deep and expansive material of the discipline of Christian ethics. In Wadell's book the well-worn concepts and terms of Catholic moral theology are given new life, as he guides us with a friendly and gracious openness through discussions of happiness, friendship, virtue, truth, freedom, sin, conscience and justice.

This is a comprehensive textbook that reads like a novel. In Wadell's competent hands, moral theology not only makes sense, it is engaging and exciting. I cannot think of a better place to begin thinking about the central questions of Christian ethics." --Charles Pinches, Dept. of Theology, University of Scranton "It is rare to find a book one cannot wait to teach. Paul Wadell's Happiness and the Christian Moral Life is just such a book. Here the complex components of Catholic moral theology come alive through crystal clear, honest, and good-humored prose that will engage any reader, especially students. But even more delightfully, the book incarnates its claims.

Wadell sees the moral life as 'training in happiness' and describes moral education as a process of 'becoming enchanted with goodness.' This book will enchant its readers, as it did me, with the beauty of the Christian journey. It is a book that imparts the joy that comes with friendship with God and those God loves. Suffused with the author's own contemplative spirituality, this book is a gift to the church, one with potential to actually change students' lives." --M. Therese Lysaught, University of Dayton "It is Wadell's superb study." -- Books and Culture "This is the best one volume work in fundamental moral theology now available for the widest possible audience. It represents the shift in the revision of moral theology from its focus on right actions to becoming good persons.

In this theologically rich work, Wadell shows the difference the qualifier 'Christian' makes for understanding who we are, who we are to become, and how we get there. He draws from the storehouse of Christian ethics to develop his core theme of seeking happiness through virtue. Those who know Wadell's work already appreciate the artistry of his lucid prose, rich images, and laser-like precision. This book does what all important books do-expand the conversation by giving a new slant on familiar themes. I plan to use it and recommend it as a must read for anyone who seeks to live their faith reflectively or who wants to know where fundamental moral theology is today." --Richard M. Gula, S.S.

, Professor of Moral Theology, Franciscan School of Theology in the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA.