http://www.amazon.com/Popular-History-Catholic-Church-Philip/dp/0020856407


I'd like to recommend, especially for inquirers to Catholicism like Louis, A Popular History of the Catholic Church
by Fr. Philip Hughes. I read it as a ninth grader, over 30 years ago, and found it among the best
introductions to Church History ever written. It's particularly good for the background to the first seven
ecumenical councils. It's like four bucks used, and a great investment for those who would like to tool up and
sharpen their intellectual gears.

John