A Five Star review

This review is for: The God of Common Sense: A Spiritual Journey (Paperback)
I thought "The God of Common Sense" was a treasure of a memoir, unique in its intersection of art and faith. This is the story of a deeply religious man who claims to adhere to no one religion; a humble man who nonetheless counted the late Paul Newman a friend and colleague; a World War II veteran who, as so many do, found his spirituality on the battlefield.
Beginning with the title itself, the author Leo Jones, a now-retired Chairman of the Drama Department at Marquette University, lays out the dimensions of his thesis--that the God we must find in ourselves at the end is not the God of any one religion, but of our own dialoging; with others, through our interior search, in our environments and experiences.
Dr. Jones takes us through a self-described "kaliedoscope" of experiences as a soldier in World War II (who made a deal for life on the battleground with God and like the Biblical Jonah, found his negotations met--but be careful what you wish for), as an aspiring actor/drama professor in the Midwest, as a father and husband who has continually explored definitions of God through relations with his own family, and finally as an older man who faced predictions of his own imminent death sentence with courage and a renewed perspective on God.
What distinguishes Dr. Jones' memoirs from others is the fine and philosophical writing he brings to the piece, as well as a highly-tuned dramatic sensibility. As a result young, aspiring theatre majors can benefit the how-to aspects of dramatization in this book while older readers will appreciate the author's life journey and evolving spirituality. Others may turn to his wartime experiences; still others will feel kinship with his family sagas.
                                                Michele Merens
                                                Author and educator