Richard Penaskovic

Bobby Brown and Richie Blue: A Spiritual Memoir tells the story of a set of twins and their unique perspective on life. The book discusses topics ranging from the pre-and post-Vatican II church and religious life, urban life in the 1950s, the antinomies between two ethnic groups: the Italians and the Slovaks, and the psyche of twins. Each chapter concludes with a section called "Counting Our Blessings," in which the authors reflect upon the spiritual lessons they have learned throughout their lives. Despite challenges during childhood, the twins depended on each other for emotional survival and learned to trust in God at an early age.

Originally Published by Scholars PressNow Available from Duke University PressThis work responds to a renewed emphasis on teaching in the academy. Written from the perspective of a classroom teacher, it is a practical application of the principles behind the critical thinking movement to the study of religion. Emphasizing that the acquisition of critical thinking depends less on what is taught than on how it is taught, the author presents concrete examples from his own experience to illustrate a student-centered approach to teaching. By demonstrating how the study of religion contributes to the development of critical thinking-through the acquistion of problem-solving, decision-making, and metacognitive skills-Penaskovic suggests its value to a broader liberal arts curriculum as well. Both a theoretical view of critical thinking and a nuts-and-bolts manual on how it can be used and assessed in the classroom, this work will challenge new and veteran teachers alike to reexamine and renew what the do in the classroom.