This extraordinary book is a collection of luminous, practical, edifying, and hilarious insights into life—into real love. They are the heritage that the author/father, easing into the end phase of his life, has garnered from long experience and deep reflection, and which he seeks to pass down to his children and grandchildren, and the coming generations. Kreeft's 'last words' are in turn wise, witty, earthy, pithy, and frequently sublime. This is neither an abstract tome nor a 'how-to' manual. It's simply a treasure that should be handed out gratis to all young couples planning to be married—in fact, to all those embarking on the human adventure. In a word—to everyone.
Michael D. O'Brien, author of Father Elijah Kreeft's latest book, presented as homey advice about life to his own children, appears deceptively simple, but it is profound and thought-provoking. This is no surprise for all Kreeft fans, myself included.
Father Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R., author of The Virtue-Driven Life Peter Kreeft exhibits four gifts: he writes beautifully, he has a sense of humor, he really loves wisdom, and he is not afraid to share that love. Fortunate the young people into whose hands falls this book.
Lawrence S. Cunningham, The University of Notre Dame, author of Thomas Merton: Performing the Gospel Life Readers rightly look for both wit and sagacity from Peter Kreeft. They will find both in this book. But they will find that both spring from the heart of a very wise father who walks with the Father of us all.
Thomas Howard, author of On Being Catholic The book offers 163 lessons for the good life based on Kreeft’s own experiences and study and just plain living (more than six decades). It is common sense delivered with uncommon ease and sincerity. The reader—and this is a book for all ages—will stop often along the way, so obvious are these bits of wisdom we fail to remember. Topics range broadly: making choices wisely, prioritizing, handling worry, time management, prayer life, sacrifices, marriage and family, keeping a chapbook, love, death. Before I Go belongs in every Christian family’s library, to be dipped into often.
Patricia A. Kossmann
America: The Jesuit Review of Faith & Culture
Little books of advice such as the Chicken Soup series or Tuesdays at Morrie's have been popular for a long time now. Here is one that is just as interesting, just as easy to read, but far more profound—because, of course, it is far more Catholic. Apologist and philosopher Peter Kreeft is at his best with this collection of 163 mini-essays. . . . It's everything you want your children to understand about life, love, and God, expressed with Kreeft's keen wit.
Faith and Family
These 'chats' are worth reading or re-reading for a lifetime. . . . They are all well-written, and important.
Fcs Quarterly, Fall 2008
Reading Before I Go will be a pure pleasure for the thoughtfully reflective, and a valuable gift for many parents to use in passing on wise words to their children before they lose the ability to say those final, important words.
Dr. Michael Philliber
Reader Views, November 2007