Welcome back, David.  Sorry but I’m not down to one book yet.

As a gift I like to give new catechumens the book, “The Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan” by Rev John A. Hardon, SJ because it contains a summary or preview of books and authors.

Recommended writings from some authors:

The Age of Persecution: Sts Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus

The Patristic Age: Sts Eusebius Athanasius John Chrysostom. Augustine, Jerome

Medieval Civilization: Sts Anselm, Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure

The Catholic Reformation

The Modern Age

Several months ago CE’s Brendan Hickey posted a reading plan by Fr. John C McCloskey III.

Here is the link: http://www.catholicity.com/mccloskey/readingplan.html

I'd say "Surprised by Truth" by Patrick Madrid.

But it depends on where they are right now -- are they Protestant? Jewish? Atheist? Agnostic? Mormon? Lapsed Catholic?

It also depends on how old they are (teenagers will find some books affect them differently than senior citizens will) and their education level (a PhD may be comfortable with a fairly heavy theological work, while someone with a sixth grade reading level would likely find it unappealing).

Do you have a particular person in mind?

Thank you for your responses. The person for whom I make my request attended my daughter's baptism and was reading through the Missal with some interest. Barring another offering of greater content, I am going with the Catechism. If the Holy Spirit decides to awaken a desire to know God, I will offer the other selections. Thank you again for your response.

There, now you have a couple of little Abe Lincolns from me... Remember, the Sun is always shining!