Many young adults and teenagers are looking for meaning in their lives, and this book could be of help to them. The author, a young adult himself who has experienced some of those questioning moments in life, is vice president of LIFE TEEN International, a Catholic youth ministry organization, and he gives conferences, retreats and missions for teens and adults around the world.

Some teens and young adults are bored with their lives, especially their religious or spiritual lives - bored with religious worship like the Mass - and do not really want to have anything to do with so-called organized religion. Mark Hart discusses various topics typically important to teens and young adults: church attendance, sexuality, a relationship with God, alcohol and drugs, body image, self esteem, and morality, among others. He discusses these topics in a language young people can relate to - no academic terms, just down-to-earth words and discussion.

This book is meant for Catholic young people, but others can benefit from this book too. Hart quotes from Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other documents. He does not beat readers over the head, though, rather using many examples from his own life experience to show a young person that he or she can live a good Christian life - not an easy life, but one that can lead to holiness. Part of the title, “Bored in Spirit,” is very appropriate for many young Christians today, and probably for those in the past, too. Many are looking for excitement or something lively; just look at what the young people have done at the World Youth Days under Pope John Paul II and now under Pope Benedict XVI; they want a real and living faith. This book encourages this, but Hart reminds youth that sometimes they need to enliven the situation they are in to improve things for themselves. They might benefit from learning more about Scripture, the Mass, the other Sacraments, and what Christianity is all about. It is not just about going to church for one hour a week and enduring some boring liturgy. Hart’s book is an encouragement to live the Christian life to the fullest.

Hart provides some endnotes which includes some Internet sites. He is the author of Ask the Bible Geek: Answers to Questions from Catholic Teens (2003). This book is recommended to all young people and to their parents, family, friends, and teachers.