This handbook by Dr. Joseph P. Wawrykow is a collection of terms used by St. Thomas Aquinas in his various works, especially his most famous, Summa Theologiae. Arranged in A-to-Z format, the articles vary in length; most are not short - this handbook is not intended for general readers. In his introduction, Wawrykow says, “The handbook aims at providing newcomers to Aquinas with a reliable guide to his teaching; it should prove of value as well to more experienced readers of Aquinas.” This is meant for those reading or studying the works of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Wawrykow provides a short biography of St. Thomas Aquinas in the introduction and an outline of the Summa. A list of the articles in the handbook follows the introduction. Wawrykow provides cross-referencing within the articles, and secondary sources are provided at the end of the articles which refer back to the secondary bibliography. Some of the terms provided include church, cross, God, law, person, real presence, temptation, trinity, and others. Wawrykow provides a list of some of the key Latin terms (with English translations or definitions) which St. Thomas used in his works, which covers three pages. There are two bibliographies: the primary covers St. Thomas’ works, and a secondary one deals with works about or on St. Thomas’ works; there is no index. This is an academic handbook that will be of high interest to those studying or working with the works of St. Thomas Aquinas and is part of The Westminster Handbooks to Christian Theology.

Joseph P. Wawrykow received his Ph.D. from Yale University and is associate professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, specializing in the history of Christianity. He is the author of The SCM Press A to Z of Thomas Aquinas (2005) and of God’s Grace and Human Action: ‘Merit’ in the theology of Thomas Aquinas (1995).