The Catholic Church (a short history) by Hans Kung This little book is a good read if one does not have a lot of time but wants to find out more details about the Roman Catholic Church.  Hans Kung is noted for being some what out spoken on several issues concerning The R.C.C. but he steadfastly remains a member of this organization depsite the mainy faults he has cited over the years.  One point he makes is that in writing this book he hoped to be objective, yet most scholars will tell you that objectivity is almost impossible to obtain and maintain for any length of time.  We all have prejudices and Dr. Kung's comes out as he deals with delicate issues.  So it is better to say that he was not objective but honest for the most part as he takes the reader from the beginning to the present in 213 pages. He does not try to hide anything when he deals with the miscarriage of duties by the popes and he does not try to sweep under the rug well known activities that give the church bad name.  He also is honest in his assessment of the documents which support apostolic succession, calling one a forgery (pg. 22) and reveals that this succession is'merely functional not historical' (pg. 23). Dr. Kung's best point may have been when he says that 'to understand the R.C.C. one st understand Augustine (pg.45) and this bit of insight may help clarify some of the mystery behind the church's actions over the centuries.  One will find this work a good read, full of important information and insight as Dr. Kung ties to briefly lift the veil and give the reader a peek into the inner workings of the R.C.C. It is by no means definitive but it is honest and most likely without influence by the church's hiearchy.