Golden Mouth

J.N.D. Kelly's "Golden Mouth: The Story of John Chrysostom Ascetic, Preacher, Bishop" is a great read. I remember Bishop Meletios, Bishop Flavian (after Mel.) and John being interesting characters in church history. This book brings their times and especially John Chrysostom's story to life. John was born c. 349, was a priest in Antioch, was a contemporary of Jerome and would become bishop of Constantinople.
Here' a brief section from the book:
[Chrysostom writes of] the Christian's need of a humble and penitent heart, constantly aware of his sins and of the terrible judgment awaiting him, sustained always by a burning love for Christ. One by one John analyses the gospel commands- commands which, he insists (somewhat unconvincingly), are not really onerous- and remorselessly lays bare the way Christians whittle them down, observe them in a purely external sense, or quite frankly ignore them. The trouble is that they are still victims of pride and complacency, taken up wholly with worldly satisfactions. Businessmen go to endless trouble to make material gains, but Christians, to whom heaven is promised, are reluctant to make any sacrifices to obtain it. This applies just as much to clergy and monks as to lay folk. An informed outsider could be excused if he concluded that Christ has no more determined enemies than his so-called 'crucified' disciples. What Christians need is the true contrition which gives wings to the soul. Like Paul, they should be fired by the passionate yearning for Christ which raised him to the third heaven. Like David, they should humble themselves in tears and throw themselves penitently on God's mercy."

Good stuff