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anthonyrivers's review against another edition
Chesterton’s thinking is far different than my own, but I enjoy inhabiting his mind. He’s one of the few authors that can make me physically laugh and then cry a few lines later (I’m not being hyperbolic—I actually both laugh and cry when reading Orthodoxy).
penguin_emperor_of_the_north's review against another edition
4.0
"I am the fool of this story and no rebel shall hurl me from my throne."
"Oscar Wilde said that sunsets were not valued because we could not pay for sunsets. But Oscar Wilde was wrong; we can pay for sunsets. We can pay for them by not being Oscar Wilde."
"So one elephant having a trunk was odd; but all elephants having trunks looked like a plot."
"The fact is, of course, that the rich man is bribed; he has been bribed already. That is why he is a rich man."
Chesterton's ability to turn a phrase makes this book worth reading on its own. He has a way of taking arguments and standing them on their head (or maybe getting them right side again) to get a better look at things.
And I especially liked his explanation of the necessity of orthodoxy. Orthodoxy is simply what is right. If you can't define what is right then how can you ever know how to get there?
Now I think I need to move onto something a little lighter.
"Oscar Wilde said that sunsets were not valued because we could not pay for sunsets. But Oscar Wilde was wrong; we can pay for sunsets. We can pay for them by not being Oscar Wilde."
"So one elephant having a trunk was odd; but all elephants having trunks looked like a plot."
"The fact is, of course, that the rich man is bribed; he has been bribed already. That is why he is a rich man."
Chesterton's ability to turn a phrase makes this book worth reading on its own. He has a way of taking arguments and standing them on their head (or maybe getting them right side again) to get a better look at things.
And I especially liked his explanation of the necessity of orthodoxy. Orthodoxy is simply what is right. If you can't define what is right then how can you ever know how to get there?
Now I think I need to move onto something a little lighter.
sarahetc's review against another edition
5.0
I will need to read this about five more times to even come close to having a cogent opinion of this masterful work. So once a year, I suppose, until I can quote it forward and backward. Of particular interest: Christianity as complete and perfect paradox; the modern (contemporary) ethos of sin as a disease when disease is cured through inaction and sin is cured through violent action.
To be amended.
To be amended.
romanstandrd's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
tlcollier1's review against another edition
5.0
Not what I expected but definitely over delivered. I need to own this one. I found myself stopping to ponder the author’s thoughts or remarking out loud about them. Fascinating!
This might be an annual read for me.
This might be an annual read for me.
occams_razor_85's review against another edition
Read for work book group, but missed too many meetings.
josiahrichardson's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful book. Chesterton is the king of analogies and is able to make complex and murky issues clear and understandable. The one qualm I do have is the strict black and white take he had on issues, completely unwilling to see any grey areas in controversies. This, of course, is the first Chesterton book I've read, so more is to be seen if that is characteristic of GK or simply the way he chose to write this particular book.
I recommend this book for multiple reasons.
1. The writing is amazing. Chesterton Should be a poet. He strings words into sentences and sentences into chapters with ease. I would have kept reading as long as there were more pages to read.
2. The historical context is super interesting. The reasons he wrote this book and the issues he tackled make much more sense in light of the purpose. I was advised to read "Heresies" before this, and I kinda wish I did, knowing the context.
3. I've said this about Doug Wilson's books before, and I'm seeing a lot of similarities between GKC and DW's writings (If you're reading this DW, that's a huge compliment as I'm sure you know.) To see the almost prophetic predictions (as in Federal Husband and Paidea of God) of what would happen when XYZ is abandoned or XYZ affirmed is pretty insightful and (Tongue-in-cheek) makes me question some of my views on cessationism after seeing these predictions before my very eyes.
4. GKC's pokes at Calvinism were also humerous. It's always fun to have a jolly Anglican poke fun at your pet doctrine, unless you're a cage-stager of course.
9/10 would read again
I recommend this book for multiple reasons.
1. The writing is amazing. Chesterton Should be a poet. He strings words into sentences and sentences into chapters with ease. I would have kept reading as long as there were more pages to read.
2. The historical context is super interesting. The reasons he wrote this book and the issues he tackled make much more sense in light of the purpose. I was advised to read "Heresies" before this, and I kinda wish I did, knowing the context.
3. I've said this about Doug Wilson's books before, and I'm seeing a lot of similarities between GKC and DW's writings (If you're reading this DW, that's a huge compliment as I'm sure you know.) To see the almost prophetic predictions (as in Federal Husband and Paidea of God) of what would happen when XYZ is abandoned or XYZ affirmed is pretty insightful and (Tongue-in-cheek) makes me question some of my views on cessationism after seeing these predictions before my very eyes.
4. GKC's pokes at Calvinism were also humerous. It's always fun to have a jolly Anglican poke fun at your pet doctrine, unless you're a cage-stager of course.
9/10 would read again