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60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
GKC Once Over Lightly, April 27, 2003
This review is from: G. K. Chesterton: Apostle of Common Sense (Paperback)
"Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly," G.K.Chesterton once remarked. Despite his considerable poundage, no one took himself more lightly than GKC. In this tiny tome, Dale Ahlquist, president of the American Chesterton Society, takes on a big subject--the 300 pound Victorian writer G.K.C.. Daunting as the task may be, he succeeds in giving a birds' eye view--Peter Pan style--flying as it were over twelve of the prolific author's best-known and most-loved books, lighting here and there to briefly explore historical and cultural connections. Ahlquist in person takes himself as lightly as GKC, as anyone who has heard his lectures can attest, but here he comes off as earnest, at times even strident, as against the buoyant wit of his subject. The reason is that he has simply given Chesterton all the good lines, and been content to play straight man to his humorous star. He further straight-jackets himself by confining himself to GKC's nonfiction work, and we all know how many funny lines are scattered throughout the fiction. No matter. Chesterton emerges as firmly on the side of the angels, applying, impossible as it may sound, the same light touch and genial sensibility to the pressing problems of our times--or rather his times nearly 100 years ago. All in all, here's the best intro to not only the man Chesterton, but a dozen of his best books.
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57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hooked On Common Sense, March 13, 2004
This review is from: G. K. Chesterton: Apostle of Common Sense (Paperback)
I have had a curiousity about Chesterton for a number of years. Before I chose one of his works, I decided to purchase this book to determine first of all, whether I wanted to spend time with Chesterton, and secondly, if I did, where do I start. Ahlquist has done an excellent job in drawing me in. I am hooked and will begin in earnest. I was fascinated to read passages that Chesterton wrote in the early 20th Century that apply just as well to events in the world today. Common sense is timeless. There is so much to quote from. For instance..."Chesterton says men do not grow tired of evil but of good. They stop worshipping God and start worshipping idols, their own bad imitations of God, and they become as wooden as the thing they worship. They start worshipping nature and become unnatural. They start worshipping sex and become perverted. Men start lusting after men and become unmanly." And this was written nearly 100 years ago...Get yourself this book and get hooked on common sense.
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb Book for the Initiated & for the Uninitiated, July 2, 2005
This review is from: G. K. Chesterton: Apostle of Common Sense (Paperback)
Though I had heard about Chesterton for a number of years, I could never find anyone who had read him who could give me some reasonable idea about the man or about what he wrote. Well, if you're like me, this is the book that you should definitely buy and read. Even if you have read Chesterton or other books about him and his writing, you should buy and read this book to gain perspective on and insight into the man and what he wrote. Ahlquist is like one of those great high school or university teachers who not only knows his subject very well, but who knows just what to emphasize and how to explain his subject so as to enlighten and to educate his students and thereby to get the students to delve into the subject more. Ahlquist's style of writing is clear, very informative and humourous, and, no doubt, reflects the influence of Chesterton's writing style. This book would be a useful companion to anyone who has read or who might want to read Chesterton.
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