A Shorter Summa: The Essential Philosophical Passages of Saint Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica (Paperback)

~ Peter J. Kreeft (Author) "St. Thomas Aquinas is certainly one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived (to my mind he is the greatest), for at least eight reasons:..." (more)
Key Phrases: Reply Obj, Holy Writ, Whether Man's Happiness Consists (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Latin

Product Details

• Paperback: 162 pages
• Publisher: Ignatius Press (April 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898704383
• ISBN-13: 978-0898704389
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,119 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great "summa of the summa of the summa", May 12, 2000

By A Customer

I had the pleasure of taking a class in Medieval Philosophy with Peter Kreeft. We used this text in our survey of St. Thomas Aquinas alongside G.K. Chesterton's "Dumb Ox"--which I also recommend as a secondary source. This is a wonderful introduction into the thought of one of the most brilliant minds in the history of the world. Aquinas's "Summa Theologica" is an overview of Christian philosophy and theology, according to Aquinas. It is, however, over 5,000 pages long--a bit much for the common reader. In "A Shorter Summa" Kreeft has selected and annotated the most vital sections of the Summa, making Thomas's philosophy both accurate and accessible. If you are looking for a little more to chew on, I'd advise Kreeft's other abridgment entitled "Summa of the Summa"--hence, my title. "A Shorter Summa" is a gem, packed with more knowledge than most books five times its size. I not only recommend it; I plead that you give it a whirl.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Welcome Tutorial on Aquinas, December 23, 2002

By	Oswald Sobrino "CatholicAnalysis.blogspot.com" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Peter Kreeft of Boston College has performed a work of mercy for those of us who were cheated in college by being kept in blithe ignorance of the greatest Christian philosopher. Ironically, I was cheated at a Catholic university of exposure to Aquinas! But Peter Kreeft has provided selections of Aquinas with generous footnotes explaining and enlightening various passages and even including diagrams for those of us trying to catch up. I can comfort myself with the thought that a well annotated book by Kreeft, who is also a skilled Catholic apologist, is assuredly better than what I probably would have received anyway as an undergraduate in a decidedly confused Catholic university.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Aquinas in a Succint, Portable Format, January 25, 1999

By	Chu H. Choi (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Peter Kreeft is an excellent lecturer and writer. His works on Christian Apologetics are well-known and respected. I had the pleasure of taking a class with him at Boston College.

His "A Shorter Summa" is a very good read for serious Christians. It delivers key passages of St. Thomas Aquinas' "Summa Theologiae" in a more manageable format for modern readers. Still hard reading, this book can yield precious insights when struggled over and read diligently.

A good introduction for Christians who don't have the time or the discipline to read the real thing.