The Abolition of Man: Lewis, C. S.: 9780060652944: Amazon.com: Books

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The Abolition of Man Paperback – Deckle Edge, April 7, 2015

by C. S. Lewis (Author)

2,823

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C.S. Lewis’s Classic Work that Is Number 7 on National Review’s List of “100 Best Nonfiction Books of the Twentieth Century”

In The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis sets out to persuade his audience of the importance and relevance of universal values such as courage and honor in contemporary society. Both astonishing and prophetic, The Abolition of Man is one of the most debated of Lewis’s extraordinary works.

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Print length

128 pages
Language

English
Publisher

HarperOne
Publication date

April 7, 2015
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

5.31 x 0.29 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

9780060652944
ISBN-13

978-0060652944
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4.6 out of 5

2,823 global ratings

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Good, but not what I expected from this landmark book.

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2023

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Likely your buying this book not because of my review. If your reading this, though, let me say, it is surprising and a bit confusing. It’s not the typical Lewis read. He uses a critic of a grammar text to engage in cultural apologetics of relativism, even touching on the excessive individualism, and feeling centered self that is still a primary marker of culture. He builds a broad and general case for natural moral law using the language of the Tao. It’s a short read. Yet when I finished, I immediately went and watched a lecture on it to help be better understand what I just read. It’s Lewis so it’s good. But it was Lewis so I expected something different.

7 people found this helpful

Jedidiah Abdul Muhib Carosaari

On First Things

Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2004

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This was just really enjoyable to read. Quick, certainly, but, oh, such excellent writing! And even clearer philosophy. I feel I must approach the Master with great humility, for his style and thoughts are so much clearer than my own. What right have I to critique him?

I'll do it anyway.

This would be an excellent introductory book to a class on religions. Lewis displays a convincing argument for the existence of morality, using resources from many different traditions, not just his own Christian one. He is to be commended however for also stating his own tradition, that we might know his biases. (The only flaw is a lack of Islamic sources, perhaps because Lewis tended to know less about that particular religion than others.) It is hard to walk away from the book still convinced that there are no ethics, or that an aethitical system is possible.

Those who have read other Lewis works will see echoes here, such as the essay On First Things from God in the Dock, That Hideous Strength, and the Magician's Nephew. Lewis uses his knowledge of literature to show us that morality is necessary if we are to speak realistically at all; that an amoral system of ethics is by nature moral; and that one absent of any morality at all is reduced simply to animal instincts. In this last unit, he preaches of the fear that science will reduce humanity into mere object, rather than into a glorious creation. In no way is this anti-scientific diatribe- but rather cautionary tale of the dangers of excess, if we continue in our current vein of thought.

A couple flaws bring the book down. Early on, he takes a swipe at pacifism by implying that there is something wrong with those who argue that men are more righteous if they value peace over war. Happily, this is only momentary. And secondly, he consistently uses the word "man". Lewis is a product of his times, yes, but he also strongly argued against inclusive language or women in the pulpit, and his language reflects this. And so the book's title. As well as the use of the term "redskin" when referring to ancient Native American beliefs at the end of the book.

Lewis is at his best when demolishing arguments, using the arguments of his opponents. He does this with tact and compassion, not even mentioning the opponents by name, and constantly complimenting on what they have said- but not being afraid to point out the great tragedy that would result if students of a particular "Little Green Book" were to take the authors seriously. If followed, we would lose something deep within us, the capacity to have passion, and enjoy life, out of which morality springs. For following the guidelines of the Little Green Book, we would no longer be able to say something was good in and of itself, but only that it felt good, as everything is now subjective.

But there is an alternative, the Tao, the Way, which we find in all cultures everywhere, and in all religious traditions. The morality, as Lewis has said many times before in many other places, is basically the same in all religious systems; there is only the smallest of differences between them. And this morality is the guiding principle, or can be, or should be, for us all. It is inherent in our . . . very nature.

19 people found this helpful

He was a genius

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024

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Difficult for the average reader , many times I would have to repeat a paragraph but once you get his thought that values constantly change. Truth never changes

A Good One, But Not One of Lewis' Best Religious Books

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2022

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I'm not the biggest C.S. Lewis fan in the world by far, but I loved his religious/theological books for a long time. (The Great Divorce is still insightful for me to think back on.) This book though is a short and to-the-point kind of treatise. It basically aims to show how and why moral relativism is (potentially) leading our societies down the wrong path. Lewis takes aim at a textbook for young boys, that conveys moral relativism and a flat affect. For someone like him, who saw his people fight the Germans not once but twice, and the second time almost lost, and lose liberty in the process, any sort of relativism was disgusting.
It should be said that this book when compared to other Lewis classics is small. For that matter, it is mostly composed of quotes taken from the likes of the Roman Seneca and the Chinese Confucius, among others. If you are a guy or gal that likes a good quote, and you believe that moral relativism is a problem that really impacts your life, I'd say give this book a shot. If you really want theology or for your imagination to be taken for a wild ride, then please read The Great Divorce, Mere Christianity, or Miracles. Those made me think.

24 people found this helpful

A Defense of Objective Values

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2023

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This is a different book than C.S. Lewis' others. First of all, it is academic, sprinkled with Latin phrases and footnotes. Secondly, it is not a Christian book, but rather a defence of the idea that certain moral values are objective. Lewis is making a critique of moral relativism by showing that taken to its logical end it destroys the basis for making any value judgments whatsoever. It is similar to the first part of "Mere Christianity," though there Lewis argues from the existence of a universal moral law to a lawgiver. Here he simply argues that this law, or Tao as he calls it, should be treated as one does the axioms, the self-evident but unprovable truths upon which math is based. For a short book it is profound and you may find yourself putting it down from time to time to think about what you've just read. At the end Lewis has compiled evidence for aspects of the Tao from a wide range of sources, from Sumerian to Egyptian to Roman to Chinese to American to Australian Aboriginal ethics. Very illuminating.

25 people found this helpful

challenging but worthy read

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2024

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It’s good to be pushed to think. This book challenged me and I’m the better for it. CS Lewis writes long before our time but his thoughts in this book are very applicable to our present day.

2 people found this helpful

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J. Skywalker

Insightful

Reviewed in Mexico on December 11, 2020

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Great book. Should be a must read for young adults and college students. Perfect fit for actual times during the pandemic.

One person found this helpful

Snow Pharoah

I live among men without chests and they don't care

Reviewed in Canada on July 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book was written in the shadow of World War II, at a time when right and wrong were fairly clear, even though there still could be some discussion, and when many of the moral issues of our time were barely on the epistemological radar. That CS Lewis is able to foresee where we are now in our time and the challenges that pose our different ideological, political, religious and philosophical perspectives from the depth of several decades is truly remarkable. I cannot say enough about how important it is to read and reread this book, as it lays out nicely the questions that are posed by current thought, as they might have been viewed at a distance, during a time when asking those questions was perhaps unthinkable to the common citizen. As usual, Lewis sees into the future of thought and of popular opinion, and draws lines. A truly important, clearly laid out essay that is helpful for understanding where we were, where we are and still, where we are going collectively in the West.

7 people found this helpful

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Muito filosofico...

Reviewed in Brazil on April 11, 2017

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Extremamente filosofico. Achei q era um livro de teologia. Não era o q eu esperava. Muito longe da realidade, não recomendo.

One person found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

The Drift away from God’s role for man

Reviewed in Australia on June 30, 2021

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I can totally resonate with Lewis’ views on how the ‘modern era’ is eroding the Biblical view on the role of men. He also gives some insights on where this trend might lead, and how ultimately it may have a catastrophic impact on the cohesion and structure of modern society.
The author has captured the deep insightful thoughts on how C S Lewis has prophesied the demise of Biblical man!

Amazon Customer

Insightful

Reviewed in India on March 22, 2017

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Science, emotions and the commodification of man are some of things focussed in this terse but insightful book. Much needed in our our times where values seem to be hazy

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