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olityr's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Orthodoxy is one of my favorite non-fiction books, and he mentions in the opening line of that book that it's a companion to this book in that it give his philosophy, while Heretics just criticized the philosophies of other prominent figures.
This was my fist time reading Heretics and I'm starting Orthodoxy again right now as I want to read it while these ideas are still fresh. I know I'll come back and read Heretics again just as I've done Orthodoxy so many times.
This was my fist time reading Heretics and I'm starting Orthodoxy again right now as I want to read it while these ideas are still fresh. I know I'll come back and read Heretics again just as I've done Orthodoxy so many times.
oldcrow1111's review against another edition
5.0
Just skimmed over this again for the first time in a couple years. It was gifted to me by a friend when I started college, with my academic interests in mind. I would like to do a proper reread again sometime soon. It is a really excellent book.
reeseg's review against another edition
4.0
If I was forced to read this book again, I wouldn't complain.
williamriverdale's review against another edition
5.0
A terrific collection of essays. Each one startles and ambushes you. Chesterton takes no prisoners. He is going to grab you by the ankles and shake you upside down until your brain falls off and your heart tavels up your body and gets lodged inside your cranium. He will make you see the whole cosmos in a new light, and even more astoundingly, he will make you see your neighbor next door in an even more blazing glory. A must read.
nattynatchan's review against another edition
5.0
"Man cannot love mortal things. He can only love immortal things for an instant."
"Truth, of course, must of necessity be stranger than fiction, for we have made fiction to suit ourselves."
"The supreme adventure is being born. There we do walk suddenly into a splendid and startling trap... When we step into the family, by the act of being born, we do step into a world which is incalculable, into a world which has its own strange laws, into a world which could do without us, into a world we have not made. In other words, when we step into the family we step into a fairy-tale."
"Exactly at the instant when hope ceases to be reasonable it begins to be useful."
"Truth, of course, must of necessity be stranger than fiction, for we have made fiction to suit ourselves."
"The supreme adventure is being born. There we do walk suddenly into a splendid and startling trap... When we step into the family, by the act of being born, we do step into a world which is incalculable, into a world which has its own strange laws, into a world which could do without us, into a world we have not made. In other words, when we step into the family we step into a fairy-tale."
"Exactly at the instant when hope ceases to be reasonable it begins to be useful."
bkoser's review against another edition
5.0
Chesterton is so pithy. Each essay is a procession of proverbs and analogies toward his philosophic destination. He delights in paradox and reversal.
The main figures he discusses (Kipling, Shaw, H. G. Wells) are still well-known, but some of the people and politics discussed are not, making those portions less meaningful today.
I read this on Hoopla and was not impressed by the ebook, so I decided this was a good time to produce my first Standard Ebook. I'll link to that here when it's done. Maybe I can pull out some of my favorite quotes on that re-read.
4.5 stars
The main figures he discusses (Kipling, Shaw, H. G. Wells) are still well-known, but some of the people and politics discussed are not, making those portions less meaningful today.
I read this on Hoopla and was not impressed by the ebook, so I decided this was a good time to produce my first Standard Ebook. I'll link to that here when it's done. Maybe I can pull out some of my favorite quotes on that re-read.
4.5 stars
rschmidt7's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting collection of essays
Many of Chesterton's references and allusions in this book are outdated or terribly obscure to a 21st century American. However, this is a good read for anyone who has an interest in Chesterton's writings. His ability to illustrate a point with a well timed anecdote or parable is evident throughout. I had hoped to find more here about Christianity and Catholicism, but there is little in the way of Christian apologetics in this book. There is obviously a Christian viewpoint underlying all the conclusions reached in the book, but Chesterton makes no direct arguments for the Christian perspective. Instead he argues strongly for belief in a dogma, rather than unyielding skepticism. He makes no attempt to sell the Christian dogma specifically, although it is clear that he believes it to be the only doctrine that makes sense. As a Catholic, I enjoyed this book, but it was not one that I would reread.
Many of Chesterton's references and allusions in this book are outdated or terribly obscure to a 21st century American. However, this is a good read for anyone who has an interest in Chesterton's writings. His ability to illustrate a point with a well timed anecdote or parable is evident throughout. I had hoped to find more here about Christianity and Catholicism, but there is little in the way of Christian apologetics in this book. There is obviously a Christian viewpoint underlying all the conclusions reached in the book, but Chesterton makes no direct arguments for the Christian perspective. Instead he argues strongly for belief in a dogma, rather than unyielding skepticism. He makes no attempt to sell the Christian dogma specifically, although it is clear that he believes it to be the only doctrine that makes sense. As a Catholic, I enjoyed this book, but it was not one that I would reread.
drone232's review against another edition
4.0
Some Good Philosophy
This is a series of good essays on the philosophy and beliefs of Mr. CHESTERTONS time. It is mostly still relevant and very well written. Although, sometimes I felt like it amounted to a series of pithy sayings.
This is a series of good essays on the philosophy and beliefs of Mr. CHESTERTONS time. It is mostly still relevant and very well written. Although, sometimes I felt like it amounted to a series of pithy sayings.