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Rating:  - Mediocre
This book makes for a good introduction to the world of Chesterton. However any person who is even partially familiar with his works will garner little information from this book.
While Dale Alquist is a great scholar, I find his commentary to be one sided at best. I believe (a phrase never used by Mister Alquist) that Chesterton can stand on his own, without commentary.
Rating:  - Viewing Deep Wells from the Heights
Ahlquist's introductory text to Chesterton was a delightful, witty, and quick read which set me afire once again to read an author whom the contemporary world has lamentably forgotten - and not accidentally. I have before fallen in love with Chesterton and hope to continue to fall in love with this humble intellectual giant, the apostle of the people, of "common sense" as Ahlquist says. This text functions very well to whet anyone's appetite for Chesterton.
One of the marks of a great mind is a unity in thought, particularly over time - even when time realizes various conversions, like the life of Chesterton. In Ahlquist's bird's-eye view of Chesterton's major works, the general theme of Chesterton's levity and love for the obvious, simple paradoxes of life shines forth as a glorious beacon to the majestic thoughts of this man. The text on the whole is a delightful, yet not too serious, admixture of the author's musing with quotes of varied length from Chesterton. It is a joy to leap from subject to subject in this short overview, for that was the way that the physically massive writer would write, like the most free of angels, floating humbly above the fray of grave intellectuals. I highly recommend this text to all, from the complete Chesterton novice, to the junior who perhaps needs a re-expansion of his Chestertonian horizons, to the scholar of Chesterton who too can only benefit from stepping back to look at the great masterpiece that is collected works and mind of Chesterton.
Rating: - A Zealot's Take On A Zealot's Writings
No one will accuse Dale Ahlquist of being detached and objective about Chesterton's work. I don't think there is a serious word of critique in this whole volume, so if you are looking for a broad view of Chesterton, with perhaps even some suggestions that he might be lacking in some regard, then this book is not where you will find it. What Ahlquist does very well is bring the essential arguments that Chesterton makes across the spectrum of his writings together in a concise, accessible and enjoyable book.
This is a book you can pick up and peruse, read a chapter, put it down, pick it up a month later and begin again. The title says it all. Chesterton is presented as the Apostle of Common Sense so the things that you read sound like common sense whenever you read them. You don't have to remember a sustained argument that has gone before.
As a convinced Calvinist I flinch when Chesterton (and Ahlquist) oversimplify significant positions on free will, God's sovereignty and ultimately the quality of life associated with those who hold to different views on it. I don't get upset though because the principles that Chesterton is ultimately arguing for are actually inherent within Calvinism also. What he really says are basic principles of Christianity, not Catholicism, though Chesterton and Ahlquist equate them.
Chesterton's work is worth reading for his arguments on the family and distributive social economy alone. These are words our society needs to hear and we really ought to pay attention.
So, read the book - enjoy the wit and the superb command of the language that truly great intellect can muster - and learn.
Rating: - Required reading for modern man
This is a terrific introduction to a giant of the 20th century literary world. If you have any doubt as to the pertinence of Chesterton in the modern world, take a few moments to browse through this book. G.K. Chesterton's writings are still vital and alive today, and this book introduces you to the author's works. Well worth the investment of time to read this intro to Chesterton, and then delve into the books of Chesterton with great gusto. Enjoy!
Rating: - An Amazing Prophesy of Pertinent Issues of Our Modern World Today
This introduction of GK Chesterton should be a required reading for every High School Senior before graduation into a College Curriculum or as part of a required beginning College Liberal Arts Curriculum. My vote is par excellence for this soft cover issue*****!
It is truly "An Amazing Prophesy of Pertinent Issues of Our Modern World Today". It is a very easy to read beginning collected synopses ofG. K. Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense of GK Chesterton by Mr. Dale Ahlquist.
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