G. K. Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense

Dale Ahlquist book about G.K. Chesterton and his major works is a great way for one to be introduced to this great writer and thinker and if one has already read Chesterton (like me), one will still find it useful and a fun book that compiles his most famous works with commentary about the relevance of Chesterton's thoughts and ideas, even for today. Ahlquist does a wonderful job of inserting Chesterton's quotes and then demonstrating there relevance for then and now. He demonstrates the logical consistency in his arguments. Chapters that excel are "Eugenics and Other Evils", "The Everlasting Man", "What's Wrong with the World." Easy, quick, and entertaining read.

If you want to read Chesterton, and don't know which book to start with, start with this one. It isn't *by* Chesterton, but will help you decide which book of Chesterton's you'd like to read first. There are a lot of good Chesterton quotes, and a lot of plain common sense written in this book, it is easy to read, and I recommend it.

This book is a wonderful overview of Chesterton and his work. If you are just discovering the works of this amazing writer this book is a good place to start. With a great summarization of some of his best works you will have a better I idea of what you want to read next. This book places emphasis on Chesterton's works that defend Christianity and the Roman Catholic faith.

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.

"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.