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ellachis's review against another edition
4.0
“Religious and philosophical beliefs are, indeed, as dangerous as fire, and nothing can take from them that beauty of danger. But there is only one way of guarding ourselves against the excessive danger of them, and that is to be steeped in philosophy and soaked in religion.”
piusgreg's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of Chesterton's lesser-known works, but I found it emminently enjoyable. He is responding to and critiquing contemporary authors of his day, and consequently many of the people and events he references may not be familiar to the reader. Indeed, even when I had heard of an author he was responding to, I often wasn't as familiar with the author as I would have needed to be in order to fully appreciate Chesterton's response. Nonetheless, Chesterton usually explains the position he is critquing clearly enough for the reader to follow along, and his writing has so many gems of insight and witty comments that I found that I didn't need to be familiar with everything in order to enjoy the read. I also found an uncanny similarity between many of the positions he references and many of the views that are held in the public arena today. Highly recommended.
dsnygrl81's review against another edition
2.0
more like 2.5 stars
This is one of those, “it’s not you, it’s me” books. I enjoyed the essays and actually highlighted many interesting things. But this book was above my head. I feel as if I wasn’t smart enough for all of Chesterson’s profound ideas. I started with his fiction and found this shortly after. I’m going to give Orthodoxy a try after this because I do enjoy the writing. Maybe that book will make me smarter.
This is one of those, “it’s not you, it’s me” books. I enjoyed the essays and actually highlighted many interesting things. But this book was above my head. I feel as if I wasn’t smart enough for all of Chesterson’s profound ideas. I started with his fiction and found this shortly after. I’m going to give Orthodoxy a try after this because I do enjoy the writing. Maybe that book will make me smarter.
penguin_emperor_of_the_north's review against another edition
4.0
I'll be honest, I don't often understand Chesterton. And when I do, it's because I took the time to reread a passage over and over. Heretics was definitely like that. A constant effort to follow Chesterton's train of thought and parse through the words to get at what he is saying.
And I'd say half the essays in here, I still don't fully understand. Sometimes I wasn't sure what the idea Chesterton was railing against was; sometimes I didn't understand Chesterton's opposition or argument. Sometimes, I just zoned, got through a few pages and realized I had no idea what was going on.
But what I really liked about this book (besides the Chestertonian turns of phrase) is that GK was willing to call out those he disagreed with. He doesn't respond with notes about how that may be true for them or any suggestion of relativity. No, he comes right out and says that I am right and they are wrong and here's why.
Like calling out the worship of the 'superman' (the Nietzschean ideal, not Clark Kent) or pessimists and cynics (myself included). He breaks it down to highlight the inherent absurdity of the ideas.
But after this deconstruction of the then contemporary ideas, I certainly look forward to him laying out his own view of orthodoxy in Orthodoxy.
And I'd say half the essays in here, I still don't fully understand. Sometimes I wasn't sure what the idea Chesterton was railing against was; sometimes I didn't understand Chesterton's opposition or argument. Sometimes, I just zoned, got through a few pages and realized I had no idea what was going on.
But what I really liked about this book (besides the Chestertonian turns of phrase) is that GK was willing to call out those he disagreed with. He doesn't respond with notes about how that may be true for them or any suggestion of relativity. No, he comes right out and says that I am right and they are wrong and here's why.
Like calling out the worship of the 'superman' (the Nietzschean ideal, not Clark Kent) or pessimists and cynics (myself included). He breaks it down to highlight the inherent absurdity of the ideas.
But after this deconstruction of the then contemporary ideas, I certainly look forward to him laying out his own view of orthodoxy in Orthodoxy.
nevinator's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
To try and describe Chesterton’s amazing books here, is it become a madman. He writes in a way that’s not just anti-rational, but more emotional defense of his thoughts.
If anything, Chesterton offers the most sobering escape from the rational mind. He forces his readers to pause and ask, what are you even rationalizing for? He does it way better than any Dostoevsky novel in that regard, but he’s also so astute, and sane, to be able to dissect it in a cheerfully apocalyptic way. He’s having more fun than even Aloysha or any Dostoevsky character.
From a historical view, writing at the start of the 20th century and before world war I, he offers the widest and most accurate survey of all of western civilizations thoughts of the modernity project. More than that, he shows them all to be the weak man behind the current his contemporaries turn out to be.
It turns out that the rationalist mindset, dressed up in all it’s different outfits, can do nothing more than put on a shallow show. Outside of this, I can’t summarize more: it truly takes a ringmaster to show how silly these clowns are and Chesterton willingly becomes a servant to us in that regard.
If anything, Chesterton offers the most sobering escape from the rational mind. He forces his readers to pause and ask, what are you even rationalizing for? He does it way better than any Dostoevsky novel in that regard, but he’s also so astute, and sane, to be able to dissect it in a cheerfully apocalyptic way. He’s having more fun than even Aloysha or any Dostoevsky character.
From a historical view, writing at the start of the 20th century and before world war I, he offers the widest and most accurate survey of all of western civilizations thoughts of the modernity project. More than that, he shows them all to be the weak man behind the current his contemporaries turn out to be.
It turns out that the rationalist mindset, dressed up in all it’s different outfits, can do nothing more than put on a shallow show. Outside of this, I can’t summarize more: it truly takes a ringmaster to show how silly these clowns are and Chesterton willingly becomes a servant to us in that regard.
jaccarmac's review against another edition
challenging
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
Reading backward from Orthodoxy, I found myself similarly uncomfortable but far more delighted. Style carries this collection, and puts Chesterton in a funny historical moment more than a disturbing one. Paradoxes work well as apophaticism.
holtfan's review against another edition
4.0
Obviously, this is G.K. Chesterton so I am going to love it. However, probably my "least" favorite of the books I've read by him. It feels somewhat random and thrown together. I can see how it paved the way for [b:Orthodoxy|87665|Orthodoxy|G.K. Chesterton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348323220s/87665.jpg|1807543], though, one of his greatest works.
Contains many profound thoughts! I love the way he writes. I particularly appreciate his advocacy for "bad" novels.
Contains many profound thoughts! I love the way he writes. I particularly appreciate his advocacy for "bad" novels.
annewithabook's review against another edition
5.0
This is a collection of essays centering around people looking down on Christianity, or feeling above religion in general. Honestly, the title of the book is a bit of a misnomer, which is no surprise, considering how Chesterton loves to play on words. I certainly enjoyed some of the essays more than others, but I honestly love the way Chesterton understands the world. He has an understanding of how humanity works and considers things few other authors do.
timmarkatos's review against another edition
ORTHODOXY
Naturally Chesterton ends this occasionally scintillating volume in the place where it should have began.
Naturally Chesterton ends this occasionally scintillating volume in the place where it should have began.