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A review by holtfan
What's Wrong with the World by G.K. Chesterton
3.0
Ah, Chesterton, my man. Here, I fear, our paths diverge.
I mean, not very far. I still highlighted most of the book. And speaking of highlights, I didn't realize one of my favorite quotes came from this book:
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”
The first two chapters lay out such sensible, striking arguments for what's wrong with the way we approach policy issues, even 111 years later! It is thought-shifting stuff.
But then we get to the question of the suffragettes. And I must agree with Tori's review: your "thoughts on the matter, while wonderfully worded, were wobbly founded."
In effect, you say ladies don't need the vote. The vote is a tiresome duty. A messy use of corrosion on the part of the state. It dehumanizes! Why would men want women to experience such a thing? Why would women want to experience such a thing? Well, most women don't! Just a radical few. Men not voting is unmanly. Women not voting is just...womanly!
And don't even get me started on your opinions about women having careers. Women are too efficient, you say! Women should not give up the wonderful opportunities they possess to be generalists in the home to be specialists in the workforce. Men must take up that tiresome duty. Let the women, at least, be free!
I have a few vulgar responses to that reasoning but thankfully, I could hear Dorothy L. Sayers in my head. [b:Are Women Human? Astute and Witty Essays on the Role of Women in Society|320481|Are Women Human? Astute and Witty Essays on the Role of Women in Society|Dorothy L. Sayers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349117181l/320481._SX50_.jpg|529133] quite properly answered your arguments.
But while I steamed mad at you for your insult to my gender, I kept reading and the next chapter on education won me over with the arguments for parental engagement in the education process! Hurrah!
Until I got to the chapter about educating women and got mad at you again.
But then you make such an interesting case for private ownership and creativity. You say, in effect, "God creates from nothing. Humans from everything." And I can see your influence (in a good way, this time) on Sayers again.
So, I'm still mad at you for being horrendously Victorian. But also I forgive you because once again I'm utterly intrigued by some of the opinions that emerge from this book.
I mean, not very far. I still highlighted most of the book. And speaking of highlights, I didn't realize one of my favorite quotes came from this book:
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”
The first two chapters lay out such sensible, striking arguments for what's wrong with the way we approach policy issues, even 111 years later! It is thought-shifting stuff.
But then we get to the question of the suffragettes. And I must agree with Tori's review: your "thoughts on the matter, while wonderfully worded, were wobbly founded."
In effect, you say ladies don't need the vote. The vote is a tiresome duty. A messy use of corrosion on the part of the state. It dehumanizes! Why would men want women to experience such a thing? Why would women want to experience such a thing? Well, most women don't! Just a radical few. Men not voting is unmanly. Women not voting is just...womanly!
And don't even get me started on your opinions about women having careers. Women are too efficient, you say! Women should not give up the wonderful opportunities they possess to be generalists in the home to be specialists in the workforce. Men must take up that tiresome duty. Let the women, at least, be free!
I have a few vulgar responses to that reasoning but thankfully, I could hear Dorothy L. Sayers in my head. [b:Are Women Human? Astute and Witty Essays on the Role of Women in Society|320481|Are Women Human? Astute and Witty Essays on the Role of Women in Society|Dorothy L. Sayers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349117181l/320481._SX50_.jpg|529133] quite properly answered your arguments.
But while I steamed mad at you for your insult to my gender, I kept reading and the next chapter on education won me over with the arguments for parental engagement in the education process! Hurrah!
Until I got to the chapter about educating women and got mad at you again.
But then you make such an interesting case for private ownership and creativity. You say, in effect, "God creates from nothing. Humans from everything." And I can see your influence (in a good way, this time) on Sayers again.
So, I'm still mad at you for being horrendously Victorian. But also I forgive you because once again I'm utterly intrigued by some of the opinions that emerge from this book.