In Defense of Sanity

I highly recommend this book, great introduction to Chesterton at a great price.

The wit, insight and acrobatic practical orthodoxy of Chesterton are on full display here.

It's an anthology, spanning a wide range of original publications and printing dates.

The quality does vary, as does the genre. From the existential and experimental, to the civic issue focused, to the fighting off of the newly metastisized "Errors of Russia" or their local Marxist promoters, this volume delivers topicality and incisive judgments that will be sure, if not to comfort, at least to enlighten and to hearten you.

Lot's of fresh stuff. Having read Heretics and Orthodoxy multiple times, I noticed one redundant essay here.

I hopped around the book in the course of reading and keyed in on essays that happened to strike me. I recommend doing this.

Enjoy.

The book includes 67 essays, some of which are published for the first time in this collection. The variety of topics covered is diverse and delightful.

There's something astounding about a volume that can contain a playful exposition about chasing your hat (and why it's fun and comical) and a serious discussion of why we need to understand philosophy.

I've heard Chesterton called a prophet, and reading a few of these essays made me understand why. He wrote a century ago, but his writing is relevant, real, and radical to us in the here-and-now.

This was one of my favorite recent reads. It's also a book that you would do well to put by your armchair and pick up every so often. You're sure to be amused and challenged in equal proportion and in ways that will surprise you.

Highly recommended.