The Everlasting Man

Best Chesterton book I've read. Really lives up to its reputation, arguably more relevant today than at its publication.

Chesterton was a journalist, and as such used too many words on occasion. This book is one of those occasions. There are some great chapters here, like the ones on paganism and the rise of early Christianity, but some of the book is a bit strained, like not enough butter on too much bread. Chesterton verged on genius when he discussed matters that he knew well. But when he strayed into speculation he became weary under the burden of proof and his writing suffered. There are great moments in this book, but I would steer anybody unfamiliar with him away from Everlasting Man to Orthodoxy- his earlier and much greater work, in which he discussed matters he understood with vigor and insight.