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The Everlasting Man  By  cover art

The Everlasting Man

By: G. K. Chesterton
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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Publisher's summary

Highly influential in C. S. Lewis' conversion from atheism to Christianity, The Everlasting Man continues to inspire new generations of readers and listeners.

Considered by many to be Chesterton's greatest masterpiece, this audiobook declares his comprehensive view of world history as informed by the Incarnation. Retelling mankind's story from the very beginning, he shows how all human desires are fulfilled in the person of Christ and Christ's church. With his characteristic brilliance and irony, he argues that Christianity is not just a religion to stand beside other religions, for the fact of the Incarnation sets it apart.

One of the most original and controversial theological works ever written, The Everlasting Man offers a commanding perspective of world history and aims to restore our sense of wonder in the universe, our god, and ourselves.

Public Domain (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about The Everlasting Man

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Way over my head.

I'm simply not smart enough to keep up with G.K. Chesterton. His thought process is too thorough. I was only able keep up with most of it and thought a lot of good points were made. I would need a LOT more time to fully digest all the material. I've been working on this book for a few weeks now.

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21 people found this helpful

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Excellently Narrated

Would you consider the audio edition of The Everlasting Man to be better than the print version?

No, not better, but a wonderful companion to it. The narrator is a joy to listen to. By far the best Audible version of this masterpiece.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This is non-fiction, but obviously the author himself.

What about Derek Perkins’s performance did you like?

Everything.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, yes, yes, cry for joy, and because I really wished I had read this book earlier in life. Would have wasted a lot less time.

Any additional comments?

I'm glad Audible fixed the problem on this page which made it impossible to add this book to my cart. Hope the glitch is fixed for good, as this rendition is EXCELLENT.

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18 people found this helpful

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I wish I could have read this book earlier in my life. It would have saved me a lot of trouble.

This is the second book I have read by G.K. Chesterton. The first being on St. Thomas Aquinas. I am very pleased with this book and I would definitely recommend it to others, Christian or whatever. I can see why C.S. Lewis regarded this book with such profundity. It is profound. The narrator did a fantastic job as well. Nicely done.

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9 people found this helpful

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Brilliant

Brilliant author and arguments. needs to be listened to more than once though. so many points will be missed otherwise. narrator is very good. Chesterton 's dry wit comes across beautifully.

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9 people found this helpful

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G. K. Chesterton, brilliant philosophical and theological insight.

The only criticism I can levy toward Chesterton is that it requires a dictionary at the ready to work your way through his writings. My shortcoming, not his. There have been a myriad number of ideologies throughout history and he has concisely examined many in a rational understandable manner. For anyone desiring an apologetically sound understanding of “Christendom” and its ideological and historical relationship to humanity, G. K. Chesterton and “The Everlasting Man” are essential.

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condensed, practical, but exhaustive

Chesterton fills a Christian (myself) not adequately, but abundantly on the vital points of history as pertaining to the rise of Christendom while demonstrating the fallacies many of us are taught (by rationalists he calls them), and explains the nature of the youth of the church through struggles a protestant does not hear about. this is ammunition.

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conclusions on calvinism

How Chesterton sidles up comfortably with a hedonistic paganism in opposition to his experience of Calvinism as a sour vinegar wine shows his astonishing lack of knowledge -and care for- scripture, and his blind faith in the institution of the Roman catholic church. That being said... his common sense in regard to the leading thought of his day is unparalleled, and shows a remarkable contradiction in the fabulously fat man who stood on a foundation unable to carry the weight of such a great intellect. If his thought had stood on scripture alone he just might have righted the world.

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Wholesome Doubts About Current Assumptions

I’m finally old enough—or at least have read and experienced enough—to grasp this book far better than when I attempted (and failed) to do so in my 30’s. I’ve witnessed the same parade of false theories and misguided thinking. I’ve gained an understanding of events like the Punic Wars, though to be sure it was the mere economic understanding critiqued here so adroitly. And, most importantly, I’ve been a Catholic for over two decades now and know the faith from the inside rather than the caricature I believed when I was on the outside.

That the “wholesome doubts” expressed here still sound relevant should come as no surprise; the ideas being doubted have always been with us. And Chesterton’s ability to look through the other end of the telescope, to upend the apple cart of conventional wisdom with a question, can be as entertaining as it is illuminating.

Derek Perkins was the perfect choice for this one. His precise diction and wonderfully modulated delivery render Chesterton’s wild flights of prose even more enjoyable.

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A witty delight

Chesterton's logic and simple yet profound wit make this a very interesting read. He critiques popular theories of human anthropology and origins of his day, with reasoning and logic that can be applied today to the forms these old ideas have taken on in our society. You can see how some of the trending ideas of his time led the world into WW2. His reflections on ancient human history and religion are also very interesting. He has some profound insights into the story of Christ that I have not encountered elsewhere. Would recommend if you're interested in history, evolution, Christianity, 19th century and early 20th century thought... or just like a bit of British wit. The narrator does a great job as well.

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Fantastic book, Well read!

This is probably Chesterton's finest work. The narration holds true and seems to be the best and up to date version.

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