A Year with G.K. Chesterton: 365 Days of Wisdom, Wit, and Wonder

by Kevin Belmonte (editor)

" A Year with G.K. Chesterton" will be a treasure, both for those who are coming to his wit and wisdom as a fresh discovery, and for those who have known and loved his work for years. . . . Chesterton s talent for paradox, and his ability to embody profound truth in simple images, makes him as compelling now as he was a hundred years ago. . . . He was a prophet in his own time and a prophet for ours, speaking out against insidious evils and kindling us all again to a common love of the common good.
The Reverend Dr. Malcolm Guite, chaplain of Girton College, Cambridge University
This world of ours has some purpose; and if there is a purpose, there is a Person. I had always felt life first as a story: and if there is a story, there is a Storyteller.

G. K. Chesterton

"A Year with G. K. Chesterton" daily brings this truth to life. And we are heir to the winsome, arresting, utterly original outpouring of Chesterton s reasons for hope. During his lifetime, a host of perspectives clamored for his attention, but he saw nothing as vital and alive as Christianity. Readers of this book will find their faith strengthened and enriched, even as they see the many reasons why George Bernard Shaw called Chesterton a colossal genius.
A true anthology, the best of Chesterton s many works are presented in concise, memorable selections. From New Year s Day to New Year s Eve, each page contains a passage of Scripture and myriad moments for reflection, appreciation, and laughter.

Chesterton once a day? Well, that s a start. It is good to see that someone is finally recognizing the need for a daily minimum requirement of mirth and meditation from GKC.
Dale Ahlquist, President, American Chesterton Society

Kevin Belmonte writes in the preface to this excellent book that his editing of it has been a gift. As an author who has written regularly on Chesterton I can understand his sense of gratitude at having been able to spend so much time with a genius as genial as the great GKC. Thanks to Belmonte's labor of love we can all spend a few moments of every day of the year in Chesterton's inimitable company. All admirers of Chesterton and the Christian truth he explicates so sublimely will be grateful to Kevin Belmonte for this gem of a gift.
Joseph Pearce, author of "Wisdom and Innocence: A Life of G. K. Chesterton"""

"Who could not be grateful for a year spent with GKC? The great subverter of everything taken for granted, he stretches and deepens us with his insights, shakes us with his startling paradoxes and delights us with his wit. Thank God there is no getting to the end of Chesterton."
Os Guinness, author of" A Free People's Suicide"

Genres: Devotional, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2012

About the author

KEVIN BELMONTE holds a B.A. in English from Gordon College, an M.A. in Church History from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a second Master's Degree in American and New England Studies from the University of Southern Maine. He has twice been a Finalist for the John Pollock Award for Christian Biography, and in 2003, his book, William Wilberforce: A Hero for Humanity, won that award. For five years, his biography of William Wilberforce has been taught as part of a course on leadership and character formation at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. On several occasions, he has served as a script consultant for the BBC, and also for the PBS documentary, The Better Hour. For six years, he was the lead script and historical consultant for the critically acclaimed film, Amazing Grace. Kevin resides in a seaside village in Maine with his wife, Kelly, and their seven-year-old son, Sam.

Reviews

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've written before that Chesterton is good in small doses. His genius is so far beyond me that I'm happy when I understand a tenth of what he is saying. So, a daily "bite-sized" devotional book is a clever, manageable way to become acquainted with his thinking. Each reading includes a verse, two short paragraphs from his writings (strangely, the source of the first one is never given) and a "this-day-in-history" entry showing what G.K. was doing on that particular day (lecturing, releasing a book, traveling, etc.)

A Year with G.K. Chesterton is not a typical devotional in the sense that it gives daily inspiration from Scripture. Many of the readings are critiques of writers such as Dickens, Milton and Bunyan.

So why read it? Frankly, because a daily dose of sparkling lucidity braces you to face the ever increasing foolishness of our culture and our world. Somehow the air I was breathing felt clearer after a page of G.K. His fierce optimism and childlike wonder were a daily uplift. As was his beautiful language.

A lovely book. If you adjust your expectations to this as a "devotional" (as something mentally rather than spiritually invigorating), it would make a great addition to your daily quiet time.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this throughout 2024, but got behind during the holidays and had to finish up this week. It’s exactly what you might expect from Chesterton, which is to say plenty of wisdom, wit, and wonder. I wish I could have him over for dinner.

[Mainon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic idea in theory. In fact, I'd like to see a series done, with a book for each of my favorite authors. It's a little like a page-a-day calendar in book form. The entries for each day average a page or less, so five minutes before bed is sufficient to read that day's passages.

The passages each start with a brief Bible verse, usually three lines or less, that relates loosely to the topic of the Chesterton excerpt that follows. My biggest beef, and it's a big one, is that there is ZERO information about these excerpts. The reader isn't told whether it's from a book, or a diary, or a letter, or in what year Chesterton wrote it. This is especially frustrating because Chesterton was a gifted writer with big thoughts, and these excerpts (usually a short paragraph) offer only a tiny snippet of the ideas he was writing about. Anyone interested enough in Chesterton to buy this book is likely to want, occasionally at least, to look up these snippets in their larger context. I reread the preface and acknowledgements three times because I could not believe this information was wholly missing.

It's especially unbelievable given that, following the paragraph excerpt, there are further lines by Chesterton that are attributed.

For example, on August 4, the entry reads like this:

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much. --Luke 16:10 NKJV

To love anything is to see it at once under lowering skies of danger. Loyalty implies loyalty in misfortune.

A Passage from Orthodoxy (1908): Had Christianity felt what I felt, but could not (and cannot) express -- this need for a first loyalty to things, and for a ruinous reform of things? Then I remembered that it was actually the charge against Christianity that it combined these two things which I was wildly trying to combine. Christianity was accused, at one and the same time, of being too optimistic about the universe and of being too pessimistic about the world. The coincidence made me suddenly stand still.

That's it. If I wonder where "loyalty implies loyalty in misfortune" (a nice phrase, by the way) came from, I have no idea. It's possible to assume that it is also from Orthodoxy, but the entry for August 5 contains no attributed supplement at all, so that can't be the case. I just can't imagine why the editor wouldn't have insisted on the quotations being attributed -- it's not only sloppy, but it undermines any claim the book has to being a tool for increasing interest in Chesterton's work.

However, I did enjoy that the book noted on which days something notable happened in Chesterton's life. E.g., on February 8, the book notes that on that day in 1930, Chesterton wrote a letter to the president of the University of Notre Dame [insert mandatory celebration of #1-ranked football team here] containing a dedicatory poem for the university mentioning a golden dome. I loved learning that little factoid.

On the whole, I am glad I received this book and I hope it leads people to explore Chesterton a little bit. But withholding the tools that would make it easier for people to go further in their reading is, in my opinion, utterly inexcusable.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Annika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I do not blame Chesterton however; there were many challenging and/or interesting quotations that caused me to mark page after page of this book. No, I blame the editor. Mr. Belmonte had some great material to work with, but I was not fond of his set up. To quibble about minor things, I would have liked more consistency in the length of daily readings, and it seemed odd that he sometimes picked just a few words or a sentence for the verse of the day, rather than quoting the entire verse or passage. What really bothered me though was the lack of citation. Many of the selections were presented without listing their source, which makes it difficult to follow up for further reading if one is interested, and also meant that sometimes one could get partway through a passage and suddenly discover that it was written by another author about Chesterton, and was not actually a selection from his writings. I think I’d rather just read Chesterton’s works for myself.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Chesterton's writings. He's witty and make me chuckle quite often. This book is a loose collection of snippets from many of his articles and books. There are a couple of readings selected for each day (the book is structured as a daily reading book) along with small biographical note with details of G.K.C.'s life on that day. Reading through this book is no substitute for reading whole G. K. C. works but it does successfully give a flavor of Chesteron's sense of humor and clever use of paradox.

Chesterton fans will like this book and many who are new to Chesterton will find it interesting and may be intrigued enough to read the full versions of the items referenced in this book.

(Disclosure: I received this book as a part of the booksneeze.com blogger review program.)

[Joshua Lake · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can read my full review at Quieted Waters.

Certain types of books are always difficult to review: study Bibles, commentaries, and how-to books are all on that list for me. So, too, are year-long readers. Whether they be devotionals or selected excerpts from a famous author, books that require 365 days of reading are inevitably difficult to review fairly.

That introduction is my way of apologizing for giving a 3-star rating to a compelling collection of Chesterton quotes. A Year with G. K. Chesterton is one man’s attempt to present the reader with hundreds of Chesterton quotes, excerpted out of their context, and by and large, Kevin Belmonte succeeds beautifully.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed reading Chesterton so it pains me, having persevered through all 365 readings, to conclude that GK doesn't chunk well.

[Sergio Davila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good excerpts from GKC in here. The except choices and logical organization isn’t the best, but GKC is GKC.

[J Layne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was okay, but too esoteric to be understood. I think one would have to have read most of Chesterton's works to enjoy a book of excerpts like this.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This quote-a-day book is beautifully organized, often offers multiple passages from Chesterton's works each day, and includes notes on his life as well. But THE EDITOR DOESN'T CITE HALF HIS SOURCES. The main passage each day is given with no indication of the book or article from which it came. (The additional passages each day are generally cited, which is both helpful and confusing.) I flipped both to the preface and to the bibliography so many times during the year, convinced that I must have missed something that would tell me where each of these passages came from, because OF COURSE no one would be so absurd as to compile a book of quotes without indicating where those quotes came from. But either my book is missing a vital table of contents or the editor did in fact just completely leave out his citations. Everything else about this book is lovely, but that was enough to drive me absolutely mad all year, so it loses three stars.

[Charles Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I love Chesterton, I need to be honest and confess I never finished this book. In fact, my only complaints about this book is exactly how confusing it all is. Sometimes I can't tell when it's a direct Chesterton moment, and when it's a reference to him or about him. It's also hard to keep track of how to properly follow the 365 timeframe. Overlooking the confusing layout/format, this is an absolute treasure-trove of Chesterton reflections, and anything Chesterton is worth paying attention to.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book even though at times I found him a little too clever to be understood. The concept of this book is a great one that didn’t quite pan out. I was often wanting more or just didn’t get it.

[Stanley Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to some of Chesterton’s best writing. There are numerous Chesterton writings that I will be reading over the next few years because of this one book. I find Chesterton somewhat prophetic in some of his writing even when writing in the 1920’s etc. Highly recommended…SLT

[Miss Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The only thing that could have improved this delightful day-by-day reader would have been if they had clearly referenced where each quote was taken from in the daily selections.

It is a good introduction to GKC or just a lovely daily dose of his thoughts and wisdom.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished Dec 31, 2017
3.5 Stars
VT 2017 Reading Challenge - a book from a Theological viewpoint you disagree with

[Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was required reading for me daily to wind down or build up for the day. It is very inspirational and educational.

[Daryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good although I did struggle with understanding the context of many of the excerpts.

[Eric Durso · Rating 3 out of 5]

A long journey. Chesterton can really make a sentence shine.

[Patrick Lacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellebt but you should know Chesterton first,

[David Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this daily reading book, and perhaps it was my favorite of the nine that I read this year. GK Chesterton was a larger-than-life sort of individual, and this clearly comes through in the writings that were selected. Each day features a quote from the bible, followed by one or more quotes from either the works of Chesterton himself, or, occasionally, others writing about them. The "On This Day" also highlights key events in the life of GKC and his wife, and was interesting each time.

My only suggestion for improvement would be that there are a large number of "Accessory readings" in the back that fit in during major Christian holidays and feast days, which mught be more accessible if included at the approximate time of they year they fall chronologically...

[Mikejencostanzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A Year with G.K. Chesterton" is self-described as a devotional, and promises "365 days of wisdom, wit, and wonder." Each daily reading begins with a Bible verse, continues with a 100 to 200-word philosophical piece. Then follows an excerpt from another of his writings (sometimes an article, sometimes a novel), and the daily reading ends with a listing of what G.K. Chesterton was doing on that day in history.

After my very first couple of readings, it became clear to me that "A Year with G.K. Chesterton" is not a devotional, as such. It does not successfully help the reader grow in intimacy with God (which is what I long for from a devotional reading). Nor, I believe, was it written with the intent to do so. Rather, the readings are more designed to cause the reader to pause for 15 minutes, turn off the noise, and think deep, philosophical thoughts. Sometimes about God. Sometimes about life. Sometimes about G.K. Chesterton.

So, this book is of questionable value to me personally, at the season of life I am in right now. In the midst of my busyness and caring for 3 young ones each day, I need to stop and turn off the noise. But right now, the time I have to pause and put toward these deep thoughts is such a limited, precious commodity. It is imperative that I reserve that sacred time for devotional reading that can actually meet me "in the trenches" and carry me closer to my Savior. I believe a study of philosophy has its place too, but I'll save mine for when I become an empty-nester.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

--Jen

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Year with G.K. Chesterton is my second book that I received from the program BookSneeze. I didn't read through the whole book, as this isn't the kind of book you read through in a week. But I read enough to review it sufficiently and intend to read it as it is supposed to be read in 2013.

G.K. Chesterton was a prolific Catholic writer and dubbed as "The Apostle of Common Sense." I always considered him to be a Catholic Mark Twain, as he had that same kind of wit Twain had. Some of his more well known books include Orthodoxy, Heretics, or the detective short stories with Father Brown as the lead character.

The tagline "365 Days of Wit, Wisdom, and Wonder" originally bummed me out, as it always irks me when people release these daily books and omit February 29th, but this book does not omit the leap day. So I think it would be more accurate to say "366 Days." That minor complaint aside, this is a very good book. Each day starts with a Scripture verse. You then get a quote from Chesterton. Some days also come with excerpts from his writing and/or facts about Chesterton's life on that specific day.

Overall, I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. It is definitely a meaty book that can teach you a lot about Chesterton and make you familiar with the basics of his writing. However, I would have liked to see more Scripture for the day than just a tiny verse. I also felt that on the days where you get a quote and a passage from a writing is a bit too much. You are bombarded with a lot of information to ponder and Chesterton's words, while poignant, overpower the short Scripture passage. Check out my other reviews at http://stuartsstudy.blogspot.com

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Seeker's Treasury

I first met G. K. Chesterton in "The Donkey" as a high schoolers so many years ago. Fortunately, I read nothing else by him until recent years, when, as I can pay closer attention. This book, which I chose for my daily readings in 2017, holds such brief content that I was inspired to follow his clues in search of more wisdom, reading The Man Who Was Thursday, , In Defense of Sanity and plan to finish The Man Who Knew Too Much in 2018. If I get really brave, I might try Orthodoxy or A Miscellany of Men.

I really do not see how reading GKC out of context could serve any greater purpose than to send someone on the way to the full work. He alludes to Dickens, Stevenson, and so many more writers who were classic or his contemporaries. An understanding of history (or the reader taking time to research GKC's references) is helpful.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad to see a devotion completed. It was very good. This book introduces the reader to Chesterton quotes and thoughts. I loved quite a few, such as God exulting in the monotony of everday life. It's fascinating to see that even when he was alive, freethought was disregarded for it's definition and character could never be progressive. One particular quote I enjoyed was, "Optimist thought everything good except the pessimist, and the pessimist thought everything bad except himself." The devotion does introduce you to his criticism of literature, and has influenced me to buy some unknown copies witten by well known authors.

[Andy Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of G.K. Chesterton, then you’ll enjoy this book.

Mr. Belmonte has compiled many of Chesterton’s best works and divided them into bit-sized pieces.

This is quite an accomplishment given Chesterton’s dense style.

Every day includes a brief scripture reading, and many days include tidbits about what happened to the Chesterton family on that date.

The material is not new, but it is well-structured and enjoyable.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this unbiased review.

[T.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what was needed. Read in highly erratic spurts throughout the year.