A Brief Life of Thomas Aquinas: The Theologian in His Context

by Jean-Pierre Torrell

Genres: Catholic

192 pages, Paperback

Published September 20, 2024

Reviews

[Christopher Cerone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been meaning to learn more about St. Thomas Aquinas whose feast day is my birthday. This book left me a bit disappointed. While I appreciated the author’s insights on how Thomas stayed true to his original vocation as a dedicated Dominican committed to studying scripture (as well as teaching and preaching it) while explaining the Bible as a servant of truth, I was looking for more about his consequential life in Naples, Orvieto, Paris, Cologne, etc. What a traveler he was! What about the interactions with his teachers including Albert the Great, his students, his Dominican colleagues, and his friends (“friendship is that which is most necessary to live”), etc., along the lines of how the author explains Thomas’ “relationship” with Aristotle. What about Thomas’ extensive views on science and contemporary issues? Maybe some of this information does not exist though the author helpfully provides at the end of the book some sources that seem to provide this type of information and perspective. The sweeping approach to Thomas’ extensive works is often abrupt, disjointed and confusing at times. For instance, while praising the saint’s Commentaries on Job and Saint John, he offers a grand total of two pages to these scriptural commentaries. He also offers just a paragraph on the impact of Thomas’ writings on political theory. There are also too many ad hoc and choppy references to Thomas’ majestic Summa commentaries. A more systematic and cohesive approach would have been nice. More positively, the author does crystallize throughout, and certainly in the last few chapters, some of the overarching theological views of the famous scholarly saint, including how human matters are governed by faith and divine providence, the circularity of God and humans, the centrality of Christ and his role as mediator between God and humans, the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding humans to live like Christ and become one with God, and the importance of “reverential explanation”. Perhaps the best compliment to pay this book is that it whets your appetite to learn more about one of the great spiritual thinkers of all time.

[Cheryl Beseler · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want an overview of the life and teachings of Thomas Aquinas, this is an excellent read. It is an overview of his extensive life's work in writing, teaching, and ministry during the 13th century. The biographical profile gives the reader insight into how intellectual endeavors were inextricably linked to religion before the age of science. What is most interesting is to realize how people explained the role in a universe that could not possibly have understood in the way that we understand it today. What was most amazing was just how productive Thomas Aquinas was in writing volumes before the age of the printing press, although he had students and scribes to assist. This is a very brief overview about Aquinas' thinking about God and how one should live one's life.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent short (just under 200 pages) introduction to the life and works of St. Thomas Aquinas. I read this for a class this fall and reread before the final. It is a great companion to reading his works and encourages me to read his more exclusively spiritual works that are not assigned in grad school. Aquinas is not the most accessible theologian but is very much worth the effort he requires!

This is a translation from the French and unfortunately has some typos. It deserves better proofreading! I believe this book is condensed from Torrell's large two-volume study of Thomas's life and works -- I hope to read it at some point, but this is a great introduction to Thomas.

[Anya Ciccone · Rating 5 out of 5]

great great great. Goes as deep as it can with the limited space it has, but it's the perfect jumping off point for those curious to go further and, more importantly, is synthetic enough that it gets something more complex about Aquinas' thought across. Even for people who are experts it's a good structure to elaborate upon when doing research.

[Matt Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best brief introduction to the life of Aquinas I've encountered. I cannot think of a better place to start for someone new to the life of Thomas.

Torrell has written multiple volumes on Thomas and his work; this one condenses two of those in a simple and clear style that makes this book eminently readable.