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Chesterton's Gateway: 14 Essays To Get You Hooked On Chesterton
Chesterton's Gateway was made for the person who has always loved Chesterton quotes, but has never been able to finish - or perhaps even start - a Chesterton book. This is because there really is no really good "first" Chesterton book. They are all hard the first time around. Chesterton was an essayist, and it is through his essays he is best discovered. Ethan Nicolle has put together this assortment of essays, a list he often gives to people who ask him where to start with Chesterton. Included are chapter introductions to help with context.
177 pages, Paperback
Published July 17, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 28, 2021
I will try to be brief here but, in my excitement, I make no promises.
C.S. Lewis is quoted as writing, “The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, ‘What? You too? I thought I was the only one.’" This was my reaction upon reading the opening paragraphs of Ethan Nicolle’s Chesterton’s Gateway. My own experience is precisely what Nicolle describes when he speaks of those who have come to G.K. Chesterton’s larger works looking for an expansion on the wit, charm, and wisdom they’ve seen in scores of quips and citations attributed to him elsewhere. I was disappointed upon reading Everlasting Man and then Orthodoxy and finally decided that GKC’s talent must lie in the small take and that he was just too disjointed when it came to full-bodied books.
Perhaps, I thought, I would understand him more if I had more in common with him as a citizen of early 20th century England. His frequent references to things, places, events, and people so far removed from my experience would always prove a gulf too wide to span.
Then, along comes Nicolle to inform me that I am not alone. This book, while it may not have been written for everyone, was certainly written for me. Most of the content here is Chesterton’s and is deserving of the acclaim it has enjoyed over the years. But the greatest benefit to me was Nicolle’s aid in pulling together fourteen terrific articles which showed that worth and complementing it with introductions and footnotes that go a long way toward spanning that gulf between GKC and this 21st century middle-class American who had previously been overwhelmed.
In the end, what is most helpful is Nicolle’s assurance that the books I found challenging are, indeed, challenging. It is also comforting to know that organizing and composing a thread of reasoning to an argument was not necessarily GKC’s intention, so one shouldn’t be discouraged that they must have missed the point. The reader may feel free to pop in and out of the larger works for the imbedded treasures to be found here and there. In the future, I will opt to work from the inside out… find a gem and then work through the text preceding and following it to get context and see where my own thoughts land rather than insist that Chesterton lead me by the hand, step by step, to his conclusions.
I offer this book to you as a “strong recommend”, particularly if you are one of my newfound “friends” who also thought you were alone. Take up this title and then give Chesterton another chance.
C.S. Lewis is quoted as writing, “The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, ‘What? You too? I thought I was the only one.’" This was my reaction upon reading the opening paragraphs of Ethan Nicolle’s Chesterton’s Gateway. My own experience is precisely what Nicolle describes when he speaks of those who have come to G.K. Chesterton’s larger works looking for an expansion on the wit, charm, and wisdom they’ve seen in scores of quips and citations attributed to him elsewhere. I was disappointed upon reading Everlasting Man and then Orthodoxy and finally decided that GKC’s talent must lie in the small take and that he was just too disjointed when it came to full-bodied books.
Perhaps, I thought, I would understand him more if I had more in common with him as a citizen of early 20th century England. His frequent references to things, places, events, and people so far removed from my experience would always prove a gulf too wide to span.
Then, along comes Nicolle to inform me that I am not alone. This book, while it may not have been written for everyone, was certainly written for me. Most of the content here is Chesterton’s and is deserving of the acclaim it has enjoyed over the years. But the greatest benefit to me was Nicolle’s aid in pulling together fourteen terrific articles which showed that worth and complementing it with introductions and footnotes that go a long way toward spanning that gulf between GKC and this 21st century middle-class American who had previously been overwhelmed.
In the end, what is most helpful is Nicolle’s assurance that the books I found challenging are, indeed, challenging. It is also comforting to know that organizing and composing a thread of reasoning to an argument was not necessarily GKC’s intention, so one shouldn’t be discouraged that they must have missed the point. The reader may feel free to pop in and out of the larger works for the imbedded treasures to be found here and there. In the future, I will opt to work from the inside out… find a gem and then work through the text preceding and following it to get context and see where my own thoughts land rather than insist that Chesterton lead me by the hand, step by step, to his conclusions.
I offer this book to you as a “strong recommend”, particularly if you are one of my newfound “friends” who also thought you were alone. Take up this title and then give Chesterton another chance.
August 22, 2022
A very lendable book. Which is kind of the point, so I’m happy with my purchase. (“A Piece of Chalk” is included!)
I hadn’t read all of these essays myself, either, though I’d read a lot of them. The one about the philosophical riddle of Job made me so happy. I love Job (favorite book of the Bible, I suspect), and it sounds backward for such a cheery, isn’t-the-world-just-beautiful-and-don’t-you-just-love-life guy like Chesterton, but the whole tambour of his work is fundamentally Job-ian. I think. That was really cool to see in his own words.
Some of the footnotes also were delightful. “Boom. Wallpaper roasted.”
I hadn’t read all of these essays myself, either, though I’d read a lot of them. The one about the philosophical riddle of Job made me so happy. I love Job (favorite book of the Bible, I suspect), and it sounds backward for such a cheery, isn’t-the-world-just-beautiful-and-don’t-you-just-love-life guy like Chesterton, but the whole tambour of his work is fundamentally Job-ian. I think. That was really cool to see in his own words.
Some of the footnotes also were delightful. “Boom. Wallpaper roasted.”
February 1, 2022
An excellent sampling of
Chesterton’s prose. The footnotes are sometimes useful.
Chesterton’s prose. The footnotes are sometimes useful.
January 14, 2022
Admittedly a bit over my head despite the author's notable efforts in making G.K. Chesterton better understood by the average reader. Here compiler Ethan Nicolle shares his 14 favorite Chesterton essays; the comical use of footnotes throughout is funny and makes absorption much less intimidating. The two best ones imo are (1) Tremendous Trifles (1909) which is an allegory about two kids, Peter and Paul, who respectively wish to be a giant and a pygmy - my takeaway is a lesson about the emptiness that comes with hubris and the beauty in viewing the world when seeing it through the lens of humility, for 'without mystery there can be no romance' (Nicolle): "The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder." (Chesterton); and (2) The Drift from Domesticity, wherein his arguably most famous idea - known as Chesterton's Gate - is made: A gate is erected, and whereas one person can't see the use of it and wants it removed, the other refuses to remove it until he understands what it was originally there for. Chesterton's Gate has been applied to a litany of concepts, most recently arguments between the Left and the Right about traditions and institutions. (I apply it to whenever I find a random power cord or a homeless button lying around.)
October 14, 2021
Great first Chesterton book for me! After having read Chesterton quotes for years, I finally have really read Chesterton. And I am amazed with his mind. The intros and footnotes were key to being able to read and understand Chesterton’s references to places, people and historical events. Now I want to read Orthodoxy, but I’m a bit spoiled and know I will wish for delightful intros and a plethora of footnotes to help me through the larger work that Ethan Nicolle has so well provided in this book.
December 31, 2021
I have read “The Man that was Thursday” as well as have heard several Chesterton quotes, but knew very little information about him other than that.
Ethan Nicolle did a fantastic job selecting essays to give readers a taste of what Chesterton is about without overwhelming them with deep Chesterton thoughts. The selected essays did a great job helping me to understand who Chesterton was and what his writing worked on portraying. Nicolle also did a fantastic job with the footnotes, both explaining things the typically reader might not understand, and throwing in jokes such as comments on crazy British spellings and names for things we all know.
This book did a great job of getting me interested in G. K. Chesterton and makes me want to join other Chestonians in discussing his works.
Ethan Nicolle did a fantastic job selecting essays to give readers a taste of what Chesterton is about without overwhelming them with deep Chesterton thoughts. The selected essays did a great job helping me to understand who Chesterton was and what his writing worked on portraying. Nicolle also did a fantastic job with the footnotes, both explaining things the typically reader might not understand, and throwing in jokes such as comments on crazy British spellings and names for things we all know.
This book did a great job of getting me interested in G. K. Chesterton and makes me want to join other Chestonians in discussing his works.
Read
April 12, 2025He was harder to follow than I was expecting…. The commentary by Ethan Nicole was really helpful, but half the time I still didn’t know what Chesterton was talking about or where he was going. Not sure how to rate this one. Do I try again at some point?
June 22, 2023
Solid readings of various Chesterton chapters and essays. It helps immensely to have footnotes of various things that I don't understand or know about.
August 14, 2025
A perfect way to start reading Chesterton's immense library of publications. Especially with the commentary and new comments in the Chesterton's Gateway Podcast by the same author.
Want to read
December 16, 2021Interview here.
December 14, 2021
Truly a great introduction to Chesterton if you haven't read any of his works before. I especially loved the footnotes.
February 26, 2022
Like a jordan Peterson back in time. But sillier.
December 31, 2023
This would be GK Chesterton’s second favorite Chesterton book (his first would be Nancy Brown’s book about his wife… because he would rather read about his wife)
January 24, 2024
This was an excellent selection of works by Chesterton with great notes to help with understanding some confusing parts. Highly recommended as a great way to get into Chesterton’s writings.
March 9, 2023
I’ve known of Chesterton for a while, and have enjoyed short snippets of his work, but have never delved into his writings with any sort of seriousness. When I saw this collection of essays it seemed like a good way to start. I appreciated the introductions to each chapter and the footnotes that gave a little extra context to what Chesterton was writing about. If you’re a Chesterton newbie like me, these essays give you a nice way to ease into his writing. The book starts off with the essay “Tremendous Trifles” which is quite possibly one of the best pieces of writing I’ve read in all my 41 years. I’ve read it over and over and over again. I’ve forced other people to listen to me read it to them. I love it. It’s profound. If you read nothing else of Chesterton, you must read Tremendous Trifles. I have to say though, I think Tremendous Trifles lulled me into a false sense of understanding Chesterton. When I got into his other essays, boy did I find myself floundering at times. What in the world is this guy actually talking about? But interspersed in there, among the bits I couldn’t quite wrap my head around, were nuggets of beautiful insight. I began to wonder how I would explain Chesterton to someone else. Because I really, really like Chesterton. But how could I convey that I deeply enjoyed his writings, even though half the time I can’t quite tell what he’s saying? Then it hit me. It’s like if someone were to tell you they want to take you to this beach. The most beautiful beach in the world. And you’re like, cool let’s go! But it takes a long time to get there. And the road is really bumpy. Oh and winding. You’re pretty sure this person is lost and you’re never making it to the beach. If it even exists. And just when you’re considering backing out on the entire venture, it happens. You round a curve and without warning the horizon opens up to reveal the bluest ocean lapping up against the whitest beach you’ve ever seen. It’s a revelation. That my friends, is what reading Chesterton feels like to me. Sometimes he takes you down weird, winding paths that you might never fully understand, but where he takes you is profound, insightful, and beautiful. If you’re willing to brave those paths, Chesterton won’t leave you disappointed.
November 21, 2025
I wanted an annotated GKC introduction, and gambled on the audio by Ethan Nicolle. However, I didn't preview it nor did I know he's on the staff of fun satirical site The Babylon Bee. Caveat auditor.
He's founded two Chestertonian reading groups, offers tips on further GKC forays, and he's eager--as his brief introductions to each inclusion show--to beckon us into the thinking of this increasingly (!) relevant journalist, apologist for Catholicism, and eclectic critic, who a century after his prime hasn't faded. New audiences need such guides into his prolific and sometimes overwhelming publications.
Trouble is, and this review's on Nicolle's editing rather than the quirky Chesterton content, that Nicolle is far too sloppy in his "dunno nuthin' bout no smartypants stuff" as he peppers footnotes (Googled so you don't have to, albeit with a shuck 'n' jive patter that never stopped grating) with his "whatever" West Coast (and note I'm also a native of the derided Pacific Rim) dumbed-down schtick.
For instance, John Milton's explained (sic) as "The Paradise Lost guy." He mispronounced Cheshire, Cowper, Chichester, Edinburgh, exchequer, and garbles French, Italian, Greek, and Latin terms. Now, I'm not expecting C.S. Lewis' donnish erudition, but this half-assed delivery shrugging aside laziness and lack of professionalism as a GKC interpreter got me cringing at his bro-podcast dude vibe. He did not have to bluster his way through this accessible presentation, as it discredits his original ambition.
Yes, he admits his documentation might be awry. I think Hildebrand isn't the legendary German hero but Pope Gregory VII. It's a worthwhile collection, but the middleman doesn't deliver as GKC deserved.
He's founded two Chestertonian reading groups, offers tips on further GKC forays, and he's eager--as his brief introductions to each inclusion show--to beckon us into the thinking of this increasingly (!) relevant journalist, apologist for Catholicism, and eclectic critic, who a century after his prime hasn't faded. New audiences need such guides into his prolific and sometimes overwhelming publications.
Trouble is, and this review's on Nicolle's editing rather than the quirky Chesterton content, that Nicolle is far too sloppy in his "dunno nuthin' bout no smartypants stuff" as he peppers footnotes (Googled so you don't have to, albeit with a shuck 'n' jive patter that never stopped grating) with his "whatever" West Coast (and note I'm also a native of the derided Pacific Rim) dumbed-down schtick.
For instance, John Milton's explained (sic) as "The Paradise Lost guy." He mispronounced Cheshire, Cowper, Chichester, Edinburgh, exchequer, and garbles French, Italian, Greek, and Latin terms. Now, I'm not expecting C.S. Lewis' donnish erudition, but this half-assed delivery shrugging aside laziness and lack of professionalism as a GKC interpreter got me cringing at his bro-podcast dude vibe. He did not have to bluster his way through this accessible presentation, as it discredits his original ambition.
Yes, he admits his documentation might be awry. I think Hildebrand isn't the legendary German hero but Pope Gregory VII. It's a worthwhile collection, but the middleman doesn't deliver as GKC deserved.
March 14, 2022
Excellent Intro to Chesterton
Ethan did a great job compiling fourteen of Chesterton's essays. His introduction of each essay was perfect. He didn't try to over explain. He just shared why be loved that essay. The footnotes were very helpful. It's like having a good friend who loves a book and wants you to love it too but knowing that it's not an easy read, helps you in the areas where he got stuck so you wouldn't. At the end of the book, there's additional recommendations as to where to go next. I started to read Orthodoxy but paused to read this book and I'm glad I did. It's encouraged me to continue to read more of Chesterton's work as the variety of essays makes me want to hear more of Chesterton's thoughts. I got the Kindle version of the book and audiobook. Though, it's not Whispersync, I'm glad I got the audiobook. Ethan's narration was great and sometimes humorous, as he read the footnotes. Chesterton's writing has a lot to unpack, so I'm off to read this again.
Ethan did a great job compiling fourteen of Chesterton's essays. His introduction of each essay was perfect. He didn't try to over explain. He just shared why be loved that essay. The footnotes were very helpful. It's like having a good friend who loves a book and wants you to love it too but knowing that it's not an easy read, helps you in the areas where he got stuck so you wouldn't. At the end of the book, there's additional recommendations as to where to go next. I started to read Orthodoxy but paused to read this book and I'm glad I did. It's encouraged me to continue to read more of Chesterton's work as the variety of essays makes me want to hear more of Chesterton's thoughts. I got the Kindle version of the book and audiobook. Though, it's not Whispersync, I'm glad I got the audiobook. Ethan's narration was great and sometimes humorous, as he read the footnotes. Chesterton's writing has a lot to unpack, so I'm off to read this again.
June 6, 2023
Having heard so many wonderful things about GK Chesterton for years now, I decided this would be the year I would explore some of his works. The question is "where do you start" and there is no clear answer to that. Personally, I would suggest starting here. Nicolle has created a good way to dip your toes into the waters of Chesterton's works in a way that will get you interested and help you understand what you're getting into. Glad I started here.
Read
November 15, 2022Chesterton essays with annotations. Do NOT do the audiobook unless you like to listen to 90% of the proper nouns mispronounced and have the footnotes interrupt the text and tell you many things your probably already know. The physical book, however, could be helpful in explaining anything in the text that you don't understand, and there are certainly some of those places too.
February 7, 2022
Chesterton is an excellent essay writer to get you to think from different angles, at least for me. Ethan Nicolle presents the essays and includes foot notes for the many references used that are not well known today. His comments are helpful and also humerus.
December 25, 2022
you know when you are reading late at night and you know you have to wake up early and you should sleep but you are just loving every word you are reading? the majority of chestertons writing is this way. this is honestly chestertons gateway
April 2, 2023
My first G.K. Chesterton! It was nice having a selection of collected, recommended essays to read, but often I didn't feel like the footnotes added too much. Some of the essays were wonderful, some were okay, and quite a few contained sections that were over my head.
January 23, 2022
Chesterton is a great thinker! His rhetoric is great and his imagination is wild. This compilation is a great way to shorten the curve of learning in order to appreciate his writing style.
February 9, 2022
The audiobook is the way to truly enjoy this book!
February 15, 2022
I expected heady and philosophical. I didn't expect funny! I have already recommended this to others.
March 22, 2022
Great intro to Chesterton. Look forward to reading more and revising this.
Read
May 17, 2022Just what I needed to get a good understanding of GK Chesterton.
September 19, 2022
Thoroughly hooked! First time reading Chesterton and this was a perfect start. Re-reading and Re-discussing these on a slower pace. Thanks Ethan Nicolle for this gateway.
November 2, 2022
This is a short book, but it needs to be read slowly. Excellent introduction to Chesterton, and Nicolle’s footnotes make even the difficult essays more interesting and just plain fun.
April 16, 2024
5 stars for Chesterton; 2 stars for the footnotes
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews