Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Summer Reading: The Abolition of Man

I just finished reading C.S. Lewis's The Abolition of Man: How Education Develops Man's Sense of Morality. Tiny book. Ninety-one pages. But, alas, it took me too long to read it. It was a bit stiff for me. Originally a lecture series in 1943, Lewis dealt with the dangers of moral relativism in a way that was too academic for me, though I adjusted to the reading about mid-way. I had to force myself to finish it. Yet, I found some great ideas therein. Not a "beach read" by any means. Part of my motivation to finish it was my pride. I would not be beat, and could not quit this book simply because it was too advanced for me. I had to conquer it and get what I could out of it. I am a big fan of the author, after all. I went to a college that hosts THE official wardrobe that inspired The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe of the Chronicles of Narnia. So, though I feel like it delayed my getting to books I was really looking forward to this summer, I finished the book and I'm better for it.