Chesterton writes this book to fend off the same arguments that continue today -evolutionist philosophy, materialism, comparative religion.

He brings out a point I had not considered before. Humanism would have us believe that society is evolving to ever higher civilization. Chesterton points out that history does not bear this out. Egypt, Babylon, the Mayans; all had advanced civilizations that disintegrated because of the nature of man. It brought to mind a conversation I had with a young man in Egypt in 2011 where in bewilderment he wondered 'What happened to the greatness of Egypt?". Great question!

Chesterton argues that society is degenerating as we move farther away from God, and that history demonstrates this. Remember the 'Dark Ages'? Consider as well that Chesterton wrote this in 1925, before Hitler, Stalin, the Cultural Revolution and the Khmer Rouge, brutal exterminations in the name of advancing society.

He also argues that pagan religion and mythology as well, are not primitive religions evolving toward a higher religion, but rather stories that replaced the true story as man fled his original knowledge of the one true God.

This is one of those books that is humbling in its scope. As I listened I realized how little of history I know and how much of the classics I have missed. Chesterton uses his broad knowledge to build his argument that we are a people attempting to flee our place as everlasting beings.