Rating: 
Summary: Good subject, good wordsmanship, narrow breadth
Review: A vigorous exposition of the available biographic information on St. Thomas Aquinas. A basic introduction to some of his philosophy. Presents some of the towering achievements of this medieval scholar made relevent to the early 20th century. Explains why he has left out the Angelic Doctor's Theology, which is actually the most interesting aspect of the Dumb Ox. Unfortunate and superficial rejection of other belief systems living up to the authors own words: "..it is generally the man who is not ready to argue [intelligently], who is ready to sneer."
Rating: 
Summary: A profound approach to the Doctor Angelicus
Review: As Etienne Gilson, Chesterton's biography reaches profoundly into St. Thomas' spirit, drawing with gentle trace the road of this dumb ox from his aristochratic family, the development of his studies, of his ideas, to describe every detail of his spiritual ascence. We discover his genious synthesis of the doctrine of the fathers, the tradition of the church, and his beloved Aristotle. A work of art in modern literature, with an essential lesson for any lover of Wisdom.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Popularization
Review: Chesterton does a masterful job of explaining the essence of Thomas's philosophy, and also gives a good sense of the times he lived in and the opposition that he had to overcome. Thomism is now seen as the epitome of Catholic Orthodoxy, but it was not certainly not treated that way during Thomas's lifetime for reasons that Chesteron makes masterfully clear. He also makes an excellent case for the importance of intellect in religion and the possibility of an optimistic approach to Catholicism. As other reviewers have noted, he does tend to make sweeping pronouncements about subjects he doesn't understand very well; I, for one, think he doesn't appreciate Nietzsche or St. Augustine any better than he does Eastern religions. These aree minor irritations, however, which don't detract much from the overall accomplishment of the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Not particularly useful
Review: Chesterton does not give the reader a very clear picture of Aquinas or the events of this life. He uses the subject as a springboard for attacking non-Christian religious views. Since he does that in several other books, it was not really necessary here.
Rating: 
Summary: Illustrative Of the Great Man's Life
Review: Chesterton utilizes poetic license interspersed with biographical sketches to provide his readers with a glimpse into the significance of St. Thomas and the scholastic movement in both his own day as well as in the modern world. The book is written in a style that most reminds me of sitting at a lecture by a stodgy old professor in a tweed jacket and a pipe who refuses to compromise his language to suit his students but instead insists on them adopting to the academic rigour of his delivery.
St. Thomas emerges as the pivotal historical figure that we accept him to be through the fog of Chesterton's writing but also as someone whose relevance to all that came after is indisputable. The parts of the book that contrast the Dominican Thomas with St. Francis are especially entertaining as well as enlightening.
A good choice for those with an interest in ST. Thomas and his life's work.
Rating:
Summary: A classical writer tackles a classical saint...
Review: G.K. Chesterton is one of my favorite writers. St. Thomas Aquinas is one of my favorite saints. So how could I not love this book?What is nice about this book is that it is easy to read. Most books on St. Thomas Aquinas tend to go deep into St. Thomas' theology. This book, however, offers a fun biography of the saint, touching upon Aquinas' genius and explaining the controversies in which he engaged. G.K. Chesterton, ever the gifted story teller, recounts many of the interesting incidents Aquinas faced in his life, answering many of the questions we might have about him. For example, how did Aquinas, considered the greatest theologian the Catholic Church has ever produced, get the knick-name "the Dumb Ox." Chesterton knows, and Chesterton tells, holding the reader in suspense as he builds up the story. This is just one of many interesting incidents in Aquinas' life Chesterton touches upon.
Rating:
Summary: A Divine Writer on the Divine Doctor
Review: G.K. Chesterton was an amazing freak of nature: a writer of surpassing wit and skill who could also get to the heart of a subject with relative brevity. His biography captures the essence of Aquinas, perhaps the most complex thinker who ever lived, an all but impossible task. Read this biography together with Chesterton's bio of Saint Francis over a weekend. You will come away much wiser about the human condition than when you began.
Rating:
Summary: A Divine Writer on the Divine Doctor
Review: G.K. Chesterton was an amazing freak of nature: a writer of surpassing wit and skill who could also get to the heart of a subject with relative brevity. His biography captures the essence of Aquinas, perhaps the most complex thinker who ever lived, an all but impossible task. Read this biography together with Chesterton's bio of Saint Francis over a weekend. You will come away much wiser about the human condition than when you began.
Rating: 
Summary: Obfuscation
Review: G.K. Chesterton writes like the gifted Englishman that he is. The trouble here is that he is so enamoured with his conversion to Catholicism and the blessing of his linguistic forte and cleverness that he obfuscates the essential Aquinas. He only adds to the complexity in understanding how this gifted philosopher was such a heavy weight in the middle ages, and should be even more so now. If you seek the essential Aquinas, avoid Chesterton unless you also like to be charmed by clever but complex writing.
Rating:
Summary: Obfuscation
Review: G.K. Chesterton writes like the gifted Englishman that he is. The trouble here is that he is so enamoured with his conversion to Catholicism and the blessing of his linguistic forte and cleverness that he obfuscates the essential Aquinas. He only adds to the complexity in understanding how this gifted philosopher was such a heavy weight in the middle ages, and should be even more so now. If you seek the essential Aquinas, avoid Chesterton unless you also like to be charmed by clever but complex writing.
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