Chesterton's Gateway

14 Essays to Get You Hooked on Chesterton

By: Ethan Nicolle

Narrated by: Ethan Nicolle

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.

“G.K. Chesterton was a master essayist. Why? Because he primarily wrote for the newspapers. He had to capture a reader and complete an idea in one sitting. But those thousands of throwaway essays still survive and sparkle as brightly as ever. Ethan Nicolle has provided a perfect sampling from the vast treasure.” (Dale Ahlquist, President , Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton)

©2021 Ethan Nicolle (P)2021 Ethan Nicolle

Gateway drug

I have been clamoring for an annotated Chesterton collection for as long as I have been a rabid fanboy and sometime Chesterton cosplayer. Ethan Nicole approaches the footnotes with the same lightness of heart Chesterton uses in his writing. This collection was so good, after listening through I immediately sat my wife and several dogs down on the couch and watched their faces for signs of amusement as I played 6 hours of Chesterton essays for them.

Great book!

Great introduction to a tough thinker

I’ve been listening to this on my commute and I’m struck, over and over, at how often it seems Chesterton could be speaking about our world today. The author gives a solid reading, too. Worth the price.

Amusing intro to Chesterton

Smiled and laughed to myself often through the book. Really enjoyed the footnotes and Ethan’s relatable commentary!

An introduction to the works of GK Chesterton

I’m a fan of Ethan Nicolle & was excited to read/listen to this compilation of Chesterton’s works. Chesterton is challenging to read, so this primer was perfect to get me acquainted. Ethan shares about who Chesterton was in the introduction of each chapter and why he chose that particular essay or chapter. Some of the writings are as perfectly relevant today as they were when he wrote them. Ethan Also took the time to add in the footnotes which was helpful, and at times funny. It’s an easy listen and worth while if you’ve always wondered about Chesterton.

Ethan’s excellent performance!

I liked the addition of footnotes. And Ethan’s enthusiasm for GK. And his selection of essays.

Ethan Nicolle Is A Hilarious Narrator!

I've been a big fan of Father Brown, but never really put it together about who the author was until I started listening to The Babylon Bee. Whenever Chesterton is brought up a pause occurs and an British accented voice says.. "G K. Chesterton" with an animated picture of Chesterton's face speaking the words. Ethan's love of Chesterton really comes through their podcasts which peaked my interest. Needless to say this "Gateway" to Chesterton is great! Next to discovering the wisdom and insights of Chesterton hearing Ethan's footnotes are hilarious and it's worth getting the audio version of his book for his hilarious footnotes alone! This "Gateway" has definitely made me put more Chesterton books on my list.

Footnotes are more distracting than helpful

I love Chesterton, and I love these essays, but the momentum of the essays are completely lost in the sea of footnotes. And most of them aren't helpful or add little to the value of the story, even if you don't understand what the footnote is about. And far too many of the footnotes spend up to 25 seconds stating that they tried to look up this thing is, and couldn't find anything so they have no idea. So it's like, why is the footnote there to begin with? Overall, the footnotes consume too much time for how little value they add and ruin the reading. A shame, really. The rest of it was good.

Very personal

My only commentary is that I would have liked the footnotes to have all been at the end. That way I could listen to the entire original piece, and then consume the footnotes. As it is you cannot just listen to the original piece without being interrupted constantly by the footnotes. After you’ve heard them once they’re unnecessary the second time. But you have to listen to them in any case. I just put them at the end.

Experience Joy - the Chesterton book Chesterton would have liked

This book is amazing. The depth of a great novel with the feel if a fun podcast. There are lots of books about how to read Chesterton, but i feel like this is the first one Chesterton would have enjoyed.

Ethan Nicolle has a pleasant voice (sort of a mature adult version of Kermit the Frog.) In a similar vain, the GK and Ethan duo will have you laughing and giggling and then noticing that you understand deep and beautiful ideas. If you need joy and peace and happiness in your life, you need this audiobook!

TOPS

This audiobook is perfect. Ethan is the PERFECT person to create this. He explains Chesterton’s obscure references in a hilarious and humble way. Between the humor and wit of Chesterton and the humor and humility of Ethan it’s pretty much perfect.