In the classic The Abolition of Man?? C.S. Lewis?? the most important Christian writer of the 20th century?? sets out to persuade his audience of the importance and relevance of universal values such as courage and honor in contemporary society. Both astonishing and prophetic?? The Abolition of Man is one of the most debated of Lewis??s extraordinary works. National Review chose it as number seven on their "est Nonfiction Books of the Twentieth Century."
Amazon.com ReviewC.S. Lewis's The Abolition of Man purports to be a book specifically about public education?? but its central concerns are broadly political?? religious?? and philosophical. In the best of the book's three essays?? "Without Chests??"Lewis trains his laser-sharp wit on a mid- century English high school text?? considering the ramifications of teaching British students to believe in idle relativism?? and to reject "e doctrine of objective value?? the belief that certain attitudes are really true?? and others really false?? to the kind of thing the universe is and the kinds of things we are."wis calls this doctrine the "Tao??"and he spends much of the book explaining why society needs a sense of objective values. The Abolition of Man speaks with astonishing freshness to contemporary debates about morality; and even if Lewis seems a bit too cranky and privileged for his arguments to be swallowed whole?? at least his articulation of values seems less ego-driven?? and therefore is more useful?? than that of current writers such as Bill Bennett and James Dobson. --Michael Joseph GrossC