The Abolition of Man (Annotated)

This book is based on Lewis' lectures at University of Durham in 1943. Over 70 years on, the text describes exactly the path that we have gone down, making this book read like prophecy. This is the power of Lewis' insight which still benefits us today by illuminating the folly we are in and the "final stage" we are heading - the abolition of man! Is there still time to arrest the trend? I think not not because it's too late but because few people are warned. Perhaps we all should read this book and make an informed choice - do we really want that future for our offspring if we are lucky enough to have escaped the knife ourselves? The pressure is on to eradicate all the fundamental core values that we hold. We see our traditional values being assaulted without stirring much alarm. We reason on some of the first principles that define us as human, and human nature is the final area of "Nature" that we seek to conquer or overpower. Then who are we? Lewis argues, 'Man's conquest of Nature turns out, in the moment of its consummation, to be Nature's conquest of Man.' (p. 41) 'We have been trying like Lear, to have it both ways: to lay down our human prerogative and yet at the same time to retain it. It is impossible.' (p.43) I must say, as pointed out by Lewis, schools today play a crucial role in "conditioning" our kids and the future generation under the regulation of the state. What Lewis has argued has happened at school today, and sadly for us, we do not have a critical voice as forceful, articulate and eloquent to expose the danger of this path for everyone to see. A sober read.

This is by far the best of Lewis's work. Although it is short, it is also chock-a-bloc full of insight and wisdom, and foresight, that its sadly rather eerie to see that when he wrote this in the 1940's, todays West is what he foresaw. It is a book that everyone should read, without exception. This along with his essays 'On Ethics', 'Willing Slaves of the Welfare State', 'The Poison of Subjectivism', 'Membership', and 'The Inner Ring', are must reads, they really are. They are not at all religious, but clearly one can see where his loyalties lean. His ability to philosophize is second to none, he is perhaps one of the most underrated philosophers in the last two centuries, but with this work in particular, as numerous others on here have already said, it is somewhat of a life-changing work. It really is that pointed, and far seeing.

Very good book some of the things he predicted are already happening

A superb book, even more relevant today than when it wasn't written. I've already read 'Mere Christianity' and the Narnia and Hideous Strength books but I only came across this because of reading quotes posted on the internet and being amazed that Lewis had summed up so succinctly what I had been thinking for some time - that as a society we are currently sawing off the branch we are sitting on, by undermining traditional values and ethics without having anything solid to replace them with. This should be a required text for all school children to read. Along with Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451' and Robert Pirsig's 'Zen and the Art of Motorcyle Maintenance'

A must have for just about everyone whether persuaded by or acting against post-modernism and relativism. C.S. Lewis gives a short but masterpiece lesson on fundamental truth. Although it makes a compelling case for Christianity, it is not a Christian book per se.

In a nutshell: 5 stars for the actual content of the book, C S Lewis's text. 1 star for the appalling editing done by the company who produced this version - a lack of consistency in capitalisation and many words broken up by hyphenation on the same line, to the point that it is distracting. I suggest that those wanting to read this text for the first time find a different edition.

Actually this must be about the fifth copy I've purchased because I keep giving them away. Such a very important - and prophetic - book. Although C S Lewis is known as a Christian writer, this is more about education and the nurturing of the emotional/spiritual/"heart" of youngsters. He uses the term "men without chests" to describe the effect of education which focuses only on the mind and the body and forgets the appreciation of beauty. .

Very intellectual, a good examination of teaching English and what a statement or assertion actuall means. Lewis’ writing is top notch and super easy to read. Not really any revelatory information, but some interesting points on the societal impacts of poor education systems and the damage insidious idealogocal biases can have on the lessons being taught by teachers.

It describes the problems we face today. The things Lewis saw 50 years ago before more and more present in the mind of people. This book shows the problem with that. Should be ready by more people

Poor edition, not even the year of publication appears. No ISBN number. No Introduction, even brief, to the author. Not worth purchasing.

stevig boek

Before reading this book I thought it was impossible to get near a proof of the existence of god via literature only. I was wrong! This book proves the very existence of transcendance in our world on pure literature grounds.

I am amazed that CS Lewis saw so clearly into the future what we have in the present. I will recommend this to all my friends.