Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C.S. Lewis, C. S. Lewis (Preface by)
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(Paperback - Large Print)
- Pub. Date: March 1966
- 252pp
- Sales Rank: 14,984
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Product Details
- Pub. Date: March 1966
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Format: Paperback, 252pp
- Sales Rank: 14,984
- ISBN-13: 9780156870115
- ISBN: 0156870118
Synopsis
In this book Lewis tells of his search for joy, a spiritual journey that led him from the Christianity of his early youth into atheism and then back to Christianity.
Annotation
The autobiography of a man who thought his way to God.
More Reviews and RecommendationsBiography
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) gained international renown for an impressive array of beloved works both popular and scholarly: literary criticism, children's literature, fantasy literature, and numerous books on theology. Surprised by Joy is among his most celebrated achievements, as is Out of the Silent Planet, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, and The Four Loves.
Customer Reviews
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- Ratings: 13Reviews: 6
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Insights into the backgound of one of the Twentieth century's most important writersby Anonymous
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October 26, 2006: This book was very interesting. It would be best classified as an autobiography, but as the author notes at the beginning, it isn't a normal autobiography. The reason for that is because the book is really written about the author's search for 'joy,' and how that eventually led to him to faith in Jesus Christ. It has always been interesting to me how the individual who was probably the most vocal defender of Christianity from a logical perspective in the 20th century was an athiest before being a Christian. This book lets you see how the transformation took place. It is easy to get wrapped up in minor details of this book. For example, I did not know that C. S. Lewis was actually Irish, and not English. But he is Irish (North Irish, if that matters to you), and where he grew up had (as it always will) an affect on his thinking and beliefs early in life. I also didn't know that private English schools in the early 20th centure were hotbeds of homosexuality. It doesn't really mean much, and the author just notes that it occurred, and doesn't even pass judgement on it, but it was something that had never once crossed my mind as being possible. Stuff like that could lead you off track, but the way that the author logically works through all others ideas and in the end finds that Christianity is the only one viable is really fascinating, and is the true meat of the book. Highly recommended for C. S. Lewis fans still recommended, but not so highly, for those of you who care about the logical side of Christian faith.
Informative, Incomplete, Inspirational, and Interestingby Anonymous
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July 09, 2005: In C.S. Lewis' book, Surprised by Joy, he describes his own childhood and young adulthood experiences and maps his meandering path to conversion. C.S. Lewis is both candid and reticent at the same time. He describes many of his most personal struggles and insights, while witholding some important details from the reader, and exagerrating others. Lewis does not pretend to be an objective observer of his own life. He tells the story as he means to tell it, nothing more and nothing less. C.S. Lewis enthusiasts will proably not find this book to be joyful and uplifting, but they may find it inspiring to follow C.S. Lewis' steps from atheism to Christianity. For those who 'read to know we are not alone,' they will indeed get their wish. In Surprised by Joy, they will find a truly genuine person.
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