Surprised by Joy

The Shape of My Early Life

By: C. S. Lewis

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

In the closest thing we have to an autobiography, C. S. Lewis, an unfailingly honest and perceptive observer of self, here shares the story of his personal spiritual journey. With characteristic candor and insight, he describes how his “search for joy” led him from the conventional Christianity of his childhood to a youthful atheism, and finally back to an assured Christianity compatible with his formidable intellect. With no pretense, Lewis describes his early schooldays, his experiences in the trenches during World War I, and his undergraduate life at Oxford, where he reasoned his way to God. Lewis’ “surprise” holds continuing interest not only for admirers of his work but for any modern seeker concerned with the compatibility of the rational and the spiritual.

©1955 C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

Surprised By Joy

An excellent book. Wonderful insights into CS Lewis' life and what shaped his writing. Inspirational!

Surprised by Joy

Understanding C.S.Lewis was my goal. Knowing God is I AM is everything to know. Thanks.

The autobiography of the development of a heart

Parts of this book I find very troubling. The nonchalance with which Lewis describes the sexual abuse of his boarding school, for instance. Having recently read a lot of Lewis's books, I am seeing ideas that get worked elsewhere also appearing here: Hamlet meeting Shakespeare, the joy as longing, etc. What is most striking is that he does not spend much energy on events. Rather, his focus is on the progress of his heart. At various points, in fact, he contrasts the physical realities with the imaginative and heart developing realities, where the latter always seem more important.

It’s surprised me 

Lewis. “Surprised by joy. “ I was told it is a book about his conversion to Christianity from non belief. What I have found is an autobiographical dissection of this man’s own brain/thoughts. And he seems to be as earnest and as forthright as possible. Almost in a way that assumes there is no audience or at least one that just wants the truth and an audience that doesn’t want to make a value judgement until all has been explained. It is quite fascinating to wander through the halls of this man’s brain with him as the tour guide. Opening all sorts of doors to memories that reshaped/colored/formatted/turned his mind into the next direction or phase. Some particularly dark memories at boarding schools and others contrasting life before and after his mother died in his childhood. I would highly recommend this book.

gosto da argumentação do C.S.Lewis

como o título diz, posso nem concordar com tudo que o autor conclui, mas é sempre instigando acompanhar seu raciocínio.