• Surprised by Joy

  • The Shape of My Early Life
  • By: C. S. Lewis
  • Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
  • Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (3,416 ratings)

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Surprised by Joy  By  cover art

Surprised by Joy

By: C. S. Lewis
Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
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Publisher's summary

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

What listeners say about Surprised by Joy

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it was really dull.

it was really dull I'm not exactly sure what I expected but this was a struggle to finish. I feel like Lewis rambled endlessly on without culminating into any definable point.

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Surprised by Drab

I was excited to read a story about someone who is so respected in theological circles. I was disappointed at how draggy the story seemed, although well-written. Not an easy one for a weekend read. I will have to take it up another time when I am feeling more patient

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Love! Love! Love!

Absolutely love this book! I’ve listen to it 4 times now and I enjoy it more and more!

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An intellectuals journey to Christian faith through intellect

As always, CS Lewis is a delight to listen to. This book is a fascinating story of an intellectual journey through numerous phases and in dialogue with men of very exceptional intellect. Because Lewis is so well read, some of the brilliant writings that he refers to I have never experienced, leaving me missing a little bit. But those are scattered enough that the straightforward presentation of his story is really captivating and instructive. If you are a highly educated, highly intellectual person, this book will be even better for you than it was for me.

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Surprised by Joy

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

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Surprised by the honesty of C.S. Lewis in “Surprised by Joy.”

I was surprised and intrigued by the honesty and the vivid picture of life in Pre-WWI Great Britain that C.S. Lewis painted with words.

I believe the relationship with his earthly Father was the most interesting to me. The challenges he experienced in communicating with his Father are similar to challenges I experience in communicating with my earthly Father. I believe I learned some important lessons from his stories that I believe will help me practice the art of listening more with my children and dictating less.

I was also not expecting the way he told the story about his relationship with his Heavenly Father who pursued him using the visual example of moves by a worthy opponent during a challenging game of Chess. His honest determination to resist and prevent the final capture is very similar to my resistance to prevent being captured by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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Deep and thought-provoking

I listened to this book because I am chasing after joy. But this is not a how-to book. This is a deep and thought-provoking book. It leads the reader to stop and ponder, to consider, to contemplate. Such a refreshing change from a how-to book.

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The shaping of a wonderful intellect and imagination well described.

The subject matter is extremely interesting. You are let in for a front row seat at the making of a great mind, and also a fascinating period of history in a fascinating period of time, as if that wasn’t enough. I think it’s value as an autobiography is very limited, but then autobiographies aren’t very valuable, so we don’t lose much.

If nothing else, this book has been for me a treasure map that leads almost infallibly to good authors. Picking out the allusions and tracking them down has been incredibly fun and has payed dividends in excellent literature(my favorite currency).

As far as the spiritual journey and the search for joy, I am definitely one of the people Lewis describes as responding with, “What? You’ve felt that too? I always thought I was the only one.” I had no idea until I read this book that there was a whole world of people and books that dealt with exactly this kinds of things that have always moved me most.

It’s also fascinating to read about life in that transitional time when the world was being industrialized and so much was changing. We hear about classes of people that don’t exist anymore, and relations between people that are no longer experienced by anyone in the west.

As to the writing, it’s some of the finest. It’s the best (in my opinion) of C.S. Lewis, who definitely got better with age, and wrote best latest in his life. This is a direct result of the fact that he viewed writing as a craft, something you could improve in, and not as an inspired gift that some people have and some people don’t.

The narrator is one of my all time favorites and does a wonderful job. He is a true professional.

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Surprised by Surprised by Joy.

First of all, the narrator was spot on.
It felt like listening to Lewis himself.

This was like going for a swim to make a journey. At first it’s just wading but it keeps getting deeper and deeper until at last I was barely keeping my head above water. So many literary and philosophical references!!! But Lewis was telling the story of his journey to Christ and all that reading and the discussions he had with colleagues and contemporaries are part of it.

I feel I have so much reading to do.

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so good I had to listen to it 3 times!

The reader does a fantastic job and C.S. Lewis is a brilliant writer. Full of valuable content.

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