Surprised by Joy

The Shape of My Early Life

By: C. S. Lewis

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins

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

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.

Beyond expectation

It is a interesting to know why people do what they do. Lewis goes to great lengths to explain his search and struggle to encounter Joy. Very intimate, very vulnerable, very stimulating. I wish I had read this earlier in my own journey.

I love C.S. Lewis!

This book was so eye opening. In telling about his journey through life I was reminded of my own. It opened my eyes and understanding to how we react to and grow through the many situations we face in life. How our thought process changes. How people we live around or come into contact with can have a profound impact in our life. My journey with Mr. Lewis through his life has changed my own. Thank you sir for sharing your story so long ago so that I could be touched with your words today.

great, as anticipated

I would want my kids to hear this biography at some point, as well.

Amusing and Intellectually Honest

I enjoyed the story especially Chapters 7 & 8. I like the comparative religion aspect too.

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.

Deep, but longer than necesssary

Would you consider the audio edition of Surprised by Joy to be better than the print version?

Yes. I never would have made it through the print version. The narrator made it somewhat easier to get through the first ten chapters to the meaty part of the book.

What did you like best about this story?

Chapter 11. That chapter was what I was looking for - encouragement and a real discussion of God's role in joy as well as the difference between true joy and anything else.

What about Ralph Cosham’s performance did you like?

He read with a beautiful and natural cadence. I have liked other narrators better, but he did justice to the book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

C.S. Lewis' journey from a depressed victim of bullying to a joyous Christian.

Any additional comments?

If you're like me and you're looking for a real explanation of joy and how and where to get it - just read chapter 11.

If you're looking for an excellent treatment of the effects of bullying at home and at school, as well as an excellent treatment of how sports, games, and other forced activities in the public school system can foster bullying, read chapters 1-10.

If you want an explanation of how war influenced the thought and spiritual life of C.S. Lewis, read chapter 12.

If you want to know what C.S. Lewis read, and thus what influenced his thought life, read the entirety of the book.

I have read other non-fiction works of C.S. Lewis that I liked better, but I will probably listen to chapter 11 again. It was worth the read for that chapter.