Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11147 in Books
• Published on: 1998-05-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Synopsis
This autobiography of C.S.Lewis's early life, focusing on the spiritual crisis which was to determine the shape of his entire life, now repackaged and rebranded as a key title in the C.S. Lewis Signature Classics range. "In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God...perhaps the most dejeced and reluctant convert in all England." Thus C.S. Lewis describes memorably the crisis of his conversion in his famous autobiography. Lewis was for many years an atheist, and in Surprised by Joy he vividly describes the spiritual quest which eventually convinced him of the truth and reality of the Christian faith.

Customer Reviews

Good autobiography, but little about conversion
I was informed, by reviews of the book, that this would chart his conversion from atheism to Christianity. I was, instead, surprised to read a good autobiography about him, with a great deal of reference to what Lewis calls 'stabs of Joy'. The the last few pages chronicled in lightning speed how he went from atheism, to theism, and then to believing that Christ was the son of God. I'd have liked to read more about his philosophical musings on why Christianity is a valid, and true religion. But nevertheless, it was an entertaining read, and provided a good sight into Lewis' character.

Not the greatest sinner...
I came to this book with the knowledge that C.S.Lewis regarded himself as a sinner against God and a heretic until he was re-christianized and again became devote. This book should tell me that story. - But although not even the slightest sin can be acceptable in the eyes of God if you do not repent I must say that I felt that Lewis perhaps sinned more in terms of almost bragging about the lesser sins...

Well, perhaps not. But the most important sin referred to in the book is that Lewis was indifferent of Christ. That is of course a major problem and one that the Scriptures is dead set against. The JOY that Lewis refers to is what is different from indifference. JOY is the Holy Spirit coming to you at a most unexpected time. If you feel JOY then you feel the touch of God. That is what Lewis want us to see in the book and that is what was missing from him when he was an atheist. He did not feel JOY.

That said - and said loudly, for that should be known as the books theme - I was disappointed with the book. Vanity in young boy's dressing is not a major sin - it is a misunderstanding, but Lewis thinks of it as a SIN and that is boring. We know from books like "The Inklings" that Lewis had a different life from others (strange relationship with an elderly woman, strange marriage and so on). From this book I feel that Lewis had a human problem of not being able to relate to other, and it may be that the very sex-divided and oldfashioned British school system is to blame in this case.

The book is well written but apart from the fact that it is about Lewis' life he had said his most important thoughts much more convincingly in other places (see for instance Miracles).

I Found this difficult to read
I am afraid i found this difficult to read i was looking forward to reading it as the reviews were inspiring. But it reffered a lot to books i had never heard of and was very intellctual and deep for me. I did think though that he was very open and honest about his relationships with his family,his abusive school life and sex etc.