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Surprised by Joy / The Four Loves
C.S. Lewis was an unfailingly honest and acutely perceptive observer of humanity. In Surprised by Joy, he recounts his search for joy, a spiritual journey that led him from a traditional Christian childhood in Belfast to a youthful atheism and, finally, back to a confident Christianity. The Four Loves, a candid, wise and deeply personal book, is a reflection on the four basic kinds of human love—affection, friendship, erotic love, charity—and all of the pleasures and risks that accompany them.
C.S. Lewis (1898–1963) gained international renown for an impressive array of beloved works of both popular and scholarly literary criticism, children’s literature, fantasy literature, and numerous books on theology. Surprised by Joy and The Four Loves are among his most celebrated achievements, as are Out of the Silent Planet, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Screwtape Letters.
C.S. Lewis (1898–1963) gained international renown for an impressive array of beloved works of both popular and scholarly literary criticism, children’s literature, fantasy literature, and numerous books on theology. Surprised by Joy and The Four Loves are among his most celebrated achievements, as are Out of the Silent Planet, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Screwtape Letters.
332 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2011
29 people are currently reading
894 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Lewis
1,035 books48.1k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 29, 2025
i’ve read the four loves before, but this was my first time through surprised by joy. it was marvelous. i love the way he looks at the world. the way he told his story through the lens of Joy is beautiful and compelling.
March 13, 2017
I wish I could describe accurately the enormous pleasure and insight this two books by C. S. Lewis had given to me....
But, dear good reads family, let me begin by saying that this review include and encompass actually two books!!!
So, do you hear me?
I said and repeat two books, namely:
(1) surprised by joy.
(2) the four loves.
First, "surprised by joy" dealt with C. S. Lewis life, and describes his development from an atheist to become a Christian. Here Lewis writes about his surroundings, family and his experiences....
How he grew up, went to participate at WW 1, and his education as a don at Oxford!!
The writing itself is classic C. S. Lewis, with his sharp rhetoric, and exquisite sense for humour.
Fluently written and marvellous catching and gripping; he creates indeed a world that invites you to emerge and be saturated in it....
I love this book, people, and I've learn a lot of it. At the same time it has motivated me enormously.
I don't want to tell any details, discover for yourself the treasures hidden deep between his testimony....
You wont regret it!!!
I promise.
In "the four loves" Lewis focus on affection, friendship, Eros and charity!!!
Beautiful written, he develops and describes as a master storyteller the differences between them, and let you see with a totally new light....
I never before have read a book like this. What Lewis tells us about friendship has opened my eyes.
Then his soughs about Eros are grandiose.
The ending with charity will let you amazed and stunned!!!
Please, read it, don't let this treasure escape your awareness....
I'll give with my whole heart 5 stars to both of them.
Wonderfully written and dropping with wit and insight.
Dean:)
But, dear good reads family, let me begin by saying that this review include and encompass actually two books!!!
So, do you hear me?
I said and repeat two books, namely:
(1) surprised by joy.
(2) the four loves.
First, "surprised by joy" dealt with C. S. Lewis life, and describes his development from an atheist to become a Christian. Here Lewis writes about his surroundings, family and his experiences....
How he grew up, went to participate at WW 1, and his education as a don at Oxford!!
The writing itself is classic C. S. Lewis, with his sharp rhetoric, and exquisite sense for humour.
Fluently written and marvellous catching and gripping; he creates indeed a world that invites you to emerge and be saturated in it....
I love this book, people, and I've learn a lot of it. At the same time it has motivated me enormously.
I don't want to tell any details, discover for yourself the treasures hidden deep between his testimony....
You wont regret it!!!
I promise.
In "the four loves" Lewis focus on affection, friendship, Eros and charity!!!
Beautiful written, he develops and describes as a master storyteller the differences between them, and let you see with a totally new light....
I never before have read a book like this. What Lewis tells us about friendship has opened my eyes.
Then his soughs about Eros are grandiose.
The ending with charity will let you amazed and stunned!!!
Please, read it, don't let this treasure escape your awareness....
I'll give with my whole heart 5 stars to both of them.
Wonderfully written and dropping with wit and insight.
Dean:)
Read
September 1, 2012I've been transfixed, delighted, challenged and illuminated by C.S. Lewis since I read the Narnia books as a kid. My only caveat with this book would be that he was a man of his place and time with some of the prejudices of that place in time.
But in the end you cannot fault his honesty, the depth of his self-examination or his faith. He is proof, like Paul, that a good Christian is a thinking Christian if he or she strives to apply that rigor with love and honesty without self pity or pride to inward as well as outward things.
But in the end you cannot fault his honesty, the depth of his self-examination or his faith. He is proof, like Paul, that a good Christian is a thinking Christian if he or she strives to apply that rigor with love and honesty without self pity or pride to inward as well as outward things.
Read
April 10, 2025Really love the design of this book and the pairing of these two works together. They complement each other beautifully and thematically, with several concepts in The Four Loves referring back to or elaborating on ones introduced in Surprised by Joy.
September 30, 2024
Okay hear me out! I love C.S. Lewis but this was a STRUGGLE for me to get through. I think Suprised by joy is a 2.5 for me and The Four Loves is a solid 4!! So anyways great wisdom just a tough read
June 29, 2025
Surprised by Joy – The Shape of My Early Life by CS Lewis author of Mere Christianity http://realini.blogspot.com/2015/02/m... and other splendid masterpieces
10 out of 10
Andrei Plesu is our greatest and most amusing luminary http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/01/e... he shares with CS Lewis a serene, profound, solid belief in God, the former quotes the latter in his lectures and public speeches, and from one of them I have taken the recommendation for Surprised by Joy, though I had had the chance to be familiar with CS Lewis, first through The Screwtape Letters and then with The Problem of Pain and other books by the same religious don, portrayed in a film about part of his life by Anthony Hopkins…
He is such a magnificent intellectual – and this opus confirms it again – that the strength of his faith has the effect of shaking my disbelief, I do not go as far as to say Ecce Homo, voila, I see God, or at least I am Surprised by Joy, and experience the coveted epiphany, but at the very least, religion does not seem so much ‘the opium of masses’, the hobby of millions of evangelicals that vote with Trump (hence the temptation to say believer equals eejit) but a very serious idea, and in some ways, I wish I follow the author’s path
There is quite a lot of material that not only denies the existence of the ‘Great Sculptor and Colorist’, but explains his vile influence…The Psychological Effects of Religion http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/04/p... by the ultimate expert on self-esteem, Nathaniel Branden, concludes that religion is devastating, with its insistence that there is a heaven, or hell waiting at the end of this (others say only) life will prompt most practitioners to miss a lot…
On the other hand, Surprised by Joy might just demonstrate the contrary – ‘Joy is distinct not only from pleasure in general but even from aesthetic pleasure…It must have the stab, the pang, the inconsolable longing…"- the fact that, at least for the lucky few, or many, the belief in a Supreme Being could be the conduit through which they reach Joy, Ataraxia, serenity (now, as Frank Constanza shouts in Seinfeld)
There are arguments for the existence of God – some of them have been ‘explained’, or just mentioned in works by CS Lewis http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/08/t... with insistence on ‘Free Will’, the key to accepting the concept of an Almighty, magnanimous Supreme Being that ‘allows’ so much pain, suffering, injustice, it is because he had not made (in that religious version) a world with automatons, humans that have no will, just act like puppets, and therefore they act atrociously sometimes, or very often, it is not because God does not have the power or the will
The Anselm ‘demonstration’ attracts me, the thought that God is perfection, and we find that in our minds, and for perfection to exist, then God must also be extant, however limited this argument can be, there is also the watch – if you find a watch in the desert, you do not assume that it just created itself, there was a big bang, you know it was an Intelligent Creator, without having to meet him in person…
When Ricky Gervais, Louis CK http://realini.blogspot.com/2018/03/l... and other comedians take on God and religion, it is amusing, and most often they make good points, such as when Gervais laughs at the billions of creatures to be packed on the Arc of Noah, or CK reads from the bible, the passage on the fig that could not provide Jesus with figs, since it was not the season, and then the alleged Son of God is so upset that he curses the tree and this one…just dies…
Indeed, CS Lewis himself writes that ‘you either believe that Jesus is the Son of god, or else, he was the biggest fraud’ or words to that effect, the author had clearly not met Donald Trump, the ultimate Confidence Man, Jesus does strike one as ‘genuine’ on some levels (or all), but there are strange aspects, satirized in Monty Python’s Life of Brian http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/03/m...
The most respected expert on religion seems to be Karen Armstrong http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/08/t... and in her books, she writes that when the Bible, scriptures were written, people believed in myths, did not take things literally, the creationists, those who insist that the earth is just five thousand years old or whatever number the holy book proposes, the world was created in seven days, and take everything else verbatim, do more harm to religion that atheists and others, because we need to look at the symbols, metaphors
Since we talk about Surprised by Joy, then we need to look at “Happiness Activity No 11: Practicing Religion and Spirituality- becoming more involved in your church, temple or mosque or reading and pondering spiritually themed books” from the marvelous The How of Happiness http://realini.blogspot.com/2014/07/t... by Sonja Lyubomirsky, who argues that Religion (and spirituality) help boost our Joy, she is a glorious psychologist and she knows, and there is logic in there – people congregate for service, they feel the support of the community, they can also rely on God, at least He is up there, virtually, for most of them – the downside in Nathaniel Branden’s view is that this can act as a permanent, damaging, all powerful threat and pain, a torture for many – these elements help, and if they reach that State of Grace, where they see the ‘magic of creation’, the sublime works of the Almighty, the munificence of human beings, then they can enjoy, and vote with Trump with a satisfied mind and heart, and bring about the Apocalypse…
Now for a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
10 out of 10
Andrei Plesu is our greatest and most amusing luminary http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/01/e... he shares with CS Lewis a serene, profound, solid belief in God, the former quotes the latter in his lectures and public speeches, and from one of them I have taken the recommendation for Surprised by Joy, though I had had the chance to be familiar with CS Lewis, first through The Screwtape Letters and then with The Problem of Pain and other books by the same religious don, portrayed in a film about part of his life by Anthony Hopkins…
He is such a magnificent intellectual – and this opus confirms it again – that the strength of his faith has the effect of shaking my disbelief, I do not go as far as to say Ecce Homo, voila, I see God, or at least I am Surprised by Joy, and experience the coveted epiphany, but at the very least, religion does not seem so much ‘the opium of masses’, the hobby of millions of evangelicals that vote with Trump (hence the temptation to say believer equals eejit) but a very serious idea, and in some ways, I wish I follow the author’s path
There is quite a lot of material that not only denies the existence of the ‘Great Sculptor and Colorist’, but explains his vile influence…The Psychological Effects of Religion http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/04/p... by the ultimate expert on self-esteem, Nathaniel Branden, concludes that religion is devastating, with its insistence that there is a heaven, or hell waiting at the end of this (others say only) life will prompt most practitioners to miss a lot…
On the other hand, Surprised by Joy might just demonstrate the contrary – ‘Joy is distinct not only from pleasure in general but even from aesthetic pleasure…It must have the stab, the pang, the inconsolable longing…"- the fact that, at least for the lucky few, or many, the belief in a Supreme Being could be the conduit through which they reach Joy, Ataraxia, serenity (now, as Frank Constanza shouts in Seinfeld)
There are arguments for the existence of God – some of them have been ‘explained’, or just mentioned in works by CS Lewis http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/08/t... with insistence on ‘Free Will’, the key to accepting the concept of an Almighty, magnanimous Supreme Being that ‘allows’ so much pain, suffering, injustice, it is because he had not made (in that religious version) a world with automatons, humans that have no will, just act like puppets, and therefore they act atrociously sometimes, or very often, it is not because God does not have the power or the will
The Anselm ‘demonstration’ attracts me, the thought that God is perfection, and we find that in our minds, and for perfection to exist, then God must also be extant, however limited this argument can be, there is also the watch – if you find a watch in the desert, you do not assume that it just created itself, there was a big bang, you know it was an Intelligent Creator, without having to meet him in person…
When Ricky Gervais, Louis CK http://realini.blogspot.com/2018/03/l... and other comedians take on God and religion, it is amusing, and most often they make good points, such as when Gervais laughs at the billions of creatures to be packed on the Arc of Noah, or CK reads from the bible, the passage on the fig that could not provide Jesus with figs, since it was not the season, and then the alleged Son of God is so upset that he curses the tree and this one…just dies…
Indeed, CS Lewis himself writes that ‘you either believe that Jesus is the Son of god, or else, he was the biggest fraud’ or words to that effect, the author had clearly not met Donald Trump, the ultimate Confidence Man, Jesus does strike one as ‘genuine’ on some levels (or all), but there are strange aspects, satirized in Monty Python’s Life of Brian http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/03/m...
The most respected expert on religion seems to be Karen Armstrong http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/08/t... and in her books, she writes that when the Bible, scriptures were written, people believed in myths, did not take things literally, the creationists, those who insist that the earth is just five thousand years old or whatever number the holy book proposes, the world was created in seven days, and take everything else verbatim, do more harm to religion that atheists and others, because we need to look at the symbols, metaphors
Since we talk about Surprised by Joy, then we need to look at “Happiness Activity No 11: Practicing Religion and Spirituality- becoming more involved in your church, temple or mosque or reading and pondering spiritually themed books” from the marvelous The How of Happiness http://realini.blogspot.com/2014/07/t... by Sonja Lyubomirsky, who argues that Religion (and spirituality) help boost our Joy, she is a glorious psychologist and she knows, and there is logic in there – people congregate for service, they feel the support of the community, they can also rely on God, at least He is up there, virtually, for most of them – the downside in Nathaniel Branden’s view is that this can act as a permanent, damaging, all powerful threat and pain, a torture for many – these elements help, and if they reach that State of Grace, where they see the ‘magic of creation’, the sublime works of the Almighty, the munificence of human beings, then they can enjoy, and vote with Trump with a satisfied mind and heart, and bring about the Apocalypse…
Now for a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
May 25, 2021
The greatest work of C.S. Lewis, in my opinion, is Supposed by Joy. In the first chapter Lewis prepares the reader for the oddity of this book in comparison to his other works. This book is not a fiction or an apology but a witty autobiography of sorts. I believe that this book is how Lewis always wanted to right but never thought it would create a large following. Maybe he was right, but if you are a fan of C.S. Lewis than no work will bring you closer to meeting him yourself than Surprised by Joy.
October 20, 2016
Surprised by joy was a fresh perspectivetype of writing from CS Lewis. The Four Loves had a few passages that presented themselves to me in a more clear, impactful way than the rest.
April 20, 2023
Surprised by Joy is a wonderful romp through the life of C. S. Lewis up to his conversion, and why he was "the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England." While I greatly enjoyed the overall story, Lewis is so splendid with his varied quotes and references to literary works throughout. I found my own literary world increasing by seeing the world through Lewis’ eyes. However, the story ends abruptly, and the end rushes at you like a freight train. I wish that his conversion from Theism to Christ was more deeply explained.
However, if the end rushes at you in Surprised by Joy , then the end of The Four Loves is like falling off a cliff. “And with this, where a better book would begin, mine must end.” However, in my opinion, this book is essential reading. Not all the cultural notes are as relevant today, but understanding the angelic heights of love rightly ordered and the demonic lows of love disordered will always be relevant.
However, if the end rushes at you in Surprised by Joy , then the end of The Four Loves is like falling off a cliff. “And with this, where a better book would begin, mine must end.” However, in my opinion, this book is essential reading. Not all the cultural notes are as relevant today, but understanding the angelic heights of love rightly ordered and the demonic lows of love disordered will always be relevant.
September 17, 2021
الكاتب برى الله من خلال مخلوقاته ، فهو يحب الطبيعة ويتفنن في وصفها بل ويتغزل فيها ويراها مظاهر تتجلى فيها قدرة وقوة وعظمة الله تعالى ، وايضا مظهر من مظاهر الجمال الالهي ، ويرى اننا يجب ان نستمتع بتلك الطبيعة الجميلة ونحافظ عليها ونرعاها ونحبها كما لو كنا منهه وهي منا ، وبقدر حبنا لها واندماجنا فيها وكل ما عليها من مخلوقات نقترب من الله خطوة ، فهو كمن يقولون بمبدأ " وحدة الوجود " مثل الفلاسفة والمتصوفة ، ويبدو لي انني سمعته يقول بين السطور أو على هامش الصفحات " ها قد اصبح قلبي قابلا كل صورة ، فمرعى لغزلان ودير لرهبان وكعبة طائف وألواح توراة ومصحف لقرآن ، أدين بدين الحب أنى توجهت ركائبه فالحب ديني وايماني ، "
March 28, 2022
C.S. Lewis is a genius. The Four Loves is definitely my favorite book by him so far. It was so thought provoking and deep, I'm thinking about rereading it again. It's one of those books that follows you long after you've read it. Surprised by Joy was also really good. A story about Lewis becoming Christian. It also tied in perfectly with his other books because once you know a little of his past, you realize how much God changed him and you can clearly see that change in what he writes. If you haven't read these already please do, you won't regret it. But you might have to keep a dictionary close... I definitely had to.
January 9, 2025
Something of an autobiography of C.S. Lewis, strongly oriented around his conversion to Christianity. A lot of the themes and ideas in Mere Christianity are evident here. It’s a short book with lots of references to classical texts (he spent an incredible amount of time reading mythology, philosophy and poetry, most of it in the original languages). You will probably get more out of this book the more background you have on those texts. One thing that struck me was he had to overcome a type of intellectual snobbery that the modern moods, customs and outlook are not necessarily correct just because they were prominent in his day.
February 1, 2018
One of the best. One of my favorites.
The best way to write about yourself, in
my opinion: far better than strict autobiography
or meandering memoir.
Pick a through-line, a theme, a thread that
the main events of your life can be strung on,
that leads the reader to God's work in your life
most concisely. This is exactly what Lewis does
here so well.
The best way to write about yourself, in
my opinion: far better than strict autobiography
or meandering memoir.
Pick a through-line, a theme, a thread that
the main events of your life can be strung on,
that leads the reader to God's work in your life
most concisely. This is exactly what Lewis does
here so well.
August 20, 2019
I love the way that C.S. Lewis writes, and some quotes from this book really touched me. In fact, I now have "to love at all is to be vulnerable" tattooed on me. That being said, it definitely isn't perfect.
to-buy
July 20, 2019On Mary Karr’s list of memoirs in Art of Memoir
March 22, 2020
Important read.
December 30, 2022
Solid book, but it gets a bit tedious and wordy the longer you read.
January 6, 2024
Surprised by Joy is an important book for pastors to read so we can remember that everyone is on a spiritual journey. We have the honor of helping them along the way. God is in charge.
July 20, 2025
I've always found C.S. Lewis difficult to read. Highly quotable, but a complex read. And I consider myself complex!
October 17, 2013
The memoirs of CS Lewis as told in Surprised by Joy provide an understanding the people and places from his childhood that one can see impacts his fictional writing. Two themes that reoccur through his life involve reading the value of friendships. Lewis' early experience of joy sends him on a quest through his later years to find joy again... bringing him to faith in God.
The Four Loves is a natural pairing with his memoirs. I found Lewis' thought process to be quite rambling, with many a 'bird walk'. He attempts to theologically explain the concept of love. He divides love into “gift love” (i.e. working to support family), “need love” (i.e. child running to parent for comfort – note this love is not selfish) and “appreciative love” (i.e. worship for a hero or for God)
The Four Loves is a natural pairing with his memoirs. I found Lewis' thought process to be quite rambling, with many a 'bird walk'. He attempts to theologically explain the concept of love. He divides love into “gift love” (i.e. working to support family), “need love” (i.e. child running to parent for comfort – note this love is not selfish) and “appreciative love” (i.e. worship for a hero or for God)
January 29, 2016
As with everything I've read by Lewis, there were many moments of such beautifully expressed clarity that really smacked of truth. But more than anything else I've read of his, The Four Loves had so many insufferable descriptions of women that I wanted to put the book down many times. It was infuriating that almost every time he talked about my sex, it was in context of stupidity, frivolity, pettiness, vanity, or just plain foolishness. Oh the other hand, every desirable or Christian trait was framed in masculinity and masculine pronouns. That HUGE roadblock aside, there was some fascinating philosophizing on "the natural loves".
February 24, 2015
The biography was thorough and interesting though his obvious love of understanding and explaining all his changes in his system of beliefs were tiresome at times, I was surprised many times on how he saw and interpreted the world of his youth.
The Four Loves is something I wish I had read earlier for in defines precisely how love seems to work on this world and how it points us to the love of God.
The Four Loves is something I wish I had read earlier for in defines precisely how love seems to work on this world and how it points us to the love of God.
January 1, 2015
Slow, but an interesting read. I liked reading about Lewis's spiritual journey and the connections he made to his readings on mythology. The Four Loves was based much more on religion than psychology like I originally thought, which I guess shouldn't have been a surprise, but it was still an interesting book.
Want to read
October 30, 2016Another attempt at both books would be beneficial for me. What I'm gathering from reading the beginning of The Four Loves is that there are different types of love. I'm not remembering what I read in Surprised by Joy.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews