The Reading Life: The Joy of Seeing New Worlds Through Others’ Eyes

by C.S. Lewis

How to Read provides guidance and reflections on the love and enjoyment of books. Engaging and enlightening, this well-rounded collection includes Lewis’ reflections on science fiction, why children’s literature is for readers of all ages, and why we should read two old books for every new one.

C. S. Lewis continues to speak to readers thanks to not only his intellectual insights on Christianity but also his wondrous creative works and deep reflections on the literature that impacted his life. Beloved for his teaching novels like Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, and The Chronicles of Narnia as well as his narrative books that explored theology and Christian life, Lewis was a long-time writer and lover of books of every kind.

Cultivated from his many essays, articles, letters, as well as his classic works, How to Read is a collection of Lewis’s writings that provides both guidance and reflections on the love and enjoyment of books. A lens into the thoughts of one of the greatest public intellectuals of our time, this collection reveals what Lewis himself loved so much about reading and what it means to learn through literature–all in one accessible volume.

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books, Essays, Christian, Classics, Writing, Literature

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 2019

About the author

Librarian 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]

Reviews

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, this felt a bit like a bait and switch. Almost half the essays are from An Experiment in Criticism. I had read all the others too.
The second half of the book is made up of short quotes from letters and works some of which were quite interesting but hardly worth the price of this book.

[Barnabas Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few people deserve our attention as brilliant readers to the degree that CS Lewis does. He was profoundly intentional, voracious, broad, deep, and constantly delighted as a reader. This little collection is wonderful selection of excerpts from on various aspects of reading. Maybe my favorite feature is that it leaves you more inspired and eager to read rather than being pretentious and discouraging.

[Linden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read C.S. Lewis's writings extensively, and he always has something to say. I am not sure why someone felt the need to release this compilation of snippets from his letters, essays, and various other works. As a reader, I saw the title and thought that it sounded interesting. I was disappointed. Many of the pieces are taken out of context, with references that are undoubtedly explained in the original, but that leave someone reading this collection confused, and some are dated ("We have all known women who remembered a novel so dimly that they had to stand for half an hour in the library skimming through it before they were certain they had once read it.") Points the editors thought significant are bolded, which I found rather patronizing. I did enjoy his reflections on why adults should read stories written for children, and decided to re-read one he mentioned, The Wind in the Willows.

[Robin Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the writings of CS Lewis, and this book gave me so many wonderful excerpts to remember, highlight, and share. Oh, how sorry I am for those who do not enjoy the reading life.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

(#partner @cslewis_official) “But in reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself. Like the night sky in the Greek poem, I see with a myriad eyes, but it is still I who see. Here, as in worship, in love, in moral action, and in knowing, I transcend myself; and am never more myself than when I do.” - C.S. Lewis.
•
The Reading Life is a wonderful new collection of excerpts from Lewis’ writings and letters all about the literary life. You don’t have to be a reader of children’s fiction or a literary critic or even a Christian to appreciate all he says about enjoying books. As you can tell from the quote above, he has the perfect things to say to readers!
•
Although I have an extensive collection of Lewis works, I feel I’ve barely scratched the surface of actually reading them. The Reading Life has already inspired me to pick up An Experiment in Criticism, which has waited patiently on my shelf for far too long.
•
The greatest value in a small gift book like this is the inspiration it provides to go back to the original source material. This would be a great springboard for book lovers new to Lewis’ work.
•
Thank you @harperonebooks @cslewis_official for the free book.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable to read. A page turners delight! Looks at the classical and newer notarary writers and thinkers and explains in moving contemporary language what a better world it is because we can see the world, through our 'readers eyes .'

[Tommy Kiedis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My own eyes are not enough for me, I will see through the eyes of others." C.S. Lewis

Determined to break out of the prison of himself, C.S. Lewis' preferred to devote seven to eight hours of reading per day. This discipline, coupled with his prolific pen, helped ensure Lewis would have many thoughts to share with fellow readers. Gratefully, David Downing and Michael Maudlin have collected and arranged them in The Reading Life: The Joy of Seeing New Worlds Through Other's Eyes..

This collection is a treat. It is easy to digest, but not simplistic! The book is divided into two parts. In Part One, we are treated to Lewis' thoughts "On The Art And Joy Of Reading." Part Two is a collection of essays, "Short Readings On Reading." There is so much to enjoy and so much to share.

"Why do we read?" Lewis writes:

"We want to see with other eyes, to imagine with other imaginations, to feel with other hearts, as well as with our own. . . . We demand windows. Literature as Logos is a series of windows, even of doors. One of the things we feel after reading a great work is 'I have got out'. Or from another point of view, 'I have got in'; pierced the shell of some other monad and discovered what it is like inside." 4

Reading takes us to new places. It broadens horizons, it makes and shapes us. About an unliterary friend, Lewis writes:

He may be full of goodness and good sense but he inhabits a tiny world. In it, we should be suffocated. The man who is contented to be only himself, and therefore less a self, is in prison. My own eyes are not enough for me. I will see through those of others. (italics the reviewer's). But in reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself. 8-9

Helpful thoughts on reading:

1. Mortimer Adler: "In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you." xii
2. On reading a work twice: "The majority never read anything twice. The sure mark of an unliterary man is that he considers 'I've read it already' to be a conclusive argument against reading a work." 11
3. On children's stories: "I am almost inclined to set it up as a canon that a children's sstory which is enjyed only by children is a bad children's story." 17
4. The true aim of literary studies: "The true aim of literary studies is to lift the student out of his provincialism by making him 'the spectator', if not of all, yet of much, 'time and existence'". Lewis, 29
5. On reading new books: "It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between." Lewis, 45
6. On the influence of George MacDonald: "I have never concealed the fact that I regarded [George MacDonald] as my master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him." Lewis, 70
7. On writing: "I write on the chance that some others may feel the same and in the hope that I may help them to clarify their own sensations." Lewis, 76
8. On mapping and marking books: See page 158.
9. On the value of myth: "The value of the myth is that it takes all the things we know and restores them the rich significance which has been hidden by 'the veil of familiarity'." Lewis, 110
10. On being free to skip: "It is a very silly idea that in reading abook you must never 'skip'. All sensible people skip freely when they come to a chapter which they find is going to be no use to them." Lewis, 142

Lines worth remembering:
1. "When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up." C.S. Lewis (in the context of reading fairy tales).
2. "There are two kinds of longing. The one is an askesis, a spiritual exercise, and the other is a disease." Lewis, 36
3. Many readers are like hobbits "who treat smoking as an art and like books which tell them what they already know." 100
4. "Clearly one must read every good book at least once every ten years." Lewis, 140

I heartily recommend The Reading Life: The Joy of Seeing New Worlds Through Other's Eyes.. Read it once, marking as you go, then journey again to revel in the insight and wisdom.

[Haley Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This definitely makes me even more eager to read Lewis' An Experiment in Criticism, as many of the quotes were taken from those essays.
I enjoyed a lot of the quotes in here, even if I disagree with his sentiments on Dumas,
and his idea that if you love a book you will read it every 10 years,
and the fact he said you could skip chapters.

but other than that, good book of quotes.

"When one has read a book, I think there is nothing so nice as discussing it with someone else, even though it sometimes produces rather fierce arguments."

"What is the point of keeping in touch with the contemporary scene? Why should one read authors one doesn't like because they happen to be alive at the same time as oneself? One might as well read everyone who had the same job or the same colored hair, or the same income, or the same chest measurements, as far as I can see."

"I tried to read... the Three Musketeers, but not only got tired but also found it disgusting... I don't think there is a single passage to show that Dumas had ever seen a cloud, a road, or a tree."

"If only one had time to read a little more: we either get shallow &broad or narrow and deep."

"A good shoe is a shoe you don't notice. Good reading becomes possible when you need not consciously think about eyes, or light, or print, or spelling."

[Justin Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this book last night compiled by my friend David Downing from Lewis's letters, essays, books on literary criticism, and other works. I was reminded of when I first read C.S.Lewis, how powerful music, literature, and art is, rich conversations, connections, and memories I have made in Oxford, and the mountains of North Carolina because of Lewis's influence, and how all good things in this life reflect the glory, beauty, and agape love of The Great Artist. I highly recommend it.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything, or nearly everything, C. S. Lewis had to say about reading in one volume. Yes, a lot of these essays and commentaries on the life of a reader can be found elsewhere, but compiled into a single book makes an excellent gift. Sometimes I don't want to read through the entirety of Lewis' other works, I simply want to dwell on the commonalities of all readers, and this book fulfills that. In The Reading Life are discussions on the physicality of books, the marks of a true literary person, and "verbicide," or the murder of words. There are also personal peaks into Lewis' daily schedule as a reader and his method of making "maps" of his books as he was reading them. It would be a lovely introduction for someone who already loves reading, but maybe hasn't tried any C. S. Lewis yet. The talent of this man to express everything he had to say so logically and articulately, even on the simple subject of reading, is simultaneously candid as well as hilariously blunt.

[Jena Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

For many of us in 2019, Mr. Lewis may seem to be a daunting and iconic towering figure of literature. Although you may know of his works of fantasy, Christian thought, or literary essays, I suspect that many of us today might react to his name with a shrug. “Oh, his work is too deep for me; I can’t understand him.”

I suggest you take some time for yourself, for your soul, and give The Reading Life a try. This is a book to take to your garden. As you enjoy the sun, a light breeze, chirping birds, and pretty flowers, relax and fill yourself with the sublime words of C.S. Lewis.

Mr. Lewis wrote over 30 works and was a literary professor, but most of all, he loved the reading life. This book has two main parts. The first part features essays and excerpts by Mr. Lewis “On the Art and Joy of Reading”. The selected essays are a good introduction to Lewis. The second part features “Short Readings on Reading.” This section features small bites of his pithy prose.

Mr. Lewis tells us that “he grew up in a sea of books.” He makes a case for reading the old classics. By doing this, we are going back to foundational writings, the source, so we can determine the meaning for ourselves. In another essay he gives us a way to determine if we are a true reader. You may be surprised to learn that he approved of reading books for pleasure!

I read the entire book from beginning to end, in preparation for this review. But this is a book I will cherish, and I will enjoy “dipping in” into it to reread parts of it over and over. I recommend that you give yourself the pleasure and delight of getting to know Mr. Lewis. If you already familiar with his works, this book will be like chatting with a good friend. Please consider giving this book to your family and friends who are readers.

Thanks to the editors of this book, David C. Downing, Codirector of the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College and Michael G. Maudlin, Senior Vice President and Executive Editor, HarperOne. Many thanks to HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers for the lovely hardback book review copy. This is my honest review.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some really good essays on reading and re-reading a bit more thoughtfully ... the important thing is to read for pleasure!

[Tom Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

No, he didn't actually write it. Yes, he did. And what it reveals is a man who loved words, who saw in them the power to move men and enough beauty to make you weep. You do not understand such things as you find here unless you have spent decades reading. You do not write them unless you have spent decades writing. Yet there is profit here even for the immature reader. It will open a door and show him a glimpse of all that may yet belong to him in time to come.

On a personal level, I was delighted to see he likes old books better than new ones, and all books better than their movies. And tea. And long walks. I'm starting to wonder if I am Lewis reincarnated...

[Robin Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book to increase your appetite for the reading life. Lewis has a way with words. And I enjoyed reading his thoughts about books. Here are a few of my favorites:
~ “But literary people are always looking for leisure and silence in which to read and do so with their whole attention. When they are denied such attentive and undisturbed reading even for a few days they feel impoverished.”
~ “Thirdly, the first reading of some literary work is often, to the literary, an experience so momentous that only experiences of love, religion, or bereavement can furnish a standard of comparison. Their whole consciousness is changed. They have become what they were not before.”
~ “We all, therefore, need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books.”
~ “Clearly one must read every good book at least once every ten years.”
~ “I’ve been reading Pride and Prejudice on and off all my life and it doesn’t wear out a bit.”
I mean, need I say more about this man’s thoughts! Oh, how I relate! An extra bonus in the appendix is a list of journaling exercises on the reading life. I found these fun to work through. Enjoy!

[Sara Mateo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirada en seguir en este camino de lectura y el increíble mundo de las historias y el conocimiento que un libro puede darte.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of CS Lewis’ numerous writings about books and reading. He was one of the best-read men of his generation and a man who apparently remembered everything he read, and is therefore in a great position to give useful advice.

Lewis stresses the importance of reading old books to counter our inclination toward “chronological snobbery,” and extolls the value of re-reading great books (he says ten, twenty or even thirty times!). Above all, he recommends reading books for pleasure.

Many of the excerpts taken from CSL’s books were already familiar to me, but also included here are reviews and passages from letters he wrote, and reviews/comments on George MacDonald, Tolkien, Dante, Tolstoy, Austen, and others.

[Lizzy Brannan · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one…and I mean NO ONE…can describe what you could not put into words like C.S. Lewis. I do believe that to enjoy this book you have to be a fan of his. It’s a book of essay and criticism snippets. Many of them I recognized and understood them in context of the original. Others, I was ready to buy the books from which they came. This is not necessarily a book to read from cover to cover, although you could - and I did binge some of it because his wisdom is so rich and divine. It’s one to supplement a good book or a day-to-day-thoughts read - a coffee table book, even. The ending is full of 9 journaling prompts which take you on your own personal literary journey, causing you to think about what you read and why; or what books had the greatest impact on you as a child. I devoured these prompts in a day and now am changed having learned more about myself.

[Ana Avila · Rating 4 out of 5]

¿3.5? ¿3.75? No sé.

C. S. Lewis es C. S. Lewis. Disfruto mucho de sus insights. Hay muchas frases buenísimas que me dejan pensando y otras que le ponen palabras a cosas que nunca había podido expresar.

Esta es una colección de ensayos y fragmentos sobre libros y la vida de lectura. Pero me quedé con ganas de más. Quiero un libro entero, no pedacitos por aquí y por allá.

Me gustó la idea de los ejercicios para reflexionar al final del libro.

[Alex & Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 2/3 of the book were okay but the last third of this book was pure gold.

Part 3 has a ton of wonderful quotes about advice for reading books. The book also ends with some interesting and thoughtful journaling/reflection exercises.

Recommend this book for book lovers and CS Lewis fans.

[Jim Teggelaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.S. Lewis on reading. That is like Sinatra on singing or Jordan on basketball... only better.

[Libby Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delightful bedside read. With a great mix of longer essays and personal letter excerpts, this collection of C.S. Lewis’s thoughts on “the reading life” is sure to delight any adult bookworm.

There are specific critiques on a handful of literary works (Tolkien, Dante, Tolstoy, and Jane Austen to name a few). But plenty of short statements that carry a punch and get your mind to look at the reading experience differently from what you have before.

I really enjoyed marking this up and having time to reflect on my own lifelong reading experience.

[Katrina Van Grouw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listen to the audiobook, which I would not recommend since it feels a little bit disjointed since much of this book is made up of a quote collection. However, I think there was two or three main essays in this book that were fantastic. I especially love the beginning, when Lewis spoke about what reading allows us to experience and how it’s the best way to understand different points of view and live many lives all in one. He is able to so concisely express himself and speaks with eloquence about how we should read children’s books even as adults. I think my favorite takeaway was his whole idea of “growing, not replacing”. Lewis makes the point that when a person grows, they add to themselves, not necessarily replacing. That means that they are able to appreciate adult literature without giving up the children’s literature they loved. He also argues that the most adult thing one can do is be rid of the fear of being childish, and still keep that wonder and creativity children naturally have. Love love love his outlook, and I agree that reading is one of the best ways to be a well educated, well rounded and overall more empathetic and intelligent person.

[Sam Crosbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives great insight into Lewis’s view on literature and his personal love of books. Lewis argues his points for the value of all reading well and makes you want to do just that. Last third of the book is a bit choppy and not so enjoyable to read as it is a collection of very brief quotes.

[Grecia Astrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Qué maravilla! Amigas, si han de hacerme caso con una recomendación de libros de señoros, que sea esta.
C. S. Lewis habla de la lectura como si no se pudiera hablar de otra cosa ante los problemas del mundo, que no, no deberíamos hablar de muchas cosas más.
Además, este libro es un testimonio de las formas de leer en épocas fachas, así que bueno, vale la pena leerlo ahora mismo.

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful in terms of how reading can benefit our understanding of the real world as we see it through others’ eyes. One of my favorite lines I discovered was “read good books not to get through them, but so they get through you.”

[Christine Norvell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for beginners new to Lewis. Downing has captured the best of excerpts, making this an easy read. Lewis advises us to "read one old one [book] to every three new ones," which I think applies to our literary reading as well. Old or new to you, Lewis's essays are refreshing.

[Erik Rostad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, quick book containing all the awesome things my favorite author ever said about reading. Not sure it gets much better than that.

[Gideon Yutzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating rule to read three old books for every one new book. Also, the part about when you read good writing it's like wearing good shoes: you don't notice anything, ie, it's unobtrusive.

[Stephanie Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. A collection of excerpts from his other published books, but lots of them are lesser-known things.

[Zachary Cowie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of Lewis’ writings concerning reading. If you enjoy fantasy and fairy tales, you will likely enjoy this.