Not a Tame Lion: The Life, Teachings, and Legacy of C.S. Lewis

Leaders in Action

by Terry W. Glaspey

Finalist for the best biography of the year with Christian Book Awards. The life, thought, and legacy of C. S. Lewis—a Prophet for our Times One of the most brilliant minds of the twentieth century, C. S. Lewis bridged literature, philosophy, and religion. He taught at Oxford and Cambridge, all the while communicating in a clear, winsome manner that ordinary men and women could comprehend. He gave us masterpieces like The Screwtape Letters , The Chronicles of Narnia , Mere Christianity , The Problem of Pain ,   and still more. In this fascinating biographical study Not a Tame Lion , author Terry Glaspey points out that Lewis’ life was as compelling as his work. Glaspey gives readers a glimpse of the character of this extraordinarily gifted man—who believed that his sharp mind and rich imagination were to be accompanied by a sense of responsibility to the wider world. If Lewis were alive today, he would see the fruition of trends he warned against many years ago. His continued relevance is based on his understanding of the human predicament—a predicament that is intellectual and moral, as well as spiritual. Lewis points the way out of this predicament, but it’s not an easy way. It requires submission to God's authority, moral discipline, and integrity of action. Lewis shows how our lives can be lived in light of eternity and can demonstrate the hope that endures, even in these shadowlands.

Genres: Biography, Christian, Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Christianity, Religion

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

About the author

Terry Glaspey is the award-winning author of numerous books, including 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know, which won a 2017 Christianity Today Book Award and a 2017 ECPA Gold Medallion Award, as well as The Prayers of Jane Austen, Bible Basics for Everyone, Not a Tame Lion: The Spiritual Legacy of C.S. Lewis, and The Book Lover’s Guide to Great Reading. Terry is in demand as a speaker and has spoken at the C.S. Lewis World Conference in Oxford and Cambridge, Cedarville University, Veritas Seminary, New Hope College, Kilns College, The Proverbs 31 Conference, and the Seasons Conference. He has taught courses for Veritas Seminary, New Hope College, and Kilns College. Terry is a senior acquisitions editor for Harvest House Publishers and lives in Oregon. His areas of interest include writing, the arts, literature, theology, the Bible, and apologetics and enjoys sharing on such topics at a level with which everyone can engage.

Website: https://www.terryglaspey.com/

Reviews

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A general introduction to major topics in Lewis's life and work that covers many ideas in very short chapters.

The first part of the book is a small mini-biography. There's a few errors* I spotted, some things are skimmed, and some citations are lacking, but generally the material is accurate and unbiased, from what I remember.

The second part of the book discusses major themes in Lewis's work. This section moves topically, still devoting only 2-3 pages per subject. Chapters cover things like: faith and the intellect, pain, miracles, mythology, friendship, humor, subjectivism, virtue, prayer, sin, pride and humility, death, and heaven.

Part three briefly discusses Lewis's legacy, with chapters on reason, imagination, and holiness. The author appreciates how much of Lewis's writings and thought still speaks to and influences us today.

Overall, I think it's basic, but effective. The only thing that stuck out to me is a lack of discussion about poetry—a noticeable gap considering Lewis‘s love of poetry and wish to be a poet himself, early in life.

Could be a good companion to Lewis's own books, or other general introductions to Lewis, such as C.S. Lewis.

Apparently this book also goes under the title Not a Tame Lion. See here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

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*Errors:
--Pg 62: Says Joy's passport ran out in 1960. It was actually her visa, and it ran out in 1956. Any reader could see the timeline doesn't make sense, with their legal marriage and Christian marriage taking place before her death in 1960.
--Pg 67: Phrasing here makes it sound like Lewis continued to attend Inklings meetings through his last days until his death in 1963. But the Inklings meetings had stopped years before.

[BJ Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first half of this book is a short biography of CS Lewis. The second half is a topical study of Lewis' ideas and writings. It tackles traditional topics like love, death, faith & intellect, and the reality of God as well as some we wouldn't normally see in a book like this: mythology, common sense, the value of books, emotions, and homliness.

In all, there isn't much new here for someone who is pretty familiar with this most famous of Christian authors. But for those who have read things like Narnia, Screwtape, and Mere Christianity but would like to know the author behind the books this is a great place to start.

Some quotes:
"Although the heart is certainly involved in embracing and practicing our faith, it is the whole man that must come to God, and that includes our mind. Our faith in God should not be based only upon our experiences and desires, but upon a firmly held intellectual conviction that we have found the truth."

"When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up."

"A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist must be very careful of his reading. There are traps everywhere."

"Your book bill ought to be your biggest extravagence."

"The next best thing to being wise yourself, is to live in a circle of those who are."

[Brenda McDearmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Not a Tame Lion, Glaspey has written a fascinating biography of C.S. Lewis. That’s quite an undertaking because, as the title suggests, Lewis strode through life as a roaring lion, sharing insightful teachings, authoring incredible stories, and impacting countless lives. I appreciate that C.S. Lewis’s life is showcased chronologically, revealing his life experiences, transformations, studies, friends, loves, losses, and publications. The book is organized in two parts—His Life and His Thought.

There are many interesting facets about Lewis’s life that I either didn’t know or somehow forgot. One surprising tidbit I uncovered was, despite his books displaying childlike wonder, Lewis was quite uncomfortable around young children. I also enjoyed his view on a two-part faith—Faith A and Faith B. I really admire his faith and teachings, and how he wasn’t tame in anything he did.

This is an interesting read, especially for fans of his imaginative stories and tested faith.

First Line: This morning was cold and a heavy fog hovered over the damp grass.
Genre: Christian Inspirational/Devotional, Biography
Author: Terry Glaspey
Page Count: 288

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.

[Rosalind Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING book. One of my favorites.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written look into C S Lewis’s life and works. I enjoyed listening to the audio.

[Dino Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is not a tame lion! This book gave me a spiritual boost. The author used C.S Lewis’s own writing as much as possible to touch on practically every aspect of his own life and Christianity. A great starting point to learn about a great historical leader.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good! This book is written in three parts: His Life, His Thought, and His Legacy. Glaspey not only gives a biography of the man, he gives an overview of the themes of his books, essays, and letters too, demonstrating that Lewis was, in fact, a leader for our time. This book has inspired me to reread Lewis' books that I have already read and to read those books that I have waiting on my shelf.

[Winnie Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent.

[Amy Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Really the best parts of the book were just reading Lewis’s own words, especially from books of his I still need to read. This book made me even more eager to read what I have left in his backlist.

The book starts off with a quick biography and then moves into a section where the author categorizes various themes Lewis hit upon. There are some good insights but nothing gets too deep as a result. I already basically knew all the biographical info, except there was this weird reference to Lewis perhaps being romantically infatuated with Janice Moore. That unsettled me, especially seeing how long the woman lived with him, and that doesn’t jive with his character (nor would have Tolkien approved of that). I can believe he had some sort of crush on her when he first met her that he moved past that rather quickly and it remained steadfastly in the mother-son realm, but it’s not really explained this way (or at all) and just kind of made me feel weird. Not the best thing early on in this book about a man to revere.

[Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing Lewis only from his Narnia books as a kid, the Screwtape Letters, and his friendship with Tolkien, this was a great primer. The author starts off by saying how this is not a very academic work of Lewis' life and thought, but rather a starting point to get you interested in continuing your exploration of the man.
Easily-readable with short chapters and divided into three sections: his life, covering a brief biography, his thought, covering the ideas and spirituality behind his works and his legacy, the authors opinions and summary of the prior two sections. This book offers a very nice and generally informative glimpse into C.S. Lewis' life and thoughts that are great if you've no experience with those topics, though someone who has may find this book redundant.

[Devonne West · Rating 5 out of 5]

CS Lewis is one of my favorite "thinkers" as his common-sense approach/reasoning to most problems is hard to dispute. This book is an easy ready (if anything related to CS can be considered "easy") and talks about his life and then goes further than other books about CS Lewis. Glaspey approaches many different topics and from CS Lewis' own words, provides Lewis' position and his reasoning for it. Once again I found myself highlighting Lewis' quotes PLUS many add'l comments by Glaspey. Definitely worth reading if you are a CS Lewis fan.

[Vanessa Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started with a basic telling of Lewis' life story. It seemed to be well researched and the content was well written and very interesting. Throughout the book, Glaspey refers to Lewis as "Jack," a name Lewis preferred.

Unfortunately, the later chapters read more like mini Cliffs Notes versions of many of Lewis' books. So, if you've read a lot of his books but are looking to read a biography, you may be better served by choosing another book. If you're interested in reading a short biography and summaries of his works, this is the book for you.

[Dawn De Wulf · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a new fan (although I read the Chronicles of Narnia series as a child at a Christian school, and saw some of the movies), of Mr. Lewis, I purchased this book after hearing Terry Glaspey speak at a writer’s conference. It is truly an inspiring book and easily readable for a beginning C.S. Lewis reader of the adult end of the spectrum. I loved reading about the early life and conversion of Lewis and am gearing up to read more. Up next -Mere Christianity.

[Lux Bolio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life altering, can build a life on this knowledge. C.s Lewis feels like a close friend. He reminds me that human hearts beat in the same way, we are all brothers. This book brought out in me the rawest feelings, answered drilling doubts in my head, made me laugh, made me cry and made want to change my life and pray. The sort of book I’d want everyone to read at least once in their lives. Thank you Lewis

[Eric Alpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read about one of the greatest thinkers/authors of the 20th century. The book spends time recounting his life and then moves into his thoughts on various topics and legacy. The chapters are very short—three to four pages at most—which helps the book progress. I will be recommending this one for a long time.

[Ann Gemmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glaspey offers a wonderful overview of Lewis’ life and thinking. I have read more of the denser and thorough Lewis biography’s - Alistair McGrath and others - but this is a great introduction for new Lewis fans or a wonderful review for those more acquainted with his life and literary works. Highly recommend.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book blends biography and thematic reflection to illuminate C. S. Lewis’s life, faith, and enduring legacy. Through vivid life snapshots and concise explorations of key ideas—joy, myth, God, and imagination—the author presents Lewis as both storyteller and thinker, offering timeless spiritual and intellectual insights.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated the clarity and thoroughness of this excellent book. It is divided into short chapters under the headings: His Life, His Thought, His Legacy. It is useful as a reference book according to theme. I read it years ago. It hasn't lost its effectiveness.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable book about C.S. Lewis’ life and thought. The chapters are short, well-written, and thought-provoking. Having read quite a bit of Lewis’ work, but not all if it, I enjoyed fresh reminders of what I have read, and had my appetite increased to read more.

[Kathy Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.S. Lewis was an unusually exceptional man. Now that I'm reading this book, it's confirmed. Got my copy at the library, but turned it in so others can enjoy it. Bought my own so I could take my time reading it. What an inspiration! Great reference book!

[Samantha Folts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love C.S. Lewis and if you're interested in learning more about him, his life, and his beliefs, this is a great read for you. It was short, sweet and to the point, I believe. I don't normally flag the tops of pages, but this one is filled with bent corners for future highlights.

[Christine Kingston]

I loved this book. Beautifully written and a moving story

[Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
What to Expect
Combining biography and synthesis, the book features two main parts, with short chapters making up the larger sections. The first part is a biography of C.S. Lewis’s life, while the second part is a concordance of sorts, with brief discussions about individual themes discussed in the body of Lewis’ work.

The book also contains a variety of supplemental resources, including a timeline of major events in Lewis’s life, as well as a complete list of his publications.

Favorite Quotes
"Lewis believed that just as reason is the organ of truth, so imagination is the organ of meaning. And it was only the imagination that could reveal the depths of reality, moving beyond the abstractions and arguments which so entangle us… In stories, Lewis found, that the truth of the Christian gospel could best be embodied and communicated."
Terry Glaspey, p. 83

This quotation, which references Lewis’ beliefs about imagination, describes a stance with which I heartily agree.

"God’s laws are not set up merely as a test for our obedience or as a way to control us, rather they are directions for living human life to its fullest potential."
Terry Glaspey, p. 184

What a beautiful truth! This was both timely and encouraging to me, as I read part two. I thank God for that.

What I Liked
I really enjoyed the biography section of the book, and appreciated how Glaspell wove together real events from Lewis’s life, with realistic narrative. This made for a quick and enjoyable read, and I learned a lot, despite having recently read another Lewis commentary. Glaspell seamlessly integrates primary source material as well, borrowing the words of Lewis himself, as well as his friends and contemporaries.

The book was also well-crafted, in terms of organization. I was impressed that the author was able to simultaneously group together chronological events and thematic content, for the biographical section. It was really neat that he was able to draw out key ideas/themes from specific seasons in Lewis’s life. Likewise, in the second half, it was impressive that Glaspey was able to synthesize the entire body of Lewis’s work in such short, bite-sized passages. The synthesis cohesively connected quotations, while contributing context to Lewis’s words.

In terms of my favorite ideas discussed, I really liked reading about Lewis’s inspiration for writing Narnia. I cannot find the quote in the book, but I found out that Lewis wanted children to learn about God in a new way that didn’t feel dry and sterile. I also really enjoyed the beautiful discussions about heaven. As for the commentary section as a whole, I found the latter half of the book to be immensely rich and insightful.

Respectful Critique
While I blitzed through the first part of the book, I found the latter half to be quite dense. I generally enjoyed it while I was actually reading, but felt a bit hesitant about picking it up. This wasn’t because of the writing and content, but more because of the depth of the ideas, even with short overviews. I think I would recommend this more as an almost-index to Lewis’s writing, as opposed to a book that someone would just sit down and read. With that said, there are many ideas worth revisiting.

On a content-ish note, I did feel rather odd when it turned out that the phrase, “Not a tame lion,” from Narnia (a reference to Aslan), was being applied to C.S. Lewis. Perhaps, I should have anticipated this, since it was the title of the book, (honestly, I think the phrase hooked me when I was looking at titles to review) but I didn’t like that the description was being applied to a person.

However, the book does conclude, powerfully, returning the description to God. And the ending was great!

Recommendation Status
Recommended to those who are interested in learning more about C.S. Lewis and the core ideas of his work. This is a solid layman’s guide that packs a lot of information in its brief 200-pages.

[Darcy Schock · Rating 5 out of 5]

The unique blend of imagination and intellect that C.S. Lewis had fascinates me and makes me curious to learn more about him. This biography did a great job at teaching me more about Lewis.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can we learn from the life of C. S. Lewis? In Not a Tame Lion, Terry Glaspey presents the life, teachings, and legacy of C. S. Lewis.

While most know the works of C. S. Lewis, not many can say that they know the man. The first part of Glaspey’s biography is simple and straightforward, offering snapshots of different areas of his life. The second part is what truly makes this book special, and it is a summary of some of his major ideas. You truly get a well-rounded look at this wonderful writer.

I was most pleased to read of Lewis’ radio broadcasts. While others were emotional and fiery, Lewis “stressed a reasonable and commonsense appeal, put forward with dignity, respect, and good humor.” I saw how embracing the medium of radio helped expand his profile but also give others a fair view of his faith.

Faith, Imagination, Wonder

I was most interested to read of Lewis’ enjoyment of the common pleasures of life. “The peace and joy available to us in these moments of the quiet acceptance of life can tell us something about God which is unattainable in any other manner.” I am moved to better enjoyable nature, and search for God in the simple. Lewis could search for and find God in the ordinary, and I would like to do the same.

Of course, I was happy to read of Lewis’ great enjoyment of books. He thoroughly engaged with the books he read by marking them, and then continued to work through and process them by speaking about them with others. Lewis’ love for books is inspiring as I continue another year of reading.

This book was a well-deserved finalist for the best biography of the year with Christian Book Awards. Read this book for a deeper faith, stronger imagination, and wonder-filled life.

I received a media copy of Not a Tame Lion and this is my honest review.

[Kate Guthrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a Tame Lion: The Life Teachings and Legacy of C. S. Lewis by Terry Glaspey

This awesome book about the life and legacy of
C.S. Lewis is split into two sections "His Life" and "His Thought." The first half reads like a biography and I enjoyed learning more about Lewis's life, salvation and some of the events that shaped him. The second half of the book goes through his views on different topics (e.g., his thoughts on pain, friendship, common sense, prayer, art and culture and much more). Chapters were short and the second half of this book could be used almost as a devotional, tackling one topic a day. I loved this quote from the chapter "A Life with Books":
"My own eyes are not enough for me; I will see through those of others...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."

Another quote I loved came from the chapter on emotions where C.S. Lewis cautions against dependence upon emotion:

'I mean that it is not the sensations that are the real thing. The real thing is the gift of the Holy Spirit which can't usually be experienced as a sensation or emotion.
The sensations are merely the response of your nervous system. Don't depend on them. Otherwise when they go and you are once more emotionally flat... you might think the real thing is gone too."

This is a really great read for anyone who is interested in learning more about the life and legacy of C. S. Lewis!

[Adrian Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.S. Lewis is probably best known today for his Narnia series, the first three books of which have been made into major motion pictures. However, this unassuming university professor was not only a best-selling author, but one of the most influential debaters on Christianity of the 20th century. Writing in plain, easy to understand language, Lewis had the capacity to take his readers on a journey that would encompass philosophy, mythology, and theology, and tie it all up into a neat, possibly irrefutable, little package of faith.
This book takes you on a short tour of Lewis’ life. Starting with his childhood in Belfast, Ireland, it follows him through the death of his mother, his stint in the military, and his marriage to an American woman named Joy Davidman Gresham. It also details his conversion to the Christian faith, a long and sometimes hard intellectual road that he had to travel to obtain peace.
But, the real treasure of this book is the middle portion, which is dedicated to small glimpses into Lewis’ beliefs and theology. Taking subjects one by one, just as Lewis did in his writing, it gives the reader an overture of the depth, dimension, and humor that Lewis treated his audience to. The introduction by the author says that his one wish was that this book would awaken a hunger for more of Lewis’ work, and in that it does succeed. At least, I am definitely going to look up more books by this extraordinary man.

[Jacob Sabin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am biased in the fact I love C.S. Lewis. The book is broken into two components. The first, is a short biography on his life. If one is looking for a biography of his life, there are obviously better options. Not that it was bad, but the author said it would be brief and it was. It covers the highlights and nothing more. A lot of things naturally gets left out. Not that it was bad, but it is obviously not able to take the same time Sayer did or Poe with his three part book series on Lewis. Very much a "just the facts" sketch. The second component covers many different topics which can be discerned from Lewis's writings and life. For me, the second half was vastly superior. In some ways, I wish he would have skipped the biography and had taken more time and written an entire book on the second half. This book is great as an introduction to Lewis's life and thoughts. The one major critique is the title. Maybe it is not fair, but considering Aslan is supposed to represent Jesus and the phrase "not a tame lion" is used in reference to Aslan, I wonder how Lewis would have felt the phrase being used to refer to himself. I am sure I am just nitpicking, but I have seen at least a couple of others comment on the same thing. Still, well worth the read. I would even read it again, though more for the second half than the first.

[Caitlin N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew very little about C.S. Lewis excepting his authorship of the classic Narnia stories, and other great writings, until my friend left her copy at my house one day. I decided to skim through it, having nothing better to do, and no sooner had I started reading than I found myself chapters deep.

I'm not a huge-mongous Lewis fanatic, but I do enjoy his work, and I think he was definitely someone to be admired. This books was a great introduction to the man himself, and his... well, spiritual legacy. Certainly more interesting a read than I usually expect to find under the category of "biography." Something in my mind has caused that word to become near synonymous with "boring." Boring it was not. It was full of quotes that made me eager to read the next on my library-list : Mere Christianity. One of such quotes was this,

" Friendship is born at the moment when one man says to another, "What! You too? I thought no one but myself..." "

I don't know that there was anything super-extraordinary about Lewis' life, but this book certainly made it intriguing.