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The Quotable Lewis

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This book presents more than 1,500 quotes from Lewis's writings, providing ready access to his thoughts on a variety of topics. An exhaustive index references key words and concepts, allowing readers to easily find quotes on any subject of interest. Also included are many photographs of Lewis and his close circle of friends.

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656 pages, Hardcover

First published February 9, 1990

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1023 people want to read

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Wayne Martindale

13 books3 followers

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5 stars
304 (53%)
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180 (31%)
3 stars
61 (10%)
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13 (2%)
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6 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Justin Wiggins.
Author 28 books220 followers
February 9, 2021
The Quotable Lewis is an amazing book. My friend Jerry Root did a brilliant job of co-editing the book along with Wayne Martindale.
This book has so many funny, challenging, spiritually nourishing, and profoundly moving quotes from the great Irish writers letters, poems, essays, fiction, theological works and literary criticism.
Protestants, Catholics, Liberals, Conservatives, Pagans, Unitarians, Agnostics, and people of many other different worldview perspectives appreciate C.S. Lewis.
I still remember when his writings changed my life years ago, and faith was no longer about dull shallow platitudes, legalistic fundamentalism, parroted pious rhetoric, or psychological manipulation, but a virtue, an exciting epic adventure, and Jesus became the same Jesus of faith and history.
Profile Image for Keiki Hendrix.
231 reviews522 followers
October 7, 2012
I love quotes like women love chocolate. How could I not love this book? C. S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors (though I must admit, when I read him, I must have a dictionary handy) because there is a magic about his way of thinking. Lewis takes a topic and explores it to its uttermost ending. When we read him, we journey with him from beginning to end.I believe he must be a distant relative of St. Paul because Lewis does tend to be a wordy. But in those words is wit and clarity.

Another reason I enjoy reading C. S. Lewis and why I enjoyed this book of quotes is because for a brief time, Lewis considered himself an atheist. Being a sound atheist surely must have clarified his thoughts on Christianity. When he finally surrendered, most of his biblical topics had already be researched.

Wayne Martindale and Jerry Root did an excellent job of compiling, arranging and indexing these quotes. There's even a few photos included. My favorite was the picture of his wife's headstone. Oh that someone would write such words about me:

"Here the whole world (stars, water, air
And field, and forest, as they were
Reflected in a single mind)
Like cast off clothes was left behind
In ashes, yet with hope that she
Re-born from holy poverty,
In Lenten lands, hereafter may
Resume them on her Easter Day."

If you've ever been touched by the wit, clarity, and charm of C. S. Lewis, you will love this book. For quote collectors like me, it's a ready reference that I continue to use.

Reviewed by: Keiki Hendrix
Reviewed for: The Vessel Project
Profile Image for Eric.
184 reviews24 followers
October 25, 2008
Excellent book! These are C.S. Lewis quotes on all subjects arranged topically. Not just religious topics but things like "Writing," "J.R.R. Tolkien," and "Humor."

Sometimes my wife and I have a "Theologians Duel." One of us will grab this book and the other will grab the Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book, and we'll "do battle" by picking topics and reading what each theologian had to say on the matter.
Profile Image for Jean Hall.
41 reviews7 followers
Read
June 28, 2021
Great for research and using quotes in my blog posts.
Profile Image for Lora.
1,057 reviews13 followers
June 25, 2016
Big fat book with loads of quotes arranged by topic. Not much more to say, except it was fun paging through and reading random quotes out loud to the family.
Profile Image for Mindo'ermatter.
444 reviews9 followers
August 9, 2019
Great Quotes with Documented Sources

I love the writings of C. S. Lewis, but I don't like Internet's minions who falsely attribute things to him that he never said. This wonderfully organized resource has some of his best quotes categorized by topic an accessible by an invaluable comprehensive index.

I purchased the Kindle version, so I always have access to it, finding it easy to use. I've enjoyed this so much, I bought a copy for my brother.
Profile Image for Mandy.
478 reviews5 followers
July 9, 2020
So many good quotes from an insightful, visionary man.
Profile Image for John Martindale.
891 reviews105 followers
August 8, 2015
I have really enjoyed reading through these excellent quotes from Lewis on a plethora of topics. This has been my go-to book every I sit on the throne; how wonderful to unload, while at the same time downloading Lewis' grand ideas into my mind.
The one thing I've noticed though is that Martindale has done some cherry picking in order whitewash Lewis and make him palatable for evangelical fundamentalist. Two examples would be on the bible and evolution, Lewis has some rich nuanced views on these subjects which are not in harmony with the standard American evangelical chorus, but instead of actually selecting quotes that express what Lewis believed, Martindale managed to comb through to find some obscure passage that would almost give the impression that Lewis was an inerrantist and young earth creationist. I dunno, it was just a clear example that the editor wasn't going to allow a single quote on any subject to slip in, unless it was in accord with his own personal viewpoint, something I find unfortunate.
Profile Image for Riley.
484 reviews
January 2, 2017
On the whole, a really great compilation of quotes. There are just a couple of inclusions that didn't seem as valuable; I don't think a lot of people are really going to be that inspired by his thoughts on 16th century literature. I know it was an area he studied a lot, but that doesn't make it more valuable to the masses who don't. Nevertheless, there were very few pages where I didn't find a quotation worthy of marking. A great reference book, though reading it front to back is slow going.
Profile Image for Abigail Cantrell.
4 reviews3 followers
March 25, 2008
Excellent reference. It can also be used as a devotional-- go topically and add whatever scripture he refers to. It's very interesting to read his fiction and non-fiction on the same topic back to back.
Profile Image for Nicole.
283 reviews74 followers
Want to read
June 22, 2008
Sheri L. Dew references quotes from this book several times throughout, "God Wants a Powerful People". I'd like to own a copy of this book; it would be a great resource. I know it includes an in-depth index that makes it easy for the reader to find quotes based on subject, key-words, etc.
Profile Image for Chad.
135 reviews
June 9, 2016
Highly useful resource. With alphabetized entries and accompanying citations for each quotation, this book expedites the process of locating where Lewis addresses particular subjects. Perfect for finding Lewisian epigraphs or supporting quotations.
584 reviews33 followers
January 24, 2016
Accessible compilation of some of Lewis's most quoted thoughts and writings. Great resource. The front of the book reads, "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once." C.S. Lewis
Profile Image for Mariel.
19 reviews2 followers
June 21, 2008
This is a great reference book and straight-through read of some of the great thoughts of C.S. Lewis. Highlighter needed.
Profile Image for Rena Jane.
268 reviews12 followers
February 5, 2009
Lots of varied thoughts on life, religion, love and values, arranged in alphabetical order from many of Lewis' works and letters.
Profile Image for Whitney L..
48 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2009
I feel inspired by just reading his quotes -- so many good ones in this book.
Profile Image for KJ.
6 reviews6 followers
Want to read
July 3, 2016
Signed by the authorSigned by the author
Profile Image for Rebekah.
32 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2008
Not exactly a book to read like a novel, but a very good reference book.
Profile Image for TC.
66 reviews
February 23, 2009
Much better than the Internet for finding quotes, etc. Invaluable purchase. Some photos included.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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