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Yours, Jack: Spiritual Direction from C.S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis spent a good portion of each day corresponding with people via handwritten letters. Over his lifetime he wrote thousands of letters in which he offered his friends and acquaintances advice on the Christian life, giving away a bit of himself to each of these correspondents as he signed his notes with a heartfelt and familiar, "yours, Jack." Most of these letters are currently only available in their entirety—a collection consisting of three hefty tomes. Yours, Jack features the best inspirational readings and sage counsel culled from C. S. Lewis's letters, offering an accessible look at this great author's personal vision for the spiritual life.
This thematic selection from his letters offers the freshest presentation of Lewis's writings since his death in 1963. Yours, Jack will showcase Lewis's remarkable teachings and vision for a new generation.
This thematic selection from his letters offers the freshest presentation of Lewis's writings since his death in 1963. Yours, Jack will showcase Lewis's remarkable teachings and vision for a new generation.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2008
300 people are currently reading
1173 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Lewis
1,014 books47.6k 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 - 30 of 43 reviews
January 2, 2017
Wonderful book, I loved it!!!!
I've just finished it, and can hardly express the impact it has on me.
First of all, if you like C. S. Lewis books, and are somewhat interested in the author, then this is it!!!
We are talking about the paperback edition, with an atmospheric and evocative photo from "The Kilns" keep in sepia tone....
"The Kilns" means C. S. Lewis house. And, well, the entire book consists of a collection of letters which Lewis wrote during his life. I must here say that Paul F. Ford has done a great job in this compilation of Lewis letters.
You may asks yourself in what lies the appeal or the charm of it. So, I can of course speak only for me, for me this letters have been quasi a revelation and an open door of Lewis soul and thoughts.
Indeed spiritual direction from a great man of God....
The letters contains and deal with a variety of topics, but not in a dry academic manner, I often have laughed aloud during my reading of the letters.
This selection of letters from more than fifty years of correspondence, is far away from being something dry or lifeless....
One of my favourites books ever and ever!!!!
So, if you love Lewis books, and wants to have a glimpse at the soul of one of the most beloved an graceful minds from the 20th centaury, then I urged you to get your copy. You will not regret it.
Folks, neighbours and friends, for such kind of book which we here have, I will and must give 5 stars!!!!
The year begins with 5 stars books for me!!!
I wish all my friends and wonderful, beautiful people at good reads, a happy and blessed new year...
I'd like that the same 5 stars experience happens and continues with you all!!!
Dean:)
I've just finished it, and can hardly express the impact it has on me.
First of all, if you like C. S. Lewis books, and are somewhat interested in the author, then this is it!!!
We are talking about the paperback edition, with an atmospheric and evocative photo from "The Kilns" keep in sepia tone....
"The Kilns" means C. S. Lewis house. And, well, the entire book consists of a collection of letters which Lewis wrote during his life. I must here say that Paul F. Ford has done a great job in this compilation of Lewis letters.
You may asks yourself in what lies the appeal or the charm of it. So, I can of course speak only for me, for me this letters have been quasi a revelation and an open door of Lewis soul and thoughts.
Indeed spiritual direction from a great man of God....
The letters contains and deal with a variety of topics, but not in a dry academic manner, I often have laughed aloud during my reading of the letters.
This selection of letters from more than fifty years of correspondence, is far away from being something dry or lifeless....
One of my favourites books ever and ever!!!!
So, if you love Lewis books, and wants to have a glimpse at the soul of one of the most beloved an graceful minds from the 20th centaury, then I urged you to get your copy. You will not regret it.
Folks, neighbours and friends, for such kind of book which we here have, I will and must give 5 stars!!!!
The year begins with 5 stars books for me!!!
I wish all my friends and wonderful, beautiful people at good reads, a happy and blessed new year...
I'd like that the same 5 stars experience happens and continues with you all!!!
Dean:)
January 31, 2025
I feel like a hypocrite. I just stated that I couldn't rate letters from L.M. Montgomery to one of her correspondents because how does one rate someone's thoughts and ideas shared with and because of another? It made no sense.
Yet, here I am giving five stars to Lewis'. I think the difference is that Lewis is writing many people on many topics, often directly discipling them or mentoring them in some fashion. These are answers to questions many of us have rather than just observing someone else's thoughts.
That's my supposition anyway. If the huge number of tabs sticking out of the pages are any indication, I found a wealth of things to revisit.
Yet, here I am giving five stars to Lewis'. I think the difference is that Lewis is writing many people on many topics, often directly discipling them or mentoring them in some fashion. These are answers to questions many of us have rather than just observing someone else's thoughts.
That's my supposition anyway. If the huge number of tabs sticking out of the pages are any indication, I found a wealth of things to revisit.
October 13, 2018
That was a fantastic book.
It's so odd. C.S. Lewis died over fifty years ago and yet here I am crying as I finish this book, grieving as if I had actually known him and shan't be able to talk with him anymore. Man, books are so powerful. To be able to read the words of someone who died twenty years before you were born and build a relationship of mentorship with them is so amazing. I am sad that this book is over, but I am so glad that I can just read it again. Or, pick up one of his other books and read it.
I'm not entirely sure why I am crying. It's not that this is a pathetic end. It just a bunch of letters written from one man to dozens of other people across several years, it isn't a pathetic dying scene which is my usual tear jerker. No, I am sad because I never got the chance to talk to this man in reality, and it's a shame that he died after so short a life. He lived 70 years and wrote dozens of books and hundreds of letters and it still isn't enough!
Just the sheer honesty that he had with the people he wrote to was touching. My favorite letters were the letters he wrote to children who wrote fan letters about Narnia. You could tell that he was talking to a child and not an adult, but not because he talked down to them, rather it was like you could see his real personality shining out through them because he didn't have to pretend to have a veneer of education or maturity or adulthood. That's probably why Narnia remains popular to this day.
Now I want to go reread Narnia to cheer myself up.
It's so odd. C.S. Lewis died over fifty years ago and yet here I am crying as I finish this book, grieving as if I had actually known him and shan't be able to talk with him anymore. Man, books are so powerful. To be able to read the words of someone who died twenty years before you were born and build a relationship of mentorship with them is so amazing. I am sad that this book is over, but I am so glad that I can just read it again. Or, pick up one of his other books and read it.
I'm not entirely sure why I am crying. It's not that this is a pathetic end. It just a bunch of letters written from one man to dozens of other people across several years, it isn't a pathetic dying scene which is my usual tear jerker. No, I am sad because I never got the chance to talk to this man in reality, and it's a shame that he died after so short a life. He lived 70 years and wrote dozens of books and hundreds of letters and it still isn't enough!
Just the sheer honesty that he had with the people he wrote to was touching. My favorite letters were the letters he wrote to children who wrote fan letters about Narnia. You could tell that he was talking to a child and not an adult, but not because he talked down to them, rather it was like you could see his real personality shining out through them because he didn't have to pretend to have a veneer of education or maturity or adulthood. That's probably why Narnia remains popular to this day.
Now I want to go reread Narnia to cheer myself up.
January 4, 2011
CS Lewis wrote a lot of letters. And his literary estate has come up with a lot of compilations. This particular compilation, edited by Paul F. Ford, compiles a good number of Lewis letters under the theme of spiritual direction. That is, the letters here are ones in which Lewis either gave advice (Ford labels these 'spiritual direction' letters), sought advice (Ford labelled these 'spiritual discipleship'), or wrote to his peers ('equals', Ford labels them, and calls these letters 'spiritual companionship' letters) about spiritual matters. Perhaps not a wise purchase if you already have the three volumes of collected letters of CS Lewis. Or perhaps wise because it gives you access to a specific set of letters from Lewis' vast body of epistolaria. The book is not cheap, or at least, my hardcover edition is not. So the buyer will have to choose.
RE de Leon
Agoo La Union
10.25 PM
4 January 2010
RE de Leon
Agoo La Union
10.25 PM
4 January 2010
February 3, 2010
Perfect reading for weather that keeps one indoors. Mr. Lewis was a prolific and generous letter writer (writing to people who wrote to him after reading one or more of his many books, and doing so despite painful arthritis in his wrist). Because he was a man who actively disbelieved for some part of his life, I tend to trust his take on matters of faith. He always writes with such intellect but also wit, and, especially to the children who wrote to him about Narnia, tenderness and a sparkling way of speaking to children without speaking down to them.
Some of the subject matter is not of interest to me, or way over my head, but reading this volume makes me want to tackle all 3 volumes of his letters.
Some of the subject matter is not of interest to me, or way over my head, but reading this volume makes me want to tackle all 3 volumes of his letters.
August 12, 2008
Great -- BUT! I got all the way to the end and in a letter from 1961 Lewis wrote to someone about his disliking towards publishing letters: "I do not wish to relinquish things often worth of sacred silence to subsequent reading by posterity. For nowadays inquisitive researchers dig out all our affairs and besmirch them with the poison of 'publicity' (as a barbarous thing I am giving it a barbarous name).
This letter made me stop reading the book immediately, and I've only opened it again to find this quote. Sad that such a view is held by someone who's published letters take up three full volumes...
This letter made me stop reading the book immediately, and I've only opened it again to find this quote. Sad that such a view is held by someone who's published letters take up three full volumes...
September 1, 2018
Just lovely. You can read most of C.S. Lewis's letters in their entirety (and I plan to), but this book is a helpful thematic collection of just his spiritual discussions and advice—including excerpts from the standalone book Letters to an American Lady.
Little tidbit that struck me is how his style changes when writing to men as opposed to women. With the ladies, he is chattier, gentler, and more "oh!" expressive, but this tone actually creates a certain (appropriate) distance between him and his female audiences, a distance that wouldn't be obvious unless you compared it with his male-readership letters. To the guys, he is brisk and blunt. The chatty wall of separation comes down. He's still expressive, but his silver tongue punches. It's the difference between "Dear, dear, this is very distressing news" and "Keep on, do your duty, say your prayers."
Little tidbit that struck me is how his style changes when writing to men as opposed to women. With the ladies, he is chattier, gentler, and more "oh!" expressive, but this tone actually creates a certain (appropriate) distance between him and his female audiences, a distance that wouldn't be obvious unless you compared it with his male-readership letters. To the guys, he is brisk and blunt. The chatty wall of separation comes down. He's still expressive, but his silver tongue punches. It's the difference between "Dear, dear, this is very distressing news" and "Keep on, do your duty, say your prayers."
June 3, 2020
Utter brilliance.
December 4, 2025
Really enjoyed slowly reading through this book. Lots of good stuff.
March 8, 2017
If you have read Surprised by Joy you are right in line with what to expect in the letters of CS Lewis, winsome literary delight that takes for granted his being a literary genius.
The high points are Lewis's Great example of humility, prayerfulness, and constant diligence to be about the work of sanctification. Low points should be familiar with most people who know Lewis: some doctrinal issues (prayers for the dead and expectation of their support, affirmation of purgatory, and a few others).
Still, the book is very useful if you have the patience to read through one so lengthy. I especially enjoyed the last six years of his life as he begins to experience the quick marriage and death of his wife and leading up to his own death, though this will take some patience as the book edges on 400 pages.
The high points are Lewis's Great example of humility, prayerfulness, and constant diligence to be about the work of sanctification. Low points should be familiar with most people who know Lewis: some doctrinal issues (prayers for the dead and expectation of their support, affirmation of purgatory, and a few others).
Still, the book is very useful if you have the patience to read through one so lengthy. I especially enjoyed the last six years of his life as he begins to experience the quick marriage and death of his wife and leading up to his own death, though this will take some patience as the book edges on 400 pages.
October 11, 2014
These letters were sweet. I appreciated his emphasis, in almost every letter, on prayer and how kind a man he was to answer silly or unimportant letters. Also, he often returned letters that were sent to him, which I thought was a thoughtful gesture, especially when the letters were of a personal nature.
April 14, 2014
Loved the spiritual advice about contentment, busyness vs. resting vs. doing one's duty, doubting one's salvation, looking forward to death, and also the few articles sprinkled here and there written to children about Narnia.
December 1, 2018
I have such mixed feelings about this book. I enjoy Lewis’ writing style very much, and it’s interesting to see how he influenced the lives of many even outside of his popular books through writing letters. Interestingly, a huge part of those letters were to married women. None of the letters included here were to his eventual wife, I think, which is perfectly fine, but I was surprised.
I kind of read this book because I have been so personally frustrated with what is left of my faith in God. But the encouragement and advice in here often struck me as nothing more than guesses at God’s nature and specific, sometimes questionable interpretations of scripture. Sometimes I really appreciated Lewis’ insights. Often I was just more frustrated.
Still, there were many beautiful passages. He has some sweet letters to child fans. I was surprised at just how much Lewis admired Charles Williams and constantly wrote about what a pure and wonderful fellow he is, and how much he liked and recommended Williams’ books. Having read one of those books, I know just how very strange they are! For me as a fan of Lewis, I enjoyed reading about the reception of his books too.
And the whole book seems wrong given that Lewis wrote this in one of his letters:
I wish I could send you copies of the letters which the Venerable Father Don John Calabria wrote. But I have neither the letters themselves nor copies of them. It is my practice to consign to the flames all letters after two days—not, believe me, because I esteem them of no value, rather because I do not wish to relinquish things often worthy of sacred silence to subsequent reading by posterity. For nowadays inquisitive researchers dig out all our affairs and besmirch them with the poison of ‘publicity’ (as a barbarous thing I am giving it a barbarous name).
It would seem Lewis would hate for people to take his letters and use them like this. So after I read that letter, I started feeling vaguely guilty for reading this book at all.
I kind of read this book because I have been so personally frustrated with what is left of my faith in God. But the encouragement and advice in here often struck me as nothing more than guesses at God’s nature and specific, sometimes questionable interpretations of scripture. Sometimes I really appreciated Lewis’ insights. Often I was just more frustrated.
Still, there were many beautiful passages. He has some sweet letters to child fans. I was surprised at just how much Lewis admired Charles Williams and constantly wrote about what a pure and wonderful fellow he is, and how much he liked and recommended Williams’ books. Having read one of those books, I know just how very strange they are! For me as a fan of Lewis, I enjoyed reading about the reception of his books too.
And the whole book seems wrong given that Lewis wrote this in one of his letters:
I wish I could send you copies of the letters which the Venerable Father Don John Calabria wrote. But I have neither the letters themselves nor copies of them. It is my practice to consign to the flames all letters after two days—not, believe me, because I esteem them of no value, rather because I do not wish to relinquish things often worthy of sacred silence to subsequent reading by posterity. For nowadays inquisitive researchers dig out all our affairs and besmirch them with the poison of ‘publicity’ (as a barbarous thing I am giving it a barbarous name).
It would seem Lewis would hate for people to take his letters and use them like this. So after I read that letter, I started feeling vaguely guilty for reading this book at all.
June 13, 2025
My answer to the question, "If you could have coffee (or tea) with any author, living or dead, who would it be?" always used to be, C.S. Lewis. His brain just fascinated me. I always wondered, as I read his non-fiction, was he that articulate just off the top of his head, or did he have to ponder the perfect metaphor for a long time, honing it to just the pith that exactly conveyed his meaning?
This collection of letters is the closest I'll ever get to having tea with him, though I hope to do so in heaven someday, too. I could hear his voice in the letters, though they were a lot less polished (of course) than his published prose, and dealt with such a wide range of events in his life. He just seemed like such a genuinely good man, too--so humble and unassuming and kind. This collection is arranged in chronological order, and it was devastating to come to the section where his wife Joy entered his correspondence. Then for a couple of years she had a reprieve of her illness (I recently read "Becoming Mrs Lewis" when this was dramatized), before she eventually succumbed. I hadn't quite realized that this really wasn't all that long before Lewis himself passed away.
A rare glimpse into the mind of one of my favorite authors.
This collection of letters is the closest I'll ever get to having tea with him, though I hope to do so in heaven someday, too. I could hear his voice in the letters, though they were a lot less polished (of course) than his published prose, and dealt with such a wide range of events in his life. He just seemed like such a genuinely good man, too--so humble and unassuming and kind. This collection is arranged in chronological order, and it was devastating to come to the section where his wife Joy entered his correspondence. Then for a couple of years she had a reprieve of her illness (I recently read "Becoming Mrs Lewis" when this was dramatized), before she eventually succumbed. I hadn't quite realized that this really wasn't all that long before Lewis himself passed away.
A rare glimpse into the mind of one of my favorite authors.
May 5, 2017
I'm not sure why I never read this book, because I've read many of Lewis's books, and his classic Mere Christianity started me on my own journey as a believer. I finally tracked it down as an inter-library loan from my small town library because I wanted to read the context of so many great quotes that originated from his letters. His letters -- to relatives, friends, fans, and strangers -- give one such an intimate view of his daily life and thoughts. It made me nostalgic, for here is this great body of work and the source for so many inspirational quotes, and it is from correspondence! In fifty years no one will be publishing emails, will they? No matter, read this and drink in what this master of the English language has to say about the faith. You won't be disappointed.
May 12, 2020
I always appreciate C.S. Lewis' style - simultaneously intellectual and practical, straightforward yet humble. In these letters, Lewis tackles countless topics with eloquence, grace, and thoughtfulness - everything from prayer and aging to marriage and the state of the church. Despite being written between the 1920 and 1960s, these letters shed much light on current events.
For example:
“It is one of the evils of rapid diffusion of news that the sorrows of all the world come to us every morning. I think each village was meant to feel pity for its own sick and poor whom it can help and I doubt it is the duty of any private person to fix his mind on ills which he cannot help. (This may even become an escape from the works of charity we really can do to those we know).” -C.S. Lewis, p 119
For example:
“It is one of the evils of rapid diffusion of news that the sorrows of all the world come to us every morning. I think each village was meant to feel pity for its own sick and poor whom it can help and I doubt it is the duty of any private person to fix his mind on ills which he cannot help. (This may even become an escape from the works of charity we really can do to those we know).” -C.S. Lewis, p 119
April 23, 2023
This is an edited compilation of the portions those of C.S. Lewis's letters which contain some spiritual direction or at least spiritual advice (and some good old sanctified common sense). I have read the 3 massive volumes of his collected letters and while I found those more engaging because of their widely varied nature and content, if you are looking more for Lewis's specifically spiritual growth-oriented letters to correspondents, this is a good volume. Makes for some good devotional reading.
March 29, 2020
"Think of yourself just as a seed patiently waiting in the earth: waiting to come up a flower in the Gardener's good time, up into the real world, the real waking. I suppose that our whole present life, looked back on from there, will only seem a drowsy half-waking. We are here in the land of dreams. But the cock-crow is coming. It is nearer now than when I began this letter."
-Lewis to Mary Willis Shelburne, 28 June 1963
-Lewis to Mary Willis Shelburne, 28 June 1963
February 18, 2023
Fascinating and thought-provoking book of his some of his replies to people from England to USA on faith and theological questions. While these letters were written 80 years ago, his thoughtful answers to peoples questions are quite relevant today. This is a book to savor slowly and add sticky notes on those that help you or a friend who needs to hear that encouragement. Letter writing is a forgotten art for much of the world, yet answers like these can help so many.
January 15, 2019
On top of being a prolific writer, CS Lewis was a prolific letter writer with many "pen pals". His correspondents included other writers, people seeking him for advice, and people writing him about his books. Often amusing, the letters give interesting insights to his views and their inspirations on his books.
June 8, 2022
Full of wisdom and humor. Also loved reading him explain why he would or wouldn't give advice to particular readers of his letters. He is a wonderful example of how to speak and how to keep silent. He also included quotes from other authors that were so good, I had to write them down. For example, "An adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." Chesterton
June 1, 2018
Probably an abnormal opinion, but I think this is really my favorite work of his. When responding to letter he gets into the nitty gritty of our fallen, quotidian existence more than any of his theological works (although those definitely have their place).
January 6, 2020
I loved reading C.S. Lewis"s letters. They show his conversion, his views on many theological points, his letters to children who wrote to him about Narnia, his marriage ,and his views on death as he is dying. If you like C.S. Lewis, I believe you will be captivated by his letters.
January 6, 2020
Seeing The Heart
Reading the letters written by C.S.Lewis has given me a glimpse of the heart of the man.
Like sitting down at a table and having a conversation with him. The Bible says "Out of the heart the mouth speaks."
Reading the letters written by C.S.Lewis has given me a glimpse of the heart of the man.
Like sitting down at a table and having a conversation with him. The Bible says "Out of the heart the mouth speaks."
October 6, 2020
A wonderful book to dip in and out of when in need of a little spiritual wisdom from a fellow saved sinner. Fascinating to follow CS Lewis journey from atheism to faith through the medium of his letters, and to see him tackle many different issues addressed to him from a variety of correspondents.
March 21, 2021
A Great Light Shines
Anything by Lewis rates 5 stars for me. He combines intellect and caring such a soul. I used to say he discipled me through his writing. These letters are quite literally discipling through writing. Be discipled!
Anything by Lewis rates 5 stars for me. He combines intellect and caring such a soul. I used to say he discipled me through his writing. These letters are quite literally discipling through writing. Be discipled!
January 29, 2021
Good Insight to Lewis' Life
These letters give the reader insight into Lewis' life. Some letters are a little mundane, but every letter has Lewis' warmth and wisdom.
These letters give the reader insight into Lewis' life. Some letters are a little mundane, but every letter has Lewis' warmth and wisdom.
September 13, 2008
Having read the Narnia series abundant times, the Space Trilogy and Screwtape Letters, I was eager to read this book containing letters of spiritual guidance.
Mr. Lewis apparently kept up an amazing amount of correspondence. Following are several quotes from various letters:
(TO BEDE GRIFFITHS, on the meaning of 'spiritual')
"One thing we want to do is to kill the word 'spiritual' in the sense in which it is used by writers like [Matthew] Arnold and [Benedetto] Croce. Last term I had to make the following remark to a room full of Christian undergraduates, 'A man who is eating or lying with his wife or preparing to go to sleep, in humility, thankfulness, and temperance, is, by Christian standards, in an infinitely higher state than one who is listening to Bach or reading Plato in a state of pride'--obvious to you, but I could see it was quite a new light to them." (p. 70)
(TO GENIA GOELZ. on temptations to pride)
"Of course, none of us have 'any right' at the altar. You might as well talk of a non-existent person 'having a right' to be created. It is not our right but God's free bounty. An English peer said, 'I like the order of the Garter because it has no dam' nonsense about merit.' Nor has Grace. And we must keep on remembering that as a cure for Pride.
Yes, pride is a perpetual, nagging temptation. Keep on knocking it on the head but don't be too worried about it. As long as one knows one is proud one is safe from the worst form of pride." (p. 180)
(TO MRS. R. E. HALVORSON, on feelings and on the general rules for discernment)
"I think every natural thing which is not in itself sinful can become the servant of the spiritual life, but none is automatically so. When it is not, it becomes either just trivial (as music is to millions of people) or a dangerous idol. The emotional effect of music may be not only a distraction (to some people at some times) but a delusion: i.e., feeling certain emotions in church they mistake them for religious emotions when they may be wholly natural. That means that even genuinely religious emotion is only a servant. No soul is saved by having it or damned by lacking it. The love we are commanded to have for God and our neighbour is a state of the will, not of the affections (though if they ever also play their part so much the better). So that the test of music or religion or even visions if one has them is always the same--do they make one more obedient, more God-centred, and neighbour-centred and less self-centred? 'Though I speak with the tongues of Bach and Palestrina and have not charity et cetera!" (p. 287)
This is the kind of writing that make me want to read more. Not only all of Lewis' works, but also the authors he recommended to people in his letters, such as G. K. Chesterton and George MacDonald.
Mr. Lewis apparently kept up an amazing amount of correspondence. Following are several quotes from various letters:
(TO BEDE GRIFFITHS, on the meaning of 'spiritual')
"One thing we want to do is to kill the word 'spiritual' in the sense in which it is used by writers like [Matthew] Arnold and [Benedetto] Croce. Last term I had to make the following remark to a room full of Christian undergraduates, 'A man who is eating or lying with his wife or preparing to go to sleep, in humility, thankfulness, and temperance, is, by Christian standards, in an infinitely higher state than one who is listening to Bach or reading Plato in a state of pride'--obvious to you, but I could see it was quite a new light to them." (p. 70)
(TO GENIA GOELZ. on temptations to pride)
"Of course, none of us have 'any right' at the altar. You might as well talk of a non-existent person 'having a right' to be created. It is not our right but God's free bounty. An English peer said, 'I like the order of the Garter because it has no dam' nonsense about merit.' Nor has Grace. And we must keep on remembering that as a cure for Pride.
Yes, pride is a perpetual, nagging temptation. Keep on knocking it on the head but don't be too worried about it. As long as one knows one is proud one is safe from the worst form of pride." (p. 180)
(TO MRS. R. E. HALVORSON, on feelings and on the general rules for discernment)
"I think every natural thing which is not in itself sinful can become the servant of the spiritual life, but none is automatically so. When it is not, it becomes either just trivial (as music is to millions of people) or a dangerous idol. The emotional effect of music may be not only a distraction (to some people at some times) but a delusion: i.e., feeling certain emotions in church they mistake them for religious emotions when they may be wholly natural. That means that even genuinely religious emotion is only a servant. No soul is saved by having it or damned by lacking it. The love we are commanded to have for God and our neighbour is a state of the will, not of the affections (though if they ever also play their part so much the better). So that the test of music or religion or even visions if one has them is always the same--do they make one more obedient, more God-centred, and neighbour-centred and less self-centred? 'Though I speak with the tongues of Bach and Palestrina and have not charity et cetera!" (p. 287)
This is the kind of writing that make me want to read more. Not only all of Lewis' works, but also the authors he recommended to people in his letters, such as G. K. Chesterton and George MacDonald.
June 10, 2016
CS Lewis writes to his family and friends, about God, mostly.
As could be expected from a man who was one of the UK's most celebrated Christian converts, a lot of Lewis' letters were on the subject of faith. Whether it was the intention of the editor or if Lewis did write almost exclusively on the subject of God is unclear; these letters are, after all, selected from a lifetime of epistles. The man presented here is, first and foremost, concerned with God, his correspondents looking for support, discussing matters religious, or debating with Lewis his theology. Their letters are, of course, not included.
The period covers over forty years, from fragments from his later teenage years to letters written very shortly before his death, though naturally the former are few and far between. Enough though, to give us a picture of a cocky teenager who develops from avowed atheist to old don, dispensing an endless stream of layman's pastoral care. There's also plenty of musing on the differences between men and women, illness, friendship and death, even cats. Lewis comes across as you'd expect – warm, generous and wise, though there is in the certitude with which he offers his advice in his later letters, something of an echo of the cast-iron confidence of the youth he once was. These are opinions one would have to draw oneself, there's nothing in here, not event the shortest precis of his life, other than the letters. And that's where it fails, it's not comprehensive enough to be a useful tool to the researcher, and not broad enough to enlighten a non-expert. The letters themselves are marvellous, but the book is only a reasonable reference that needs to be digested alongside a good biography.
As could be expected from a man who was one of the UK's most celebrated Christian converts, a lot of Lewis' letters were on the subject of faith. Whether it was the intention of the editor or if Lewis did write almost exclusively on the subject of God is unclear; these letters are, after all, selected from a lifetime of epistles. The man presented here is, first and foremost, concerned with God, his correspondents looking for support, discussing matters religious, or debating with Lewis his theology. Their letters are, of course, not included.
The period covers over forty years, from fragments from his later teenage years to letters written very shortly before his death, though naturally the former are few and far between. Enough though, to give us a picture of a cocky teenager who develops from avowed atheist to old don, dispensing an endless stream of layman's pastoral care. There's also plenty of musing on the differences between men and women, illness, friendship and death, even cats. Lewis comes across as you'd expect – warm, generous and wise, though there is in the certitude with which he offers his advice in his later letters, something of an echo of the cast-iron confidence of the youth he once was. These are opinions one would have to draw oneself, there's nothing in here, not event the shortest precis of his life, other than the letters. And that's where it fails, it's not comprehensive enough to be a useful tool to the researcher, and not broad enough to enlighten a non-expert. The letters themselves are marvellous, but the book is only a reasonable reference that needs to be digested alongside a good biography.
May 21, 2014
I'd greatly prefer it if I could assign five stars to the Lewis part of this book, which I have recently received as a gift, but something more like three to the presentation. The Lewis content, much of it long familiar from the old Letters of C.S. Lewis compiled by his brother W.H Lewis and from Letters to an American Lady, is the usual vintage stuff. The quality of transcription, the Greek element and the general copy-editing leaves very much to be desired. I noted particularly a wrong Gospel reference, a jarring pair of slips in the text of the last and justly famous paragraph of ch. 14 in Surprised by Joy [p. 9], and an invented title, Ransom to Venus, created by wrong italicization on p. 89; but there are quite a few places where I am quite certain that we are not reading Lewis's own words but something else.
What I am in no position to determine is whether some or all of this originates with the big three-volume set from which this otherwise attractive book is excerpted, or is more like dust picked up along the way. It is sadly true that literacy of the kind required for doing a faultless job on such material is at a premium today.
What I am in no position to determine is whether some or all of this originates with the big three-volume set from which this otherwise attractive book is excerpted, or is more like dust picked up along the way. It is sadly true that literacy of the kind required for doing a faultless job on such material is at a premium today.
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