If you're like me and you're looking for a real explanation of joy and how and where to get it - just read chapter 11. Lewis' journey from a depressed victim of bullying to a joyous Christian. If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?Ĭ.S. I have liked other narrators better, but he did justice to the book. He read with a beautiful and natural cadence. What about Ralph Cosham’s performance did you like? That chapter was what I was looking for - encouragement and a real discussion of God's role in joy as well as the difference between true joy and anything else. The narrator made it somewhat easier to get through the first ten chapters to the meaty part of the book.Ĭhapter 11. I never would have made it through the print version. Would you consider the audio edition of Surprised by Joy to be better than the print version? His silence on others leaves the listener longing for a more complete travelogue of his journey.

He selected 'selectively' experiences that drew him toward the source of joy. I wish that Lewis had lived to write a more complete autobiography. If you are unfamiliar with the British school system or don't have a nodding acquaintance with schools of philosophy and major Brit Lit figures of the early 19th century, reading a bio such as Jacobs' first will make this a much more rewarding listen. I think even those who take no interest in Lewis but who are interested in social history of the first half of 19th century Britian would find this a valuable listen.

If you want to read CS Lewis the Christian apologist describe selected aspects of his boyhood and adolescence up to his early adulthood conversion (in beautiful and often humorous prose), download this.

3 stars as autobiography 5 stars as beautifully written book about a spiritual journey, excellently narrated If you want to read about CS Lewis, better try Alan Jacobs' The Narnian or other bio.

Cs lewis autobiography surprised by joy