Number of books sold by C.S. Lewis = 200,000,000+
$$$ earned by his Narnia adaptations = $1.5 billion+
No one else combined philosophy and adventure stories like him
What were HIS favorite reads?
Let me show you ten books that influenced C.S. Lewis:
$$$ earned by his Narnia adaptations = $1.5 billion+
No one else combined philosophy and adventure stories like him
What were HIS favorite reads?
Let me show you ten books that influenced C.S. Lewis:
1/ Phantastes by George MacDonald (1858)
In this fantasy novel, a young man chases after an impossibly beautiful woman in a dream world with dark undertones
His own shadow haunts him throughout
C.S. Lewis wrote in his diary that this book helped him cross a “great frontier”
In this fantasy novel, a young man chases after an impossibly beautiful woman in a dream world with dark undertones
His own shadow haunts him throughout
C.S. Lewis wrote in his diary that this book helped him cross a “great frontier”
2/ The Everlasting Man by Chesterton (1925)
C.S. Lewis on Chesterton: “The most sensible man alive”
The Everlasting Man argues that humans arent just another animal species
Chesterton: “I don’t believe that the best way to produce an outline of history is to rub out the lines"
C.S. Lewis on Chesterton: “The most sensible man alive”
The Everlasting Man argues that humans arent just another animal species
Chesterton: “I don’t believe that the best way to produce an outline of history is to rub out the lines"
3/ The Aeneid by Virgil (19 B.C.)
Virgil last wish: Burn The Aeneid
Denied
The poem went on to become one of the Great Epics of the Ancient World
Influencing countless future writers, including CS Lewis
For Lewis, Virgil expertly shows the tension between “duty” and “desire”
Virgil last wish: Burn The Aeneid
Denied
The poem went on to become one of the Great Epics of the Ancient World
Influencing countless future writers, including CS Lewis
For Lewis, Virgil expertly shows the tension between “duty” and “desire”
4/ The Temple by George Herbert (1633)
CS Lewis: George Herbert excelled at “conveying the very quality of life as we actually live it from moment to moment”
Herbert wrote that his book was about the “spiritual conflicts” between one’s soul and God
CS Lewis: George Herbert excelled at “conveying the very quality of life as we actually live it from moment to moment”
Herbert wrote that his book was about the “spiritual conflicts” between one’s soul and God
5/ The Prelude by William Wordsworth (1850)
This poem went from something C.S. Lewis violently disliked to the poem he “most often” returned to
In Wordsworth, C.S. Lewis found compelling records of “numinous experience(s)”
Those moments when we are “Surprised By Joy”
This poem went from something C.S. Lewis violently disliked to the poem he “most often” returned to
In Wordsworth, C.S. Lewis found compelling records of “numinous experience(s)”
Those moments when we are “Surprised By Joy”
6/ The Idea Of The Holy by Rudolf Otto (1917)
What is the core of all world religions?
Rodolf Otto coined the word “numinous” to describe the sort of fascinating and terrifying experiences that lead to a religious consciousness
The “Holy” is felt as an “inexpressible” mystery
What is the core of all world religions?
Rodolf Otto coined the word “numinous” to describe the sort of fascinating and terrifying experiences that lead to a religious consciousness
The “Holy” is felt as an “inexpressible” mystery
7/ The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius (523 A.D.)
An ex-consul of Rome, Boethius wrote this in prison while awaiting his execution
The book is an imaginary dialogue between him and philosophy personified as a woman
Topics: Free will, chance, and the nature of God
An ex-consul of Rome, Boethius wrote this in prison while awaiting his execution
The book is an imaginary dialogue between him and philosophy personified as a woman
Topics: Free will, chance, and the nature of God
8/ The Life of Johnson by J Boswell (1791)
The only biography in C.S. Lewis’ List of books that profoundly shaped him
Macaulay said Boswell is the first biographer without a “second”
Edmund Burke said that Samuel Johnson was a great WRITER who was made a “Great MAN” by Boswell
The only biography in C.S. Lewis’ List of books that profoundly shaped him
Macaulay said Boswell is the first biographer without a “second”
Edmund Burke said that Samuel Johnson was a great WRITER who was made a “Great MAN” by Boswell
9/ Descent into Hell by C. Williams (1937)
This novel is known as a “theological thriller”
C.S Lewis wrote to the author that reading him was “one of the major literary events” of his life
C Williams was part of Inklings, the literary society that included Tolkien among others
This novel is known as a “theological thriller”
C.S Lewis wrote to the author that reading him was “one of the major literary events” of his life
C Williams was part of Inklings, the literary society that included Tolkien among others
10/ "Theism and Humanism" by Arthur Balfour (1914)
Arthur Balfour was the British PM from 1902 to 1905
This book was delivered as extempore lectures
Balfour shows that whether we care for “aesthetic,” “moral,” or “intellectual” values
We need a worldview that includes God
Arthur Balfour was the British PM from 1902 to 1905
This book was delivered as extempore lectures
Balfour shows that whether we care for “aesthetic,” “moral,” or “intellectual” values
We need a worldview that includes God
In 1962, C.S. Lewis was asked:
“What books did most to shape your vocational attitude and your philosophy of life?”
He replied with the following list:
“What books did most to shape your vocational attitude and your philosophy of life?”
He replied with the following list:
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