A Year with C. S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works

C. S. Lewis'book A year with C. S. Lewis. 365 daily readings from his classic works is edited as a devotional calendar. For everyday of the year, in chronological order from January 1 through December 31, the book consists of excerpts from a number of C.S. Lewis' philosophical and spiritual books. Philosophical and spiritual means Christian, in this context. The excerpts are taken from The Abolition of Man, The Great Divorce, A Grief Observed, Mere Christianity, Miracles, The Problem of pain, The Screwtape Letters, and The Weight of Glory. From each of these works, short readings are chosen for every day of the year. There is no discernible logic to the selection and spread over the year. However, while on most devotional calendars selections for a day are "stand-alone" pieces, presenting a selections of disconnected pieces every day, this book by Lewis cannot be read in that way, because some days would have to be read consecutively, as entries could otherwise not be understood. There are many such short series, which require quite concentrated reading, and since the book consists of rather philosophical texts, a day-by-day reading is rather disruptive (although I suppose Christians are quite used to that kind of reading mode). Rather superfluous seem the sparse, ultra-short and factual notes on some pages, referring to facts and events in C.S. Lewis' life.

From a reading of this book, C.S. Lewis appears as a deeply, and dogmatically religious person. The aim of the book is quite clearly to convert readers to Christianity. References to God or Jesus appear in multiplicity in almost every paragraph, telling readers how misguided they are when they do not believe. The main theme in all excerpts is the proof of the existence of God. In this book, Lewis is dogmatic and uninspiring.

What a horror to include this book in the Library of the International Space Station . ( )

Bits and pieces of his complex writings easily digested

This book is a collection of writings from various C.S. Lewis books like 'The Problem of Pain', 'The Screwtape Letters' and 'Mere Christianity'. A few paragraphs per day for the year. Worthwhile for keeping Lewis' personal thoughts about big subjects to the fore. ( )