A Mind Awake: An Anthology of C. S. Lewis [Paperback]

C.S. Lewis (Author), Clyde Kilby (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2003

One of the leading religious thinkers of his time, C. S. Lewis believed in the absolute logic of Christianity and faith, writing books, letters, and essays that demonstrated the immutability of religion in his life. This collection showcases the Christian themes that provided the foundation for his philosophy, inspiring literature that was sometimes whimsical, often provocative, and always emotionally compelling.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) gained international renown for an impressive array of beloved works both popular and scholarly: literary criticism, children's literature, fantasy literature, and numerous books on theology. Among his most celebrated achievements are Out of the Silent Planet, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, The Four Loves, and Surprised by Joy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (March 31, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0156027836
• ISBN-13: 978-0156027830
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #192,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963), known as Jack to his friends, was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably the most influential Christian writer of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. His major contributions in literary criticism, children's literature, fantasy literature, and popular theology brought him international renown and acclaim. Lewis and his good friend J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of the The Lord of the Rings, were part of the Inklings, an informal writers' club that met at a local pub to discuss story ideas. Lewis's fascination with fairy tales, myths, and ancient legends, coupled with inspiration drawn from his childhood, led him to write The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, one of the best-loved books of all time. Six further books followed to become the immensely popular The Chronicles of Narnia. The final title in the series, The Last Battle, won the Carnegie Medal, one of the highest marks of excellence in children's literature. His other distinguished and popular accomplishments include Out of the Silent Planet, The Four Loves, The Screwtape Letters, and Mere Christianity.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive C.S. Lewis Anthology, January 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Mind Awake: An Anthology of C. S. Lewis (Paperback)

What makes this anthology different from other C.S. Lewis collections is the way in which the quotations are organized. Beginning with The Nature of Man, Kilby takes the reader through Lewis' idea that we were made for another world!Other sections include The Moral World, The Bible, The Trinity, Sin, The Christian Commitment, Hell & Heaven, Love & Sex, Nature, and The Post-Christian World. From these quotations, the works of Lewis offer yet another effective apologetic for Christ and Christianity. Taking from expository works like The Four Loves, The Problem of Pain and The Screwtape Letters, as well as Lewis' allegorical writings such as The Chronicles Of Narnia, The Great Divorce, and The Space Trilogy, "A Mind Awake" is the definitive C.S. Lewis anthology.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb for those interested in the divinity within us., February 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Mind Awake: An Anthology of C. S. Lewis (Paperback)

C.S Lewis's ability to articulate the the deep feelings we have about our relationship to God is without parallel. He is able to put into words what we all know but were never able to express. It's a wonderfull book to have in your library. You will go back to it again and again. Not able to compete with the scriptures of course but what a gift to understand them better.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awaken your mind, November 10, 2004

By 

Kendal B. Hunter (Provo, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Mind Awake: An Anthology of C. S. Lewis (Paperback)

This book is the perfect introduction to C. S. Lewis. If he is virgin intellectual territory for you, then I suggest getting this book, "Abolition of Man," "The Screwtape Letters," and "The Lion Witch and The Wardrobe" as your first taste of Lewis.

It has a nice balance of the all the standard and the obscure works of C. S. Lewis. It is arraigned into ten sections:

I. The Nature Of Man.

II. The Moral World.

III. The Bible.

IV. The Trinity.

V. Sin.

VI. The Christian Commitment.

VII. Hell And Heaven.

VIII. Love And Sex.

IX. Nature.

X. The Post-Christian World

To his credit, Kilby closely follows Lewis's own patterns of thought, and does not intrude his own opinion or try to slant Lewis's words to his own opinion.

Of the selection process, he said:

"It is obvious that no two people endeavouring to select the best from a man's works will always choose identical passages, and the richer the content of those works the less likelihood of total agreement. . Concerning the making of anthologies Lewis himself once remarked, `No man ever agrees with another man's choice, and to disagree is one of the pleasures of using an anthology.' Nothing more can be said than that here you have my own choices based on thirty-odd years of reading and rereading Lewis."

Lewis has one of those rare minds that has depth and breath, who can be succinct and deep, like church bell peal. His wiring is dense, and forces you to think.