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A Year with C.S. Lewis
Beloved author C. S. Lewis is our trusted guide in this intimate day-by-day companion offering his distinctive and celebrated wisdom. Amidst the bustle of our daily experience, A Year with C. S. Lewis provides the necessary respite and inspiration to meet the many challenges we face in our lives. Ruminating on such themes as the nature of love, the existence of miracles, overcoming a devastating loss, and discovering a profound faith, Lewis offers unflinchingly honest insight for each day of the year.
These daily meditations have been culled from Lewis's celebrated Signature Classics: Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain, Miracles, and A Grief Observed, as well as from the distinguished works The Weight of Glory and The Abolition of Man.
Throughout this elegant daybook the reader will find poignant biographical com-mentary about C. S. Lewis's life that offers a remarkable portrait of Lewis in the context of his work. As each day unfolds, we embark on a path of discovery with a friend by your side. A Year with C. S. Lewis is the perfect com-panion for everyone who cherishes Lewis's timeless words.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
1339 people are currently reading
3305 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Lewis
1,297 books47k 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 224 reviews
December 29, 2018
I l read or reread at least one Lewis book a year but this volume was something a bit different, daily readings from many of his works. I have a friend who is working on a project to find all the quotes attributed to Lewis that he never wrote or said, at least in this selection you will find authentic Lewis with some of his best quotes. A very nice way to start out each morning. I generally have a devotional to read after my devotions in the morning and this served that purpose for me in 2018.
I am sure I will return to this in a couple of years.
I am sure I will return to this in a couple of years.
March 13, 2023
I like it when he’s pithy and imagining out loud and not when he’s preachy and in an indoctrinating mood. One of my favorites is his Meditations in a Tool Shed. I have one but I prefer to sit under a tree or in a splash of sun or on the nearby creek bank. Pipe in hand.
December 22, 2022
So good I am gonna read it again in 2014!!!! Yup it's that good!
Read a third time in 2022 so good!
Read a third time in 2022 so good!
December 30, 2019
I liked this for the most part although some of it was too deep for a nighttime devotional, but it did give me insight into his other books that I may be interested to read in the future.
November 11, 2023
DNF
Honestly I just really wasn’t enjoying this book. I had such high hopes from such a wonderful author but the wording made no sense to me in this devotional style. I feel like it would have read much better as the individual books. I found him contradicting himself constantly and I just didn’t get it. Lewis is such a brilliant author I guess I was hoping for too much maybe.
Honestly I just really wasn’t enjoying this book. I had such high hopes from such a wonderful author but the wording made no sense to me in this devotional style. I feel like it would have read much better as the individual books. I found him contradicting himself constantly and I just didn’t get it. Lewis is such a brilliant author I guess I was hoping for too much maybe.
October 13, 2012
Simply wonderful. Magnificent. Nancy and I read through this one together.
January 7, 2011
There are men and women of great minds that write books that you simply must read. For the cause and subject of Christianity, C. S. Lewis ranks as one the best apologetic minds in all of Christendom.
A Year with C. S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works, is exceptional because within it you will find choice writings from other must-read books by C. S. Lewis such as Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain, Miracles, A Grief Observed, The Weight of Glory, and The Abolition of Man.
Edited and arranged by Patricia Klein, each days reading of a selection of Lewis’ works will cause you to remember the book it was quoted from, if you have read it. Book Review of A Year with C. S. Lewis edited by Patricia Klein
If it is the first time you are reading C. S. Lewis, it may cause you to ponder and consider his delightful style, his no-nonsense approach, and his seasoned grasp on the foundations of Christianity.
I have read all the works that this book of meditations draws from, which added great depth to the daily readings. I can mark the time in my life when I read a particular book by C. S. Lewis. It would be hard for me to choose which of his books were my favorite, I would say The Great Divorce and Mere Christianity top my list.
Lewis is profound. Having his works broken down in daily meditations makes his messages easier to digest. Of course, it is always best, at least for me, to have a dictionary handy when reading C. S. Lewis. He was a master of wit and wisdom and it flowed beautifully through his writings.
I recently purchased a eReader and this book was one of the very first ebooks I bought. I recommend it highly for personal use or as a gift. For daily reading and / or meditation, I would rank this compilation very close to Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.
Reviewed by: Keiki Hendrix
Reviewed for: The Vessel Project
A Year with C. S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works, is exceptional because within it you will find choice writings from other must-read books by C. S. Lewis such as Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain, Miracles, A Grief Observed, The Weight of Glory, and The Abolition of Man.
Edited and arranged by Patricia Klein, each days reading of a selection of Lewis’ works will cause you to remember the book it was quoted from, if you have read it. Book Review of A Year with C. S. Lewis edited by Patricia Klein
If it is the first time you are reading C. S. Lewis, it may cause you to ponder and consider his delightful style, his no-nonsense approach, and his seasoned grasp on the foundations of Christianity.
I have read all the works that this book of meditations draws from, which added great depth to the daily readings. I can mark the time in my life when I read a particular book by C. S. Lewis. It would be hard for me to choose which of his books were my favorite, I would say The Great Divorce and Mere Christianity top my list.
Lewis is profound. Having his works broken down in daily meditations makes his messages easier to digest. Of course, it is always best, at least for me, to have a dictionary handy when reading C. S. Lewis. He was a master of wit and wisdom and it flowed beautifully through his writings.
I recently purchased a eReader and this book was one of the very first ebooks I bought. I recommend it highly for personal use or as a gift. For daily reading and / or meditation, I would rank this compilation very close to Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.
Reviewed by: Keiki Hendrix
Reviewed for: The Vessel Project
August 8, 2024
This are selected portions from Lewis books for every single day of the year to read...
They are so good, that I've gulp them down in a piece!!!
Although samples, they convey Lewis witticisms and insight in a delightful and pleasant way!
If you have skip Lewis writings, please don't do it any longer...
I loved this compilation, and recommend it with five well deserved stars...
They are so good, that I've gulp them down in a piece!!!
Although samples, they convey Lewis witticisms and insight in a delightful and pleasant way!
If you have skip Lewis writings, please don't do it any longer...
I loved this compilation, and recommend it with five well deserved stars...
December 28, 2011
A short passage each day from the pen of C.S. Lewis provides a good introduction to or review to the writings of the great scholar, don, and Christian.
August 10, 2012
What can be better than a best of C. S. Lewis devotional book? Top notch. Great selections, short in length - great for daily devotional reading.
January 1, 2018
This was an excellent book to read through in 2017. It had been a while since I'd read the books by Lewis that are excerpted throughout the year in this collection, and the reminder of some great passages was often very helpful, encouraging, and challenging. I particularly enjoyed selections from The Weight of Glory, the writings by Lewis that I'm least familiar with. I am glad to know "Learning in War-Time," now, which I shared with my students after reading parts of it here.
I recommend these daily readings to people who are already familiar with at least some of Lewis's non-fiction works (there are no selections here from Narnia). Because these are short excerpts, they sometimes might not make sense to readers who don't know the fuller context.
I recommend these daily readings to people who are already familiar with at least some of Lewis's non-fiction works (there are no selections here from Narnia). Because these are short excerpts, they sometimes might not make sense to readers who don't know the fuller context.
September 4, 2016
I am really enjoying this book A Year With C. S. Lewis. I got it on a whim in January and am really glad I have it on my Kindle for daily reading. It uses excerpts from well known books such as Mere Christianity combined with snippets of letters and lesser known writing, and flows through different themes such as knowing God, prayer, and so forth.
The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because occasionally it is difficult to pick up the thread of the excerpt for the day. This has become apparent when reading a daily entry aloud with my husband over our weekday lunches in the office. It doesn't happen often though.
The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because occasionally it is difficult to pick up the thread of the excerpt for the day. This has become apparent when reading a daily entry aloud with my husband over our weekday lunches in the office. It doesn't happen often though.
April 30, 2024
My all time favorite devotional! If you enjoy Lewis' work then this is a must have. You'll enjoy reading excerpts from all of his works every day.
January 2, 2021
I felt like this book was a really good introduction to the writings of CS Lewis. I have an understanding (even if it’s minimal) of what most of his big works were about and what a lot of his philosophies on life, death, and religion are. This format has encouraged me to try reading other authors Im curious about once a day for a year as well. I will say that some of the groupings of works were overpowering in some areas and scattered in others. I feel like the beginning ones are much more thought-out than the later ones (which makes sense as far as selling the book).
January 23, 2021
I've read bits and pieces of this for a few years now... often starting over before finishing to follow along from the beginning in an effort to do the daily reading consistently for a full year, or waiting starting again where I left off, etc. This time, I decided to simply finish it. Don't let my slow reading of it deter you - it was a great collection of readings from C.S. Lewis' various works and had a nice cohesive feeling to it, despite the brevity of each day's reading. It's a great way to slow down and begin (or finish) a day thoughtfully.
January 31, 2019
It is a stretch to say that I have finished this book because I read January daily readings in a week, and now I want to read each day's offering on its specified date. I am enjoying the readings several of which are from Screwtape Letters which I read years ago. I knew CS Lewis was a devout Christian, but I had no idea the depth of his religious fervour. I am adding this review so it is not labeled as reading for the entire year. I do recommend it for those who enjoy spiritual daily readings.
January 1, 2021
Wow, 2020 was a great year to read this book. Despite everything that was going on throughout the year, I included a page from this book every day during my morning devotional time. It's very deep and philosophical, but very insightful. I haven't read some of the books that were quoted here, but now I want to read everything Mr. Lewis published.
January 1, 2019
Some obscure, some divine, this sampling of CS Lewis' writings makes me want to go out and read much more. If you haven't read his writings in Christian apologetics before, this is an excellent place to start.
May 12, 2020
So many great thoughts in here. Off rails or tough to follow a few. Overall a lot of great thought provoking stuff. Nice devotional.
January 1, 2025
Loved reading this through the year. I've read most of the works featured in here, but it was a good overview and reminder of how much I enjoy his books.
January 1, 2021
A Year with C. S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works is a slapdash devotional that captures the essence of Lewis’ theology. Pulling from Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, Miracles, The Problem of Pain, and The Great Divorce, the readings highlight a myriad of topics and issues of the Christian faith. Additionally, a number of red-letter dates are marked, noting important personal and career events in Lewis’ life. Some of the passages are quite thought provoking and deep (sometimes a little too deep), while others are rather mundane. However, the devotional format comes off as a little forced, as the passages aren’t always self-contained and tone changes with each work. Still, while it has its problems, A Year with C. S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works, is a remarkable exploration of both the mind of C.S. Lewis and Christian philosophy.
December 12, 2022
The words of Lewis have been formative for my faith and that of countless others. At the start of this year I was craving steadiness and dependability from my faith readings and knew I would find that in this collection. Each day contains a one-page excerpt from one of Lewis’s works (among them Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and A Grief Observed). I have read a number of Lewis’s books in full but was thankful for the chance to dip back into his wisdom each morning through this collection, and because Lewis’s writing is so packed with insight, I found the brief excerpts to be more impactful than attempting to reread the entire books. The devotionals are well-arranged and surprisingly timely for reflections written many decades ago. The historical factoids about Lewis included by the editor are a nice touch. This devotional will be appreciated by those new to Lewis and long-time Lewis fans alike. This is right up there with My Utmost for His Highest as my all-time favorite devotionals.
My Rating: 5+ Stars // Book Format: Print
My Rating: 5+ Stars // Book Format: Print
January 6, 2025
* what God cares about is not exactly our actions. What he cares about is that we should be creatures if a certain kind of quality. If you are right with him, you will inevitably be right with all your fellow-creatures
* There is a vital moment at which you turn to God and say, 'You must do this. I can't.'
* In our own case we accept excuses too easily; in other people's we do not accept them easily enough.
* Real forgiveness means looking steadily at the sin, and seeing it in all its horror, and nevertheless being wholly reconciled to the man who has done it.
* If you don't forgive you will not be forgiven.
* Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just the power of always trying again.
* The lie consists in the suggestion that any sexual act to which you are tempted at the moment is healthy and normal. Actually, surrendering to all your desires leads to impotence, disease, lies, jealousy, and concealment.
*The sins of flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins. Sins of the worst pleasures are spiritual: the pleasure of putting other in the wrong, of bossing and patronizing and spoiling sport, and back-biting, the pleasures of power, of hatred.
* Being in love moves you to promise. quieter loves enables you to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it.
* When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them.
* The longest way around is the shortest way home
* The sacrifice of selfish privacy is daily repaid a hundrenfold in the true growth of personality
* We ought to take reality as it comes to us
* To be low means to be raised: all good masters are servants. God washes the feet of men.
* Imagine a lot of people who have always lived in the dark. You tell them that if they come into the light that same light would fall on them all. So they would imagine since they are all receiving the same light, they would all look alike. Whereas you and I know that the light will in fact bring out, or show up, how different they are. The light of God does not mean you lose yourself. It actually brings it out.
* Who will trust us with true wealth if we cannot be trusted even with the wealth that perishes? Who will trust me with a spiritual body if I cannot control even an earthly body.
* When we ask God to help us, he puts into us a bit of himself. He lends us a little of his reasoning power and love. We love and reason because God loves and reasons and holds our hand while we do it.
* There is a vital moment at which you turn to God and say, 'You must do this. I can't.'
* In our own case we accept excuses too easily; in other people's we do not accept them easily enough.
* Real forgiveness means looking steadily at the sin, and seeing it in all its horror, and nevertheless being wholly reconciled to the man who has done it.
* If you don't forgive you will not be forgiven.
* Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just the power of always trying again.
* The lie consists in the suggestion that any sexual act to which you are tempted at the moment is healthy and normal. Actually, surrendering to all your desires leads to impotence, disease, lies, jealousy, and concealment.
*The sins of flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins. Sins of the worst pleasures are spiritual: the pleasure of putting other in the wrong, of bossing and patronizing and spoiling sport, and back-biting, the pleasures of power, of hatred.
* Being in love moves you to promise. quieter loves enables you to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it.
* When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them.
* The longest way around is the shortest way home
* The sacrifice of selfish privacy is daily repaid a hundrenfold in the true growth of personality
* We ought to take reality as it comes to us
* To be low means to be raised: all good masters are servants. God washes the feet of men.
* Imagine a lot of people who have always lived in the dark. You tell them that if they come into the light that same light would fall on them all. So they would imagine since they are all receiving the same light, they would all look alike. Whereas you and I know that the light will in fact bring out, or show up, how different they are. The light of God does not mean you lose yourself. It actually brings it out.
* Who will trust us with true wealth if we cannot be trusted even with the wealth that perishes? Who will trust me with a spiritual body if I cannot control even an earthly body.
* When we ask God to help us, he puts into us a bit of himself. He lends us a little of his reasoning power and love. We love and reason because God loves and reasons and holds our hand while we do it.
May 24, 2012
Pure Solid Lewis, Every Day of the Year
C.S. Lewis is valued by many as one of the clearest and most lucid voices of reason in 20th Century Christianity.
Clive Staples Lewis, (Jack to his friends) wrestled as an younger adult with his belief in God, having embraced agnosticism as the only truly valid position to be taken by an intellectually honest person. A highly intelligent man, he could not simply accept on blind faith, the tenets of Christianity. However, in large part due to the influence of fellow literary professor J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis came to wrestle with Christianity and came to the conclusion that it was indeed rationale and defensible and thus was born a literary and apologetics career that spanned radio programs, children's books, science fiction and several well loved and highly influential apologetic tomes.
This daily reader puts together a wonderful collection of pithy passages and thoughts that will serve as part of a daily devotional regimen (not all of it though ... I suspect Lewis himself would not want reading his works to replace reading Scripture.) Each selection stands well on its own and captures the genius of Lewis in taking an often difficult concept and reducing it to an acecdotal story that bring clarity and understanding.
An excellent collection and a worthy daily regimen.
C.S. Lewis is valued by many as one of the clearest and most lucid voices of reason in 20th Century Christianity.
Clive Staples Lewis, (Jack to his friends) wrestled as an younger adult with his belief in God, having embraced agnosticism as the only truly valid position to be taken by an intellectually honest person. A highly intelligent man, he could not simply accept on blind faith, the tenets of Christianity. However, in large part due to the influence of fellow literary professor J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis came to wrestle with Christianity and came to the conclusion that it was indeed rationale and defensible and thus was born a literary and apologetics career that spanned radio programs, children's books, science fiction and several well loved and highly influential apologetic tomes.
This daily reader puts together a wonderful collection of pithy passages and thoughts that will serve as part of a daily devotional regimen (not all of it though ... I suspect Lewis himself would not want reading his works to replace reading Scripture.) Each selection stands well on its own and captures the genius of Lewis in taking an often difficult concept and reducing it to an acecdotal story that bring clarity and understanding.
An excellent collection and a worthy daily regimen.
June 23, 2012
A Year With C. S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works by C.S.Lewis
A thought provoking, uplifting and spirit filled way to start every day. I feel so many of us get up , drink our coffee and go about our day mindless of our true direction.
I know for me this book changed all of that? Each entry was short enough that you felt , yes, I have time to do this,but mind you they were so packed full of his unending gifts you the.kn took with you a solid purpose. I lived each day , perhaps not better, but aware of my actions, thoughts and intent. It's a good thing, as Oprah would say, hah! It is good to be aware of oneself when all to often we are not. I find I'm a much kinder, loving individual if I keep my mind in that state. So I say thank you Mr. Lewis, again.
A thought provoking, uplifting and spirit filled way to start every day. I feel so many of us get up , drink our coffee and go about our day mindless of our true direction.
I know for me this book changed all of that? Each entry was short enough that you felt , yes, I have time to do this,but mind you they were so packed full of his unending gifts you the.kn took with you a solid purpose. I lived each day , perhaps not better, but aware of my actions, thoughts and intent. It's a good thing, as Oprah would say, hah! It is good to be aware of oneself when all to often we are not. I find I'm a much kinder, loving individual if I keep my mind in that state. So I say thank you Mr. Lewis, again.
December 31, 2013
Before spending five minutes each morning for the past year with his writing, I had never read any C.S. Lewis. Becoming acquainted with his work through these excerpts bore mixed results. Some books, like Mere Christianity and A Grief Observed, excerpted well and provided substantial food for thought. Others, like The Screwtape Letters and The Problem with Pain, sometimes needed more context or extended passages to bear fruit. And some titles, like The Weight of Glory, turned me off completely, seeming out of date or particular to an Englishman of a certain class and political mindset. Despite or because of these ups and downs, it was a good practice to encounter Lewis each morning, interesting enough to engage in more depth at a future date through his full-length books.
September 3, 2015
You don't have to spend much time with me to figure out that I LOVE C.S. LEWIS. I think of him as my wise and gentle older brother.
"A Year with C.S. Lewis..." is a great book for Lewis lovers. It compiles excerpts from many of Lewis's best-loved books into a daily-reading format. Think of it as a daily dose of Lewis!
When I have a stack of books by other writers on my desk and don't have time at the moment to re-read "That Hideous Strength" or "Surprised by Joy" or another Lewis title, "A Year with Lewis" is just the thing to tide me over until I can jump into Lewis again with both feet.
"A Year with C.S. Lewis..." is a great book for Lewis lovers. It compiles excerpts from many of Lewis's best-loved books into a daily-reading format. Think of it as a daily dose of Lewis!
When I have a stack of books by other writers on my desk and don't have time at the moment to re-read "That Hideous Strength" or "Surprised by Joy" or another Lewis title, "A Year with Lewis" is just the thing to tide me over until I can jump into Lewis again with both feet.
February 18, 2014
Wonderful daily readings for the year. The selections were taken from a variety of Lewis's books. I was motivated to read a couple of his books again after getting occasional excerpts. More are on my 'to read' list for this year. What a gift Lewis has to summarize major points of theology so very succinctly. Makes him so very quotable.
"A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all --and more amusing."
" A woman means by usefulness chiefly taking trouble for others; a man means not giving trouble to others."
"Why is God landing in this enemy-occupied world in disguise and starting a sort of secret society to undermine the devil?"
"A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all --and more amusing."
" A woman means by usefulness chiefly taking trouble for others; a man means not giving trouble to others."
"Why is God landing in this enemy-occupied world in disguise and starting a sort of secret society to undermine the devil?"
August 2, 2014
"A Year with C.S. Lewis" is a daily devotional of short excerpts from Lewis' magnificent body of classical Christian apologetics. Readings include passages from "Mere Christianity," "The Screwtape Letters," "The Great Divorce," "The Problem of Pain," "Miracles," "A Grief Observed," "The Weight of Glory" and "The Abolition of Man." Throughout the devotional, important dates in the life of C.S. Lewis are also noted. Organized by the calendar year, this is an excellent devotional for pondering some of the essential mysteries of the faith, as well as a terrific refresher or introduction to some of the greatest works of the twentieth century.
June 12, 2008
If you don't have time to sit down and read all the classic works of Lewis, this book is a nice "reader's digest" version of some of the greatest thoughts and ideas from those books. I refer to it fairly often, and enjoyed being able to read one quote a day, which made it pretty easy, and still gave me plenty to digest each day! I only gave it 4 stars instead of five though, because the organization of it isn't really great and is far from user-friendly when you're trying to look something up. No topic index; poorly assigned titles for each quote. Great quotes, however.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews