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Education and History
This volume of short essays and other pieces by C. S. Lewis is part of a larger collection, C. S. Lewis: Essay Collection and Other Short Pieces. In addition to his many books, letters, and poems, C. S. Lewis wrote a great number of essays and shorter pieces on various subjects. He wrote extensively on Christian theology and the defense of faith but also on ethical issues and the nature of literature and storytelling. Within this audiobook is a treasure trove of Lewis' reflections on diverse topics.
This volume includes:
1. Learning in War-Time
2. Bulverism, or The Foundation of Twentieth-Century Thought
3. The Founding of the Oxford Socratic Club
4. My First School
5. Democratic Education
6. Blimpophobia
7. Private Bates
8. Meditation in a Toolshed
9. On the Transmission of Christianity
10. Modern Man and His Categories of Thought
11. Historicism
12. The Empty Universe
13. Interim Report
14. Is History Bunk?
15. Before We Can Communicate
Public Domain (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
This volume includes:
1. Learning in War-Time
2. Bulverism, or The Foundation of Twentieth-Century Thought
3. The Founding of the Oxford Socratic Club
4. My First School
5. Democratic Education
6. Blimpophobia
7. Private Bates
8. Meditation in a Toolshed
9. On the Transmission of Christianity
10. Modern Man and His Categories of Thought
11. Historicism
12. The Empty Universe
13. Interim Report
14. Is History Bunk?
15. Before We Can Communicate
Public Domain (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Audiobook
First published November 15, 2013
2 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Lewis
1,035 books48.1k 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 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 25, 2021
Good. May revisit in the future.
November 18, 2022
This is a small collection of some of C.S. Lewis' essays and short works, mainly concerning education and history, as the title indicates, but also touching on various other subjects such as theology, society, communication, and more.
It includes 15 pieces:
1. Learning in War-Time
2. Bulverism, or The Foundation of Twentieth-Century Thought
3. The Founding of the Oxford Socratic Club
4. My First School
5. Democratic Education
6. Blimpophobia
7. Private Bates
8. Meditation in a Toolshed
9. On the Transmission of Christianity
10. Modern Man and His Categories of Thought
11. Historicism
12. The Empty Universe
13. Interim Report
14. Is History Bunk?
15. Before We Can Communicate
To be honest, I listened to this at 2x speed while I was out shopping and while I worked, so I admit that some of it blew right over my head. However, the parts I did catch were as impressive and great as always with Lewis.
I love Lewis. He's a genius. I love reading his works. They're all just so deep and good and insightful, and this compilation was no exception. Lewis just has this knack for beautifully and eloquently expressing things that other people might also feel but never can put into the right words. (I feel like I may have already said that before in one of my other reviews, but whatever. It's true.) Not only that, but his words are as applicable today as they were back when he first wrote them. Sometimes even more so apt in today's day and age, in fact.
His insights into his subjects are always so true and eye-opening, and you can just tell that he truly understood and knew his topic and thought deeply about each of them.
Definitely want to reread this one day.
It includes 15 pieces:
1. Learning in War-Time
2. Bulverism, or The Foundation of Twentieth-Century Thought
3. The Founding of the Oxford Socratic Club
4. My First School
5. Democratic Education
6. Blimpophobia
7. Private Bates
8. Meditation in a Toolshed
9. On the Transmission of Christianity
10. Modern Man and His Categories of Thought
11. Historicism
12. The Empty Universe
13. Interim Report
14. Is History Bunk?
15. Before We Can Communicate
To be honest, I listened to this at 2x speed while I was out shopping and while I worked, so I admit that some of it blew right over my head. However, the parts I did catch were as impressive and great as always with Lewis.
I love Lewis. He's a genius. I love reading his works. They're all just so deep and good and insightful, and this compilation was no exception. Lewis just has this knack for beautifully and eloquently expressing things that other people might also feel but never can put into the right words. (I feel like I may have already said that before in one of my other reviews, but whatever. It's true.) Not only that, but his words are as applicable today as they were back when he first wrote them. Sometimes even more so apt in today's day and age, in fact.
His insights into his subjects are always so true and eye-opening, and you can just tell that he truly understood and knew his topic and thought deeply about each of them.
Definitely want to reread this one day.
January 9, 2019
This is a small collection of Lewis's essays on the subjects of education and/or history. These essays were published previously in books, journals, pamphlets, or as sermons.
Lewis's ideas have such profound integrity that I find them hard to digest all in one sitting. I agree with many of his criticisms towards modern (even though these essays were written more than half a century ago) education; his points are still very much relevant today.
Two essays that really stood out to me were "Learning in War-Time" and "Democratic Education". In "Learning in War-Time", Lewis argues that "The war creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it." He then suggests that we as humans, will carry on reading and thinking regardless what the state the world is like around us. So, if we don't read good books we will read bad ones; if we don't think rationally or accept aesthetic satisfactions, we will think irrationally and fall into sensual satisfactions. Hence, those with the capacity for higher learning might as well put their mental faculties to good use through formal education. (Full essay can be found here: http://bradleyggreen.com/attachments/...)
In "Democratic Education", Lewis harshly criticizes the trend of "dumbing down" certain subjects (first Latin then Mathematics) in school such that every student performs to the illusion of success. I adore his argument and his stand on how education should serve students who wish to pursue knowledge sincerely. I know this essay was published in Lewis's book "Present Concerns", but you can find the first half of the essay here: https://nebraskaenergyobserver.wordpr...
I give this book 3.5 stars. It makes me want to read more of C.S. Lewis's essays.
Lewis's ideas have such profound integrity that I find them hard to digest all in one sitting. I agree with many of his criticisms towards modern (even though these essays were written more than half a century ago) education; his points are still very much relevant today.
Two essays that really stood out to me were "Learning in War-Time" and "Democratic Education". In "Learning in War-Time", Lewis argues that "The war creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it." He then suggests that we as humans, will carry on reading and thinking regardless what the state the world is like around us. So, if we don't read good books we will read bad ones; if we don't think rationally or accept aesthetic satisfactions, we will think irrationally and fall into sensual satisfactions. Hence, those with the capacity for higher learning might as well put their mental faculties to good use through formal education. (Full essay can be found here: http://bradleyggreen.com/attachments/...)
In "Democratic Education", Lewis harshly criticizes the trend of "dumbing down" certain subjects (first Latin then Mathematics) in school such that every student performs to the illusion of success. I adore his argument and his stand on how education should serve students who wish to pursue knowledge sincerely. I know this essay was published in Lewis's book "Present Concerns", but you can find the first half of the essay here: https://nebraskaenergyobserver.wordpr...
I give this book 3.5 stars. It makes me want to read more of C.S. Lewis's essays.
December 15, 2022
Virtually all essays reflecting on education were fascinating and worth revisiting. Got a bit prophetic in his criticism at times, well ahead of his time in assessing some of the consequences of modernity.
October 17, 2023
I keep saying this with Lewis' books, but .... if only his thoughts were the norm today. They are not perfect, but they are not today's norm either. I'll take Lewis, thank you very much.
In this book he dwells on the importance of education as a guiding principle for societies, said principles emerging over decades after the "graduation," and the burden that the relaxation of educational rigor and critical thinking will manifest in future time. That time is our time, folks, and Lewis hit it spot on.
In this book he dwells on the importance of education as a guiding principle for societies, said principles emerging over decades after the "graduation," and the burden that the relaxation of educational rigor and critical thinking will manifest in future time. That time is our time, folks, and Lewis hit it spot on.
December 28, 2020
These essays are pulled from different published books by C.S. Lewis that all follow the theme of Education. They were insightful and a good reminder of Lewis’s solid analysis of 20th century education. If you are wondering, things are not better.
November 18, 2020
This book is a series of short essays written on various subjects. He touches on Christian theology and the defense of faith but also addresses other ethical issues and the nature of education. Fifteen writings make up this collection. Being the true intellectual that C.S. Lewis was, his writing quickly goes over my head and breadth of understanding. I enjoy following his logic and his masterful use of the English language until he takes me around the corner and over the bridge of my comprehension. An excellent read for those deep thinkers who need an intellectual challenge.
December 24, 2020
If you enjoy mid-20th C. Christian proselytizing, with an obligatory soupçon of misogyny, written in the stilted style of a man aware of his own gift for elegantly weaving the English language into many-hued fabric, you’ll love this book.
November 8, 2021
This book gives us a lot to think about. Toward the end he points out one of the truest flaws in communication which I’ve often come across. That of the issue of shared vocabulary, and how it can happen that you might think you disagree with a person whom you share the same views with, simply because you lack a shared vocabulary for the meaning behind various words. This has happened to me a few times over the years, to the point where I began asking people what they meant when they said certain things. For example, the definition of sexuality and gender has morphed in the past few years, so that when I left the U.S. they meant one thing, and five years later upon returning there were groups of people who would insist they meant the opposite and had switched definitions. That wasn’t the only word to have changed either. Upon leaving the U.S. I learned that there are those overseas who refer to anyone born in America as Native American, while trying to correct the person who used this phrase in regard to myself, I found myself being outwitted due to the very definition of the original words, and realized that I lacked the vocabulary to effectively explain the difference. In the end I came to the conclusion that language was meant to be a simple and effective means of communication, and that we lose the ability to communicate effectively with other countries when we allow it to shift so rapidly. With the advancing changes with the internet our language is shifting definitions at an inordinate rate. As such I usually fall back on my physical dictionaries, which have kept their same definitions for decades and as such are far more reliable for definitions which are likely to be shared by others than those of the online dictionaries which are constantly changing their definitions. It is also concerning to me that the degradation of language is accelerating at such a ruthless speed. Language and shared definitions are always one of the first things to go before the fall of any great nation. Perhaps it is because it makes it so impossible for those under duress to have their grievances understood. Either way, it is an important observation that those around us will not always share our definitions for words, and as such we should make an extra effort to ensure we understand what they’re trying to convey.
May 8, 2021
This a collection of essays that Lewis has written on Education and History over his lifespan, within these texts we find a lot of interesting takes that i didn’t realize that’s how people could feel about the state of education today and the teachers that work inside that system. As I remember in one part of the text he says that there should be an emphasis on the guarantee of the relevance of Christian ideology and methodology in the next generation of people so there such be more Christian teachers to propagate that idea. I wonder how he would feel if an advocate of any other other ideology said, and acted on, the same principle. Would he call it an erasure of Christian ideology? Personally, I think after reading these texts I would categorize Lewis as an Christian Nationalist, even if he disagrees with what Evangelical Christians believe. So I doubt I will read many more of his works as there a ton of opinions in this text that just felt so opposite of how the world is. Like calling it a bad thing that proletarians are self-serving? Idk not my vibe even if it’s written from an pseudo-intellectual perspective
January 7, 2023
Notes, chapter 5
“The demand for equality has two sources; one of them is among the noblest, the other is the basest, of human emotions. The noble source is the desire for fair play. But the other source is the hatred of superiority. At the present moment it would be very unrealistic to overlook the importance of the latter.
Equality (outside mathematics) is a purely social conception. It applies to man as a political and economic animal. It has no place in the world of the mind. Beauty is not democratic; she reveals herself more to the few than to the many…. Virtue is not democratic; she is achieved by those who pursue her more hotly than most men. Truth is not democratic; she demands special talents and special industry in those to whom she gives her favours. Political democracy is doomed if it tries to extend its demand for equality into these higher spheres. Ethical, intellectual, or aesthetic democracy is death.
Democracy demands that little men should not take big ones too seriously; it dies when it is full of little men who think they are big themselves.”
“The demand for equality has two sources; one of them is among the noblest, the other is the basest, of human emotions. The noble source is the desire for fair play. But the other source is the hatred of superiority. At the present moment it would be very unrealistic to overlook the importance of the latter.
Equality (outside mathematics) is a purely social conception. It applies to man as a political and economic animal. It has no place in the world of the mind. Beauty is not democratic; she reveals herself more to the few than to the many…. Virtue is not democratic; she is achieved by those who pursue her more hotly than most men. Truth is not democratic; she demands special talents and special industry in those to whom she gives her favours. Political democracy is doomed if it tries to extend its demand for equality into these higher spheres. Ethical, intellectual, or aesthetic democracy is death.
Democracy demands that little men should not take big ones too seriously; it dies when it is full of little men who think they are big themselves.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2023
Aside from The Chronicles of Narnia, I haven’t read much of C.S. Lewis’ writing. It’s something that I’ve been meaning to remedy and I finally got around to listening to this audiobook that’s been sitting in my library.
This collection of essays focuses on, naturally, topics of education and its importance and value. It also discusses quite a bit about life during wartime and Christianity.
The essays weren’t as lengthy as I’d imagined, though it made for quicker listening. When reading them back to back they begin to sound repetitive, but overall not a bad collection. I would have preferred this as an ebook.
This collection of essays focuses on, naturally, topics of education and its importance and value. It also discusses quite a bit about life during wartime and Christianity.
The essays weren’t as lengthy as I’d imagined, though it made for quicker listening. When reading them back to back they begin to sound repetitive, but overall not a bad collection. I would have preferred this as an ebook.
September 7, 2023
I particularly enjoyed this short collection of Lewis’ works as it had several works I had not read before. As the title indicates, this collection primarily includes writings on Education & History. I think they are primarily of interest to those who love near anything Lewis writes, such as myself, or those with a particular interest on those subjects he writes on which, to be honest, are all pretty niche (the purpose of studying history, his concerns about educational trends in his day, etc.).
July 4, 2021
The Author has some strong commentary
on History and Education citing
it's virtues, value and proper place in society
75 percent of this collection of essays is quite good
however it devolves slightly in some points
into splitting ideological hairs .
Pithy but it becomes a bit dry
I've enjoyed C.S Lewis books before
this was a slight disappointment
but still worth listening to
on History and Education citing
it's virtues, value and proper place in society
75 percent of this collection of essays is quite good
however it devolves slightly in some points
into splitting ideological hairs .
Pithy but it becomes a bit dry
I've enjoyed C.S Lewis books before
this was a slight disappointment
but still worth listening to
November 20, 2023
This book was a fairly unexpected surprise collection of short essays that I had not been familiar with before.
Whether you agree with Lewis' conclusions or not, you have to appreciate his logical thinking and ability to create clear word pictures from common concepts.
I am glad that I happened upon this collection during an online sale. Well worth the read.
Whether you agree with Lewis' conclusions or not, you have to appreciate his logical thinking and ability to create clear word pictures from common concepts.
I am glad that I happened upon this collection during an online sale. Well worth the read.
November 2, 2020
Really Good.
March 1, 2021
Volume of short essays.
September 25, 2022
Some really great stuff in this one, including "Learning in Wartime" and "Meditation in a Toolshed."
May 21, 2023
C. S. Lewis did a good job with his writing. I was able to comprehend this work as well as engage with the concept discussed. I would recommend this audiobook.
August 7, 2023
I never realized what an intellect C S Lewis was.
May 8, 2024
Brilliant.
May 23, 2024
I will definitely need to revisit these essays once I finish the whole set!
January 14, 2026
Oh, so prophetic, with solid insights. Perceived to be beneficial reading for every educator or historian.
September 12, 2023
C.S. Lewis has grown to be a favorite author of mine as of late. The more things I read about him and read things by him I fall more and more in love with his writings wanting more but sadly knowing that will not be. I think the ultimate fangirl in me would of loved a book written by both JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis or even going to a lecture by them like Diana Wynne Jones did -another author I love.
I digress, as an audio book this was a little harder for me to grasp the full work of all the essays and had to take them in parts, sometimes listening to the track to understand the essay. I was very happy to know each track is an essay and was easy to pick up if lost.
Listening to learn is not my strong suit but I try and practice with audio books to help that skill that I lack. And this one was a good one to practice to since I had to think about each lecture.
Most are talks about life and Christianity and his thoughts on life being a Christian from when he was not -if that bothers people. But some didn't really talk about his faith at all.
The first Essay was by far my favorite, with his quote, "Do not let your nerves and emotions lead you into thinking your predicament is more abnormal then it really is." This is a reminder and still -and ever be; current. Many other scholars will tell you that emotions cloud judgment and reasonings for sound decisions; it can also stop you from moving forward when battling depression and other health and mental state of being. This is by no means to gaslight someone, but to say, 'you are not alone, and that others deal with it too; You can, and will come back from this.' This statement can be seen as motivating to keep moving on and one to remind you that it clouds your view on things to move outside the box and do better, be better. At the end of the day we are all human and make mistakes but what makes us better is learning how to deal with things that drag us down so we may help other and to educate them how they can deal with what we have gone through so they do not repeat our history but make a better one!
I digress, as an audio book this was a little harder for me to grasp the full work of all the essays and had to take them in parts, sometimes listening to the track to understand the essay. I was very happy to know each track is an essay and was easy to pick up if lost.
Listening to learn is not my strong suit but I try and practice with audio books to help that skill that I lack. And this one was a good one to practice to since I had to think about each lecture.
Most are talks about life and Christianity and his thoughts on life being a Christian from when he was not -if that bothers people. But some didn't really talk about his faith at all.
The first Essay was by far my favorite, with his quote, "Do not let your nerves and emotions lead you into thinking your predicament is more abnormal then it really is." This is a reminder and still -and ever be; current. Many other scholars will tell you that emotions cloud judgment and reasonings for sound decisions; it can also stop you from moving forward when battling depression and other health and mental state of being. This is by no means to gaslight someone, but to say, 'you are not alone, and that others deal with it too; You can, and will come back from this.' This statement can be seen as motivating to keep moving on and one to remind you that it clouds your view on things to move outside the box and do better, be better. At the end of the day we are all human and make mistakes but what makes us better is learning how to deal with things that drag us down so we may help other and to educate them how they can deal with what we have gone through so they do not repeat our history but make a better one!
May 22, 2018
Listened to the Blackstone audio version of this work, read by Ralph Cosham.
Like being in a desert and finding an oasis.
What a delight to spend time with a man who has the ability to think!
Such a needed break from the noise and confusion we're exposed to today.
Loved it. Recommend it!
Like being in a desert and finding an oasis.
What a delight to spend time with a man who has the ability to think!
Such a needed break from the noise and confusion we're exposed to today.
Loved it. Recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews