Surprised by Joy
by C.S. Lewis

As a young boy, C.S. Lewis accepted the traditional religious beliefs and practices he received from his parents and culture. Experiences he had growing up led him to profess athiesm. In this spiritual autobiography, Lewis reflects on his education, his time in the army, and his experience as a teacher as he considers the people and events that eventually pointed him back to acknowledging God's existence and finally accepting Christ Jesus as Lord.

Lewis' comments on appaling the condition of English boarding schools are sufficient in themselves to push parents into homeschooling. He uses evolutionary theory to support an argument here, as he does in Mere Christianity, which conclusion I dispute. This book is not easy to get through, but the overall thesis is engaging: joy is gift of God, but obtaining joy must not be our goal. We must seek the source of joy Himself.

Lewis travelled a long and winding road to faith, but it made a profoud difference in his life. Praise be to the One who is not ashamed to call us brethren, we who are among the many sons being brought to glory (Heb. 2:10-11).