C. S. Lewis' Top Ten

In 1962, The Christian Century magazine asked C. S. Lewis: “What books did most to shape your vocational attitude and your philosophy of life?” In response, Lewis offered the following list:

1. Phantastes by George MacDonald
2. The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton
3. The Aeneid by Virgil
4. The Temple by George Herbert
5. The Prelude by William Wordsworth
6. The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto
7. The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius
8. Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell
9. Descent into Hell by Charles Williams
10. Theism and Humanism by Arthur James Balfour

I am writing a book about Lewis' Top Ten Books, with one chapter on each of the above. I have already written the Introduction and the chapter on MacDonald. Each chapter will include a section on how the book influenced Lewis, a brief biography of the author and an overview of the book itself. My goal is to write a chapter per month in 2012. So I thought I would share here some of the things I am learning as I am in the midst of the writing process. Next up, some thoughts on George MacDonald....