Jack's Life: The Life Story of C.S. Lewis

Title: Jack’s Life: The Life Story of C.S. Lewis
Author: Douglas Gresham
Publisher: Broadman & Holman Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-8054-3246-6
Genre: Biography

While browsing on Amazon, I came across the name Douglas Gresham. Immediately I wondered whether it was the same Douglas Gresham portrayed in the movie Shadowlands, which just happens to be one of my favorite movies. I clicked on the name and up came the book Jack’s Life. I knew by that title that it was the person portrayed in the movie, and I knew that I had to get this book.

Jack’s Life is an excellent book about the life of C.S. Lewis, written by Lewis’ stepson, Douglas Gresham. The author met Lewis when he was eight years old, and he was part of Lewis’ life for ten years – up until Lewis’ death. Gresham provides a unique and unequaled perspective on the man who gave the world The Chronicles of Narnia and many other classic stories. Gresham also sets the record straight about the untruths of Lewis’ life that were portrayed in Shadowlands.

There are too many positive aspects of this book to possibly mention. C.S. Lewis, or “Jack” as he preferred to be called, was an amazing person who led an extraordinary life. I confess that I have never read anything by C.S. Lewis, but reading about his life has had a profound impact on me.

The only negative thing that I can say about the book is that Gresham sometimes comes off as preaching to the readers about what a good Christian should or shouldn’t do, but I easily overlooked those moments. If you are a fan of C.S. Lewis, or the movie Shadowlands, then you are going to love this book. I highly recommend it.