Let's Bust a Recap : Present Concerns

And speaking of our favourite 20th century Brits (which we were on Tuesday, in case you missed it) let's talk about our C.S. Lewis selection for 2022. 

C.S. Lewis gets an automatic slot on my book list every single year. Last year, I didn't really make much of a list and decided to let my whims guide my reading. And horror of horrors, I didn't end up reading anything by C.S. Lewis. And his literary presence was sorely missed. 

But this year, we're back on track and I read this collection of essays that was published posthumously in 1986. 

(Sidebar: I've gotten in the habit of photographing my C.S. Lewis books with a hot beverage because it just seems appropriate, and I thought it was very clever—and aesthetically pleasing in this particular instance—to photograph Present Concerns with a cuppa from Starbucks. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?)

Anyway, moving on. Present Concerns includes nineteen essays that reveal his thoughts about democratic values, threats to educational and spiritual fulfillment, literary censorship, and more, demonstrating Lewis' wide range of interests and his absolute mastery in conveying his thoughts through the written word. These essays were originally published in various newspapers, magazines, and books between the years 1940 and 1962, and were compiled and introduced in this book by Walter Hooper. I couldn't have chosen a more fitting title for this collection. Though the topics Lewis discusses in these essays were obviously timely for their original audience, they were just as relevant in 1986 when this slim volume was published and continue in their applicability today. 

As is always the case, I was once again impressed with Lewis' ability to communicate his thoughts in the simplest language even while articulating some of the most profound ideas I've ever read. The man was just so dang smart and I always feel like such a dunce when I'm recapping his books because my sentences seem so lame in comparison. Of the nineteen essays included in Present Concerns, there were only two that I wouldn't wholeheartedly recommend: "The Empty Universe" (while I had a vague grasp on his main point, this one was just a bit over my head) and "Interim Report" (which was an article for The Cambridge Review comparing Oxford and Cambridge, neither of which I have much firsthand knowledge of). Two of the essays that particularly stood out to me were "Three Kinds of Men" (in which I felt like old Jack proceeded to kick me in the gut, but then followed up with a pat on the back and a, "No worries, chap, I'm in the same boat as you.") and "Talking About Bicycles" (mind blown; just read it). 

All in all, another triumph from one of my all-time favorite authors. I really appreciate the people like Walter Hooper who took it upon themselves to compile these essays into books because they're turning out to be some of my favorite of Lewis' work. I saved a few quotes from this one that I'm sure I'll share on here someday. In the meantime, what C.S. Lewis book should go on next year's book list?