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Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer Audiobook
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(3.03) - 1,181 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
This beautifully conceived meditation on prayers and praying from beloved author and theologian C. S. Lewis was the final book he wrote.
In the form of warm, relaxed letters to a close friend, C. S. Lewis meditates on many puzzling questions concerning the intimate dialogue between man and God. He considers practical and metaphysical aspects of prayer, such as when we pray and where. He questions why we seek to inform God in our prayers if he is omniscient, whether there is an ideal form of prayer, and which of our many selves we show to God while praying. The concluding letter contains provocative thoughts about “liberal Christians,” the soul, and resurrection.
Lewis never intended for this book to instruct readers how to pray but rather wanted it to illuminate the purpose of prayer and what really happens when we take the time to communicate with our Heavenly Father.
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"Started this a while ago, but just finished today. This book's thoughts, for me, fall into three categories: "Yes! You said that so well!" or "Mmmm, not sure about that!" or "Huh?! Maybe I'll understand this on my next reading of it." Overall, I highly recommend this book as an instrument to clarify one's own thoughts about prayer. Lewis covers many aspects of it, including who we pray for, the difficulties of prayer, methods of prayer, etc."
— Sally (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“If wit, and wisdom, style and scholarship are requisites…Mr. Lewis will be among the angels.”
— New Yorker -
“[Lewis] is writing about a path that he had to find, and the reader feels not so much that he is listening to what C. S. Lewis has to say but that he is making his own search with a humorous, sensible friend beside him.”
— Times Literary Supplement (London) -
“A beautifully executed and deeply moving little book.”
— Saturday Review -
“Lewis’ device of an imaginary correspondence becomes an interesting medium as delivered by Cosham. With masterly control he gives the letters life, expertly arguing points of contention, ironing out misunderstandings, and reveling in the points of agreement. In addition, he touchingly depicts the personal dramas of each man’s life.”
— AudioFile -
“As homey and honest as its title…Lewis is a learned man and a wise one.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Letters to Malcolm Listener Reviews
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" I enjoy hearing the thoughts of Lewis on a variety of topics. While I don't dislike this narrator, I like his accent, but I find a lack of warmth that is somewhat of an obstacle. Not too difficult to overcome, a minor hurdle. "
— King Eli, 10/15/2016 -
" Questions I never thought to ask. CS Lewis provided thoughts to ponder. "
— Suzanne, 2/19/2014 -
" C.S. Lewis always challenges your thinking and makes you think outside the box too. This is one of those books that it is good to go back and revisit from time to time. "
— Conrad, 2/13/2014 -
" I love Lewis' mellow reflections of his later years. I love the fact that there are parts of this book I really like and parts I would press him on, if we were having coffee together. I love that this is so unlike Mere Christianity. "
— Zigforas, 2/11/2014 -
" I love CS Lewis. But not this book. Perhaps it was the first chapter. I simply found myself disagreeing with him so often regarding my experience of worship and prayer, that it hard to read the rest of the book with an open mind. I was looking for points of disagreement, not revelation. So it's probably my error in reading, rather than his in writing. Or perhaps it's because any book on prayer written as a dialogue with another person is doomed to fail. Learning the art of sculpture from the conversation between two apprentices is less likely to inform than the conversation between the master and the apprentice. Yes, there are a few nuggets, but not enough to make we want to read this again. "
— Ian, 2/8/2014 -
" While this book at times feels disjointed, as any book of one-sided letters might, it is certainly worth reading for insight into Lewis' thoughts on personal prayer and devotion. He is at times dull and droning, while still snarky and unexpectedly brazen, which Lewis fans have come to expect. "
— Miranda, 1/31/2014 -
" Lewis' last and worst book; but Lewis on his worst day is better than most of us on our best day. "
— Steve, 1/27/2014 -
" C.S. Lewis' meditations on prayer, organized as a series of letters to his friend, Malcolm. It is not clear if Malcolm was a real person or not, but the book contains Lewis' wisdom and is very engaging. "
— Diane, 1/20/2014 -
" A beautiful book I think every Christian should read. "
— Kate, 1/17/2014 -
" I thoroughly enjoyed these little glimpses into C.S. Lewis's mind. Some interesting things to think about related to prayer. "
— Margaret, 1/16/2014 -
" If one is a reader of Lewis, none of the ideas in this book will be new. Still, it is an interesting meditation on prayer, devotion, and praise. "
— J., 1/11/2014 -
" Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer by C.S. Lewis (1973) "
— Laura, 1/1/2014 -
" Written like letters to a friend, Lewis's reflections on prayer and Heaven are soothing and prodding all at once. "
— Kathie, 12/13/2013 -
" Probably the only useful written material I've come across on prayer-- granted I haven't read that much. It's not really instructional or even conclusive but as would be expected from correspondence, it is a discussion/conversation on prayer. "
— benebean, 11/21/2013 -
" I found this a more difficult read than most of Lewis' stuff, but it has some great insights regarding prayer and our efforts to communicate with God. "
— Rae, 11/9/2013 -
" A treasure trove of one man's thoughts on a difficult but simple subject, conversing with God in a meaningful way. "
— Melanie, 10/12/2013 -
" If you are interested in Lewis, this should be on your "to read" list. "
— Read1000books, 7/2/2013 -
" Outstanding. Read another time in July of 1999. Great. "
— Douglas, 5/6/2013 -
" One of the best, most honest, books I've ever read on Prayer. "
— Ann, 9/16/2012 -
" I don't pretend to understand Lewis at all times. Maybe I fail to follow more often than not. But he always provides great food for thought for sure!! "
— Zuzana, 1/5/2012 -
" Mostly good. Some weirds. Read it. "
— Steven, 12/25/2011 -
" Many interesting insights, often in the shape of ponderings. Some of them are very down to earth and some are very heady. It's like having a deep chat with a friend. "
— Nick, 7/6/2011 -
" Mostly good. Some weirds. Read it. "
— Steven, 6/10/2011 -
" Some of his thoughts on purgatory are a little weird, but CS Lewis's musings on prayer are interesting and chock-full of insights. "
— doug, 3/21/2011 -
" If one is a reader of Lewis, none of the ideas in this book will be new. Still, it is an interesting meditation on prayer, devotion, and praise. "
— Jed, 3/9/2011 -
" I thoroughly enjoyed these little glimpses into C.S. Lewis's mind. Some interesting things to think about related to prayer. "
— Margaret, 2/28/2011 -
" C. S. Lewis is better on almost every subject than almost anyone else on almost anything.<br/><br/>My only complaint here is that I feel like it would have been a better book if we'd had Muggeridge's side of the correspondence. Plus, I wanted more. :) "
— Ryan, 1/10/2011 -
" C.S. Lewis' meditations on prayer, organized as a series of letters to his friend, Malcolm. It is not clear if Malcolm was a real person or not, but the book contains Lewis' wisdom and is very engaging. "
— Diane, 2/5/2010 -
" The only question I ask myself is why it took so long to lay hold of this gem. The only questionable material, for me, was chapter 20 on praying for the dead and pergatory, otherwise nothin less than wonderfully encouraging. "
— Wayne, 11/11/2009 -
" Lewis' last and worst book; but Lewis on his worst day is better than most of us on our best day. "
— Steve, 10/28/2009 -
" I don't pretend to understand Lewis at all times. Maybe I fail to follow more often than not. But he always provides great food for thought for sure!! "
— Zuzana, 9/15/2009 -
" Many interesting insights, often in the shape of ponderings. Some of them are very down to earth and some are very heady. It's like having a deep chat with a friend. "
— Nick, 6/7/2009 -
" Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer by C.S. Lewis (1973) "
— Laura, 5/29/2009
About C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably the most influential Christian writer of his day. He was a fellow and tutor in English literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. His major contributions to literary criticism, children’s literature, fantasy literature, and popular theology brought him international renown and acclaim. Lewis 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 the Chronicles of Narnia, Out of the Silent Planet, The Four Loves, The Screwtape Letters, and Mere Christianity.
About Geoffrey Howard
Geoffrey Howard (a.k.a. Ralph Cosham) was a stage actor and an award-winning narrator. He recorded more than 100 audiobooks in his lifetime and won the prestigious Audio Award for Best Narration and several AudioFile Earphones Awards.