The Leadership of C.S. Lewis: Ten Traits to Encourage Change and Growth
by Crystal Hurd

5 out of 5 stars

What are the character traits that make a good leader? This book explores ten important attributes that are essential for any leadership role, and demonstrates how C. S. Lewis displayed those traits through his life and his writing. Here we analyze the details of why Lewis’s influence still continues to inspire countless Christians through his fiction and apologetic books.

At first I picked up this book because I was interested in learning more about C. S. Lewis, one of my favorite authors. I have read a couple of biographies and analysis of his work, but I had never seen this particular subject addressed, and I found it intriguing. But not only did I learn more about Lewis, I also found myself inspired to be a better leader and a better Christian in my own small sphere of influence. This book took me beyond what I had expected, and encouraged me to look at my life in a new way.

The ten traits included are humility, morals, vision, courage, intellect, compassion, duty, resilience, inspiration, and creativity. They are all heavily researched and the writing is very effective at proving that Lewis exhibited the ten traits that are discussed. There are examples and quotes from people who knew Lewis, and direct quotes from his books that powerfully demonstrate his leadership qualities.

The writing style does sometimes read like a school essay, but there are also some wonderful anecdotes about Lewis and even some stories from the author that give it a personal feeling. The writing is energetic and vivid, bringing a compelling quality to each chapter that captures your imagination and your heart.

I really enjoyed that there are so many good quotes in this book, not just from Lewis but also from other influential researchers and writers. There are also discussion questions at the end of each chapter, where you can consider how to apply these traits to your own life.

There are spoilers for Chronicles of Narnia, the Space Trilogy, The Great Divorce, Screwtape Letters, and Till We Have Faces. However, it is easy to skip over these portions if you don’t want to be spoiled, because the paragraphs are clearly titled.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.