Great stuff here Erik. I’ve been leading a CS Lewis reading group for past year and a half. I appreciate the tips and insights here. We are in a really great groove with our reading and discussions.
We’ve read the great divorce, out of the silent planet, parts of mere Christianity, perelandra (current), LW&W. We’ve also read 8 or so of Lewis’ essays + some Chesterton essays. Meet weekly for an hour. I prepare chapter summaries and kick it off with a question or two. Very organic and casual. We have a ton of fun as most of us have known each other for some years. We also do a pub night every now and then when we finish a book or to celebrate Jack’s birthday (jack being cs Lewis). There are 12 men involved. Not everyone can always make it to the sessions but we keep it going and it’s a ton of fun. Thanks for your work! By the way I recall finding your website a few years ago. Great inspiration.
For chapter books, we usually do 3-4 chapters a session. That way it takes only 4-5 sessions to get through a book. Essays we typically do in one session since they are shorter.
Thanks for this, Erik. It was super helpful and has me thinking of running a group myself. Whether it will be on the Iliad or not remains to be seen, but as it's something I've never read and would dearly like to, and as you've so helpfully provided links to supplementary material, it would certainly be a good place to start. Although perhaps Russian literature would be a more desirable starting place for me? Hmmmm.
As for in-person groups, you make a really good case for that. It would need some logistical thinking, but I'm sure it could be done.
That's awesome! Yeah, start with Russian literature. A few other reasons I suggested local, in-person groups is that there are plenty of online groups out there and I think you can make the most impact with your neighbors.
Great stuff here Erik. I’ve been leading a CS Lewis reading group for past year and a half. I appreciate the tips and insights here. We are in a really great groove with our reading and discussions.
Oh, that is awesome! What Lewis books have you read and how have you structured it? A book a month? How often do you meet? I love this idea!
We’ve read the great divorce, out of the silent planet, parts of mere Christianity, perelandra (current), LW&W. We’ve also read 8 or so of Lewis’ essays + some Chesterton essays. Meet weekly for an hour. I prepare chapter summaries and kick it off with a question or two. Very organic and casual. We have a ton of fun as most of us have known each other for some years. We also do a pub night every now and then when we finish a book or to celebrate Jack’s birthday (jack being cs Lewis). There are 12 men involved. Not everyone can always make it to the sessions but we keep it going and it’s a ton of fun. Thanks for your work! By the way I recall finding your website a few years ago. Great inspiration.
For chapter books, we usually do 3-4 chapters a session. That way it takes only 4-5 sessions to get through a book. Essays we typically do in one session since they are shorter.
Thanks for this, Erik. It was super helpful and has me thinking of running a group myself. Whether it will be on the Iliad or not remains to be seen, but as it's something I've never read and would dearly like to, and as you've so helpfully provided links to supplementary material, it would certainly be a good place to start. Although perhaps Russian literature would be a more desirable starting place for me? Hmmmm.
As for in-person groups, you make a really good case for that. It would need some logistical thinking, but I'm sure it could be done.
That's awesome! Yeah, start with Russian literature. A few other reasons I suggested local, in-person groups is that there are plenty of online groups out there and I think you can make the most impact with your neighbors.