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  • The Problem of Pain

  • C. S. Lewis Signature Classic
  • By: C. S. Lewis
  • Narrated by: James Simmons
  • Length: 3 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (99 ratings)
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The Problem of Pain cover art

The Problem of Pain

By: C. S. Lewis
Narrated by: James Simmons
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Summary

For centuries people have been tormented by one question above all – ‘If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain?’ And what of the suffering of animals, who neither deserve pain nor can be improved by it?

The greatest Christian thinker of our time sets out to disentangle this knotty issue. With his signature wealth of compassion and insight, C.S. Lewis offers answers to these crucial questions and shares his hope and wisdom to help heal a world hungry for a true understanding of human nature.

©1940 C. S. Lewis Pte Ltd (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"I find I am constantly realising that I owe many of my most basic convictions about Christian faith to Lewis's imagination." (Rowan Williams)

"It is really a pleasure to be able to praise a book unreservedly, and that is just what I can do with The Problem of Pain." (Guardian)

"A really remarkable book. It says so many things which seem to me to need saying today. It will help many people to revise what they had taken for granted and face possibilities which had not occurred to them." (Spectator)

What listeners say about The Problem of Pain

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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

At first we see darkly

Not an easy listen, got bits of the Christian dogma but philosophically quite deep. Probably requires repeated listening. Brave to tackle " do our pets go to heaven?".Well narrated.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Truly EXCELLENT!!!

This book is excellent! I could never get passed the first chapter when reading. But with the audio book I get to experience the the entire thing.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I've really enjoyed

I've really enjoyed and listened twice. CS Lewis is really clear, honest and biblical! It really helps me in thinking more about the subject of suffering from a Christian point of view.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

I read this book when I was a teenager, it didn’t make sense , life was fast and this book wasn’t telling me the answers I wanted!
Now in my 50’s this I have listened to this several times and am likely to listen several times more in putting some of the puzzle of life and faith into place . It is a beautifully written price of work that resonated deeply it’s me as a listener and touched my soul . I had to turn the speed down a notch as narrator spoke very fast I loved this book , thank you Mr Lewis 🙏🏻💕

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Reread

Just finished this book, still digesting it's contents. I know that this a read and reread kind of book.

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Mind -expanding

T his rather difficult book has been made accessible by excellent narration. I think the audible version is easier to take in than the printed word would be.

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Pain

Struggle to get into this book had to start over several times. Difficult for me to understand.
That said made some very good point.

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1 person found this helpful

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A must read!

I was gripped from start to finish. What an extraordinary book by an author to match!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Absolutely genius you couldnt ask gor such insight

Having followed C S Lewis and his incisive writing I wasnt suprised about the genius and how he expresses wisdom

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  • 16-12-22

Excellent

This is very well narrated, very well written, and very, very well worth re-reading.

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