The Great Divorce

I found this book to be a powerful allegory that made me think deeply about the purpose of life and how it can be either wasted or used to result in indescribable benefits for all eternity.

I have read it a couple of times, listened to it on audiobook, and look forward to reading it again—an indication that there is a lot in this book to think about.

The Great Divorce is part allegory, part fantasy, part self-help, part cautionary tale as readers tag along on a bus ride from Hell to Heaven. Through the course of the journey, Lewis uses a fascinating variety of unique characters and strange situations to illustrate how individual perspective and personal choices determine how happy (or miserable) we humans are in this life, as well as what we can expect in the next. 

This is my favorite book of all time and permanently changed the way I look at life. While the story is focused on the idea of heaven and hell, you don’t have to believe in either to benefit from the perspective shift this book offers. It’s deep and powerful.

Lewis uses a story about a man traveling from hell to heaven to point out the ways us humans tend to keep ourselves bound to misery. It’s an important read for anyone wanting to overcome pessimism or who feels like joy is constantly escaping them. As Lewis says, “All that are… show more.