Overtaken by Joy and Exploring Woe are deeply personal works by Lewis, which he wrote in the hope that his experiences would serve as a beacon of guidance to those who were lost or despairing. “His sternness is kinder than our gentleness, and By forcing us, He gives us freedom.” This truth was revealed to Lewis after many years of violent atheism. Believing that his experience might be useful to someone, he decided to write a brief but “depressingly frank” sketch of his life, dwelling on the significant events that led him from complete denial to a simple and clear understanding of God. The second work in the collection, “Exploring grief,” is a heartbreaking diary of genuine, confessional sincerity, which the author kept after the tragic death of his beloved wife, the diary of a man who found the courage to explore his grief and turn it into a source of strength.