The Screwtape Letters

I've read this before (around 5 years ago), but this time I enjoyed it way more than last time, and I think I was able to follow Lewis' thoughts much better. In sum, this book was full of insight after insight about how we as humans work, how we are variously and subtly tempted in the Christian life, and even who God (referred to as 'the Enemy' throughout) is and how we works for the good of his people. Many might think this is mainly fiction, or satire, or just a strange book that is about how demons might work, but the book is much more profound than that. It most certainly isn't just fiction; it includes some satire, but isn't mainly such; and Lewis does use the letters from one demon to another as his template; but in reality, this is just as clear and profound as Lewis' other classic works on Christianity-such as Mere Christianity. In fact, I would say that if read slowly, this book is just as profound. Just instead of it being longer chapters with longer arguments, each of the 31 chapters in this book has its own main argument (or multiple) that really shed much insight on the Christian faith. Of the 31 chapters, I marked 15 of them as really great and worth revisiting over and over. I will keep this book always in close range on my bookshelf simply because it is so full of practical advice and illustrations about the Christian life. I will not quote or list most of the insights here-just for the sake of time-but here are the main topics that he talked about. I will word them as coming from evil's perspective, and will put the chapter number in parenthesis. - Keep the Christian "in the stream" and not really thinking about bigger things (1) - Use the War, but watch out for how the Enemy can use it (5) - Use anxiety about the Future; make him lack self-awareness (6) - Make him extreme on either side (it doesn't really matter much) on Politics (7) - Use Pleasures (even though that's Enemy territory), and make him a nominal believer (9) - Make him spend his time, all throughout life, doing and getting Nothing (12) - Manipulate his 'Humility' (14) - Keep him from seeing the Present and eternity; focus him on the Future (15) - How to use sex and marriage (18) - Make him think he has ownership on time; how to twist the word 'my' (21) - How to use this quest for the Historical Jesus (23) - Make him crave novelty; twist his desire (25) - Change the Christian idea of 'Love' for the negative idea of 'Unselfishness' (26) - Use the world slowly over time to attach him to the world (28) - Use a little Fatigue; and twist the idea of what is 'real' (30) These are the main insights about the Christian life I listed. Although, there are many more. SPOILER ALERT BELOW: Finally, I simply want to mention the last chapter. The last chapter was different as it was not about how to tempt the Christian man because he suddenly died. Rather, it was about one demon (frustratingly) explaining what happened to him at those moments after death. In short, this chapter was beautiful. It really was. Almost made me cry tears of joy. Lewis so clearly and cleverly--even through the disgusted pen of a fictional demon!--and so wonderfully captures the Christian's final deliverance from all evil, how the Christian will see all the angels that helped him along the way, and especially the moment when the Christian will finally see God himself, Jesus Christ, and be finally home. Again, the last chapter is beautiful. And it is a perfect ending to the book. In sum, although it uniquely is a book containing 31 letters from one demon to the other, it is super applicable, insightful, clever, and even beautiful as it shows who God is and the future he has for his people. Without a doubt, I would wholeheartedly recommend the book. Read it as slowly as it takes; take it in; and see the shining glory of God, especially as it is contrasted with the backdrop of the darkness.

Some books comfort us, some books challenge us, and then there are books like The Screwtape Letters that quietly pull back the curtain on our lives and ask us to pay closer attention to the small choices that shape our souls. First published in 1942, Lewis delivers this story as a series of letters from a senior demon, Screwtape, to his inexperienced nephew Wormwood. This is Lewis at his satirical finest. By letting the demons narrate the strategy of temptation, he turns the whole moral landscape upside down and reveals truths about human nature that are both hilarious and unsettling. The brilliance of the book is its inversion. By looking at faith, doubt, pride, and distraction from evil’s perspective, Lewis reveals how ordinary and subtle spiritual struggle really is. Reading it again reminded me how often our spiritual lives are shaped by tiny compromises: irritation instead of patience, distraction instead of prayer, pride instead of humility. Lewis exposes those patterns with wit, satire, and a surprising amount of humor, but beneath the cleverness is a deeply serious warning about the slow drift away from truth. Lewis had a remarkable gift for making profound theology accessible, and The Screwtape Letters may be one of his most clever and enduring works. C.S. Lewis has been a friend in my reading life for many years, but the older I get, the more his wisdom feels like the voice of a trusted companion. This year with Lewis has already been a blessing.

This book is creative, complex, and fun to read! Both Christians and non-Christians alike will enjoy C.S.Lewis’ spiritual intellect.

Okay, confession time. Until today, I had never read The Screwtape Letters in its entirety. I had enjoyed some excerpts, having taken a course on C.S. Lewis in college, and I'd seen other writers reference bits and pieces. But with a demanding TBR pile, I just never got around to the whole thing, until now. What's my impression? In a nutshell, The Screwtape Letters isn't a comforting book, nor always easy to read. But it is a surprisingly edifying morsel I'd call vital to Christian libraries. C.S. Lewis can be a challenging author in the best sense and he didn't back down here. First, just by using a demon as a narrator, he challenges Christian readers in particular to think backwards. That is, at times, I found myself a bit worried about Wormwood's fate. So I had to remind myself, "Hold up, they're demons." As the afterward puts it, demons' lights are my (our) darks, and so forth. But in thinking backwards, I was always challenged to read on, keep learning, keep inverting, and remind myself of the truth. Yes, even and especially the truth I thought I already knew. That's another big point in the book's favor. Lewis can get verbose at times. I did skim a couple sections, most notably the ending Toast (though there are some absolute gems in there I'll get to in a minute). But in weeding through the verbose and rather archaic language, I challenged myself, "Okay, what's being said here?" And more specifically, what makes this book, about a fictional male living in WWII England, valuable and accessible to me, a 21st-century American woman who has only known war in a faraway sense? The answer is, a LOT is being said in The Screwtape Letters, all of it valuable. In fact, I'd recommend reading some pieces twice or you might miss something. Again, inverting and adjusting your thinking is required; you're not dealing with a sympathetic narrator. Once you've "adjusted the settings," though, you'll rediscover some great truths not about hell and demons, but about God, Christ, and Heaven. These truths include His persistent love for humanity, to the point of (alleged) recklessness, His patient wooing of the nonbeliever and backslider, His interest in even the most mundane prayers, and His desire for everyone He has created to be in Heaven with Him. It's all a great reminder, especially if like me, you've ever found yourself saying, "Why did I get into this Christianity gig in the first place?" That being said, be alert for some hard but vital truths about demons as well. As hard as it is, pay attention to how Screwtape talks about humans--"animals," "food," "putrid," and similar adjectives and slurs. He could be "humorous" in a dry, dark sort of way, in that he kept bashing Christians and I would smirk and say to myself, "You have no idea who we really are and can be." But Screwtape and his demon compatriots are not funny. They are reminders that Satan and demons hate you, they will twist anything, even the most joyful and pure, to turn you against God, and their ultimate goal is to devour your soul. It's sobering to say the least, but it will make you think. I looked up for my Kindle for short prayers at various points. These often sounded like, "Yes, he's right, humans fall into this, I fall into this, God protect me. He may not have access to my soul but that doesn't make me invulnerable." Speaking of being a vulnerable human, I think that's the greatest lesson of The Screwtape Letters and why it's a classic. It's truly an evergreen book. That is, if you can't relate to the Blitzkrieg, rationing, and other hardships of WWII, you can certainly relate to being drawn into things like pride, lust, gluttony, and the other seven deadly sins. If you say to yourself for example, "I've not been taken in by discussions of the 'historical Jesus'," well one, you probably have and don't know it. Two, even if you haven't, some other version of fake Christianity or fake Jesus has probably caught your attention. I was even amazed--though I shouldn't be--at how on target Lewis' "Toast" was in its commentary on philosophies and perceived dangers Christians wrestle with right now. Nothing new under the sun, indeed. I docked a star only because as noted, the language can be on the wordy, archaic side. And though this is more a suggestion or critique and will never be answered, I agree with Lewis that I'd have liked to see some counterpoint from the human's guardian angel. (Although, I do see what Lewis meant when he said he couldn't write that because, how do you adequately and accurately capture such)? Besides those critiques though, I have no issues and highly recommend this book. Is it as important as the Bible? No. Is it as informative as some other books on similar subjects? Maybe not. Still, it speaks to readers in their frail humanity so well, I'd say you must have it as a resource.

muito bom

Um livro indispensável

Excellent packaging! One of the few excellent packaging books I've bought. This book would be a good read. I bought this book because I have found my interest in C.S.Lewis' and also the name of the book does peek my interest. Well, I actually planned to give it to my best friend as a birthday present, since his favourite author is C.S.Lewis. Looks like I would read it before him. I hope he understands.

Just love it. C.S. Lewis is great

Satan is trying to destroy humanity and we are generally and blithely unaware of it most of the time. We wander around expecting life to be ordered, but his weapons are numerous and persistent. Just think of all those things you do and repent of and do again and again. C.S. Lewis illustrates the thinking and methods of demons in Satan's service. He said it was the most difficult and draining work he has ever written. Not surprising when we consider that it shines a light on the enemy of our souls and he is not happy. It must have been exhausting playing Devil's advocate for real.