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The Screwtape Letters

4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 · rating details · 108,231 ratings · 5,156 reviews

In this humorous and perceptive exchange between two devils, C. S. Lewis delves into moral questions about good vs. evil, temptation, repentance, and grace. Through this wonderful tale, the reader emerges with a better understanding of what it means to live a faithful life.

ebook, 148 pages

Published June 2nd 2009 by HarperCollins e-books (first published January 1st 1942)

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May 06, 2008 Keely rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, humor, reviewed, contemporary-fantasy, uk-and-ireland

If not for the fact that this is a satire in earnest, it would serve as a powerful absurdist invective against humanity itself. If this book improved my view of Christians it was only because it points out that all the faults conspicuous in the rabidly faithful are equally well-represented in the uninformed agnostic, if less readily apparent--Lewis does his best to drag everyone down to a common level.

The sharp weapon of Lewis's rhetoric tears down humanity through all its self-righteous hubris,...more

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Oct 10, 2007 Joanie Rich rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who's not afraid of the truth

It's great to read fiction that gives you a punch in a gut! It's not often a book will hold up a mirror to you and show you some things you'd rather not see. The Screwtape Letters was that book for me.

Every Christian needs to get a hold of this book and read it through! It's helped me gain a deep understanding of how the forces of darkness try to undermine joy and truth. I'd especially recommend it to readers new to C.S. Lewis, as this is a good sample of his writing and a good place to start fr...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Cary rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian-fiction, favorite, 2011

This is my first book of C.S. Lewis outside the Chronicles of Narnia Series. I want to balance my reading list with good, wholesome and inspiring Christian books so I decided to try the works of Lewis and look for an e-book. Fortunately, I was able to find one online so I started with Screwtape Letters.

The Screwtape Letters is a series of letters written by Screwtape, a senior demon, to his nephew and a neophyte tempter, Wormood, about the different ways to tempt a newly converted Christian they...more This is my first book of C.S. Lewis outside the Chronicles of Narnia Series. I want to balance my reading list with good, wholesome and inspiring Christian books so I decided to try the works of Lewis and look for an e-book. Fortunately, I was able to find one online so I started with Screwtape Letters.

The Screwtape Letters is a series of letters written by Screwtape, a senior demon, to his nephew and a neophyte tempter, Wormood, about the different ways to tempt a newly converted Christian they referred to as "Patient". Their objective is to secure the "Patient's" eternal damnation in hell. In this book, C.S. Lewis tried to describe the spiritual battles between Christians and the forces of evil in a different point of view.

At first, I felt uncomfortable reading the parts where Lewis referred God as "the Enemy" and Satan as the "Father" because being a child of God, I know it's the other way around. But looking at it as a literary piece, this is actually the spice of the story and this what makes the book special to me, that I really can't help but admire Lewis for his wisdom and creativity.

After reading the book, I was really enlightened and reminded of the truths that we humans should believe about God:

1. God loves us and He does not want anyone of us to perish but He wants us to have eternal life with Him and so He his Son to die for us and pay for our sins (John 3:16). In order to have eternal life, we have to accept Jesus in our life and believe that He is our Lord and Savior. By dying on on the cross, he redeemed us and provided the forgiveness of our sins - past, present and future.

2. God promised that for us who receive Jesus, He gave the right to be called His Children.No one can separate us from His love thus, our salvation through Jesus is assured and no one can take it away from us, not even Satan.

3. What Satan only wants from every human is to steal, kill and destroy. He is like a lion who is always looking around for prey, ready to devour anytime thus we should always be on guard. He will try all possible means for us to turn away from God.

4. God promised us victory. What Jesus did on the cross is already complete. Because of that, we are victorious in Christ so we have the power to win any battle including spiritual battle with the real Enemy. Therefore, we must not lose hope and stand firm on our faith that God has already given us the holy life through Jesus and all we have to do is to live it and stop doing the things that are not pleasing to Him. This book provided some examples of the unpleasant things that may seem insignificant but can eventually lead to our own destruction because the devil knows how to manipulate our thoughts so we really need to be careful.

5. Of course, the best way to defeat the Enemy is to lay down all our battles to God by praying and petition. The Bible said, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people (Ephesians 6:10-18). This is actually the passage that keeps on popping out of my mind the entire time I was reading the book.

This book only wants to point out that we need to recognize that just like Heaven, Hell is also real and Satan also exists. He is continuously looking for possible "recruits" and deceiving people by suggesting different lies in our minds to keep us from turning to God. But God is loving and gracious. He will never let His children fall if we will only remain in Him. God wants all His children to be reunited with Him in eternity, but sadly, not everyone can go to heaven because not everyone has accepted the Truth. He gave us free will to choose how are we going to live our life here on earth. So in every moment and every action of our lives, we are given two different options: to do His will or to follow our own will? And we need to choose well because one may be the highway to hell.

If you are looking for a book about living a Christian life, then I highly recommend this one but of course living a holy life according to God's standard can only be achieved if we continuously seek to know Our Creator more through reading his written Word(less)

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Jan 22, 2008 MelissaS rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

I love this book - it really makes you think. For those who have not read it, the book is written as a compilation of letters from a "tempter," Screwtape, to his nephew, a "junior tempter" named Wormwoood. In the letters, Screwtape gives Wormwood adivce and counsel on how to best tempt his "subject" - a young man who converts to Christianity, and then falls in love with a Christian woman. Through the letters, you are constantly reminded and made to think about how the adversary tempts us. What i...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Jason Koivu rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

More fun and playful than I'd anticipated.

As a platform upon which to discuss his beliefs and thoughts on theology, government, society and the nature of mankind in general, C.S. Lewis constructed The Screwtape Letters, an epistolary novel in the form of instructive letters from senior demon Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood, a sort of demonic trainee. For all intents and purposes, they are lectures, but lectures jazzed up and made more palatable for the student's mind.

It was about 20 years ago...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Anca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: believers

Shelves: 10, christian, to-visit-again

This is one of the books you take notes while reading. C.S.Lewis is, as I so many times before said, the smartest Christian writer I ever came across to and underlining passages is worthless. You just have to re-read it all, if anything.

This book is writen for already convinced Christians (if not, it may open eyes upon some confusing aspects of Christian religion-did it for me, anyway) and it lingers upon matters of a Christian life and temptations that come with it. However, they're not looked...more This is one of the books you take notes while reading. C.S.Lewis is, as I so many times before said, the smartest Christian writer I ever came across to and underlining passages is worthless. You just have to re-read it all, if anything.

This book is writen for already convinced Christians (if not, it may open eyes upon some confusing aspects of Christian religion-did it for me, anyway) and it lingers upon matters of a Christian life and temptations that come with it. However, they're not looked at with the simplicity of the book's modern version, Lord Foulgrin's Letters. Lewis goes in the depths of it and points out the traps one can fall in walking on the path chosen. And they are subtle and many. The mistakes are accurately described; it is given the way out of them - all through the tempter Screwtape.

In fact, this is where you can see the difference between the master and the apprentice: while Alcorn points out the obvious sins -adultery, anger, lies, attitude towards family, boredom, wanting more and more etc- Lewis underlines how the thoughts, intentions, day-by-day and social habits are the real problem. It's actually disturbing if you identify yourself in the depiction of the foolish person doing that.

Following the comparison line, The Screwtape Letters are a source of theology more than an imagined situation between two devils and this lessens the credibility sometimes. The wisdom the devil has in Christian matters reversely applied is an excellent guide; but sometimes it gets too instructive, for the reader, to be real. On the other hand, The Lord Foulgrin's Letters gives the reader a frightful feeling and sounds more like a discussion between two evil beings, but has a lot less intelligent thinking. Both books challenge you to look outside the physical world; if not seeing, but realizing the existance of a spiritual world. The latter may sometimes go over the edge and extent the importance of a tempter's ability too much; the first begins with saying 'The devil does not like to be laugh at' * and the author cautions about the two opposite attitudes (both wrong) that one can take towards the dark spirits: giving them too much attention or ignoring their world (Screwtape himself admits in a letter how disturbing are the people that josh them).

Also, what I like about Lewis and will always make him win every attempt at comparison is how he blends culture and Christianship. He stated Christian people should be the most intelligent category of people: that isn't much of an impulse to separate and keep away from History, Literature and Arts because they don't rise to that "holier-than-thou" level of spirituality. A sentimental manifestation lies in wait if choose to believe so; it may be of course avoided, but it's so around the corner under these conditions.

*"The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn." (Martin Luther)
"The devil... the prowde spirite... cannot endure to be mocked." (Thomas More)

~~ [de ce ma intind atata cu scrisul?e patologic deja :))]
(less)

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Jul 28, 2008 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I’ve had good intentions of getting around to reading this C.S. Lewis classic for a long, long while now; it’s been sitting on my shelf for years. Since I've been without a library card for a couple weeks, I finally picked it up and began to read in earnest.

As I started reading, I couldn’t figure out why I’d found the book so cumbersome before. The chapters were contained to small, manageable installments; the book itself is a short volume, a little over a hundred pages (plus with the article “S...more I’ve had good intentions of getting around to reading this C.S. Lewis classic for a long, long while now; it’s been sitting on my shelf for years. Since I've been without a library card for a couple weeks, I finally picked it up and began to read in earnest.

As I started reading, I couldn’t figure out why I’d found the book so cumbersome before. The chapters were contained to small, manageable installments; the book itself is a short volume, a little over a hundred pages (plus with the article “Screwtape Proposes a Toast” tacked on to the end of this edition). And the technique in which the thoughts are explained: brilliant.

First of all, you have the unique point-of-view. Screwtape, the character mentioned in the title, is an experienced devil. Yup, that’s right — devil. It’s his job to go tempt ordinary mortals (like you and me), to keep us from getting close to “the Enemy” (God). This interesting perspective takes some getting used to, but it is nevertheless pretty straightforward — just requires that you keep from going on auto-pilot while you’re reading. Lewis describes this voice as “diabolic ventriloquism”:

Screwtape’s outlook is like a photographic negative; his whites are our blacks and whatever he welcomes we ought to dread.

Secondly, the voice of Screwtape comes via letters to his nephew, novice tempter Wormwood. Though we have no words from Wormwood himself (or any direct references regarding the new Christian convert that Wormwood is assigned to deter), the reader can easily surmise his situation based on Screwtape’s references.

While C.S. Lewis is writing from a fictional perspective (devils going to tempting school and writing letters to one another is his own invention, of course), the insights he gives are profound. We know what we should do to return to live with God; how, then, do we get tripped up so easily? Well, Screwtape outlines plenty of methods here, and it’s not even a comprehensive list! I was reminded of the scripture in which King Benjamin says:

And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them (Mosiah 4:29).

Still, most of those different sins seem to come back to a singular premise: distancing ourselves from God, usually by some subtle distraction. I came across this quote from July 5’s Church News last week that harmonized with the message of The Screwtape Letters:

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve said that even though the Lord’s teachings are plain and direct, “We are still at risk of getting sidetracked. Some people choose to follow the teachings of the Lord and of His living prophet only when convenient, and reject them when sacrifice or deeper commitment is required. Some fail to follow only because His divine teachings do not agree with their own preconceived notions.

“We get sidetracked by submitting to temptations that divert us past the bounds of safety. Satan knows our weaknesses. He puts attractive snares on our paths at just those moments when we are msot vulnerable. His intent is to lead us from the way that returns us to our Heavenly Father.” (October 1990 general conference)

I found the message of the book to be both uplifting (yes, really — a book about devils, uplifting!) and insightful. Worth looking into.(less)

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May 08, 2013 Gary Patton rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: life-skills, spirituality, christian

"People who deny the existence of dragons are often eaten by dragons. From within." ~ Ursula K. Le Guin (1929- ) US children's author

C.S Lewis is a theologian and the fantastic writer of the series, "The Narnia Chronicles". This book is very helpful in learning the wiles of Satan’s demons, despite it being a novel, because of the author's experience in resisting them.

Ephesians 6:10-19, in the Christian Bible at http://diigo.com/0jl35c, clearly explains who and what are every human's R-E-A-L en...more "People who deny the existence of dragons are often eaten by dragons. From within." ~ Ursula K. Le Guin (1929- ) US children's author

C.S Lewis is a theologian and the fantastic writer of the series, "The Narnia Chronicles". This book is very helpful in learning the wiles of Satan’s demons, despite it being a novel, because of the author's experience in resisting them.

Ephesians 6:10-19, in the Christian Bible at http://diigo.com/0jl35c, clearly explains who and what are every human's R-E-A-L enemies. My acronym R-E-A-L stands for Revolting-Enervating-Authoritarian-Loathsome. Satan and his demons are truly this, and more, moment-to-moment each and every day.

Most of us, I believe, will seldom, if ever, have to deal with Satan himself, the Overlord of every demon. The Devil, our diabolical Adversary, is NOT omnipresent, has lots of troops to handle us "small fry". The Father of Liars has "bigger fish to fry"! (Jesus Followers will catch my intended pun. :-))

But, this encouraging fact doesn't mean we can let our "guard down", to use a boxing analogy. (Another pun for my Brothers & Sisters! :-)) Demons are given different names in the Bible. Some of them are in Verse 12 in the above linked passage from it.

Regardless of a demon's name, they operate with different, often considerable, levels of power we're wise not to fool around with.

Lewis can help you understand this and how to manoeuvre the morass of daily temptation and trials. His advice will compliment every Jesus Follower's promise re handling our lusts and heart aches in 1 Corinthians 10:13 at http://diigo.com/0jmgy .

Beware because even the least offensive demon is very strong and has had thousands of years of practise, at least, spiritually attacking and tempting Followers and non-Followers of Jesus alike.

Other non-theological and helpful books in this regard ...plus being incredible thrillers... are the novels by Frank Peretti, His first in the diabolical genre is "This Present Darkness". I've reviewed it at http://is.gd/CUFeiG .

Blessings & enjoy not just a 'Goodread' but a 'Greatread'!

GaryFPatton(less)

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Apr 04, 2007 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Searchers who can take it

Let me preface by saying I do not follow any one religious path. I'm a searcher, and I'm not sure if I'll ever settle on one faith. That said, The Screwtape Letters, an intense rumination on good and evil, as told through the letters of one demon to another, is a work I feel everyone should read, if to do nothing but understand the true nature of evil. I'll admit, I picked up the book because I thought a tale told by a demon would be kind of cool... sexy in a dark fun kind of way. The experience...more

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Apr 25, 2011 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, christian, literary-fiction, 2011

Original post at One More Page

Ah Screwtape. I've heard so much about this book but I never got to buy it because the print copy was just too expensive for something so thin. I remember splurging on the ebook instead a couple of months ago, but true to form, it took me a while to read this. I know a Lewis book is never easy reading. What better time to read this one than during the Lenten season, right?

The Screwtape Letters is an epistolary novella that contains the letters of a demon Screwtape...more Original post at One More Page

Ah Screwtape. I've heard so much about this book but I never got to buy it because the print copy was just too expensive for something so thin. I remember splurging on the ebook instead a couple of months ago, but true to form, it took me a while to read this. I know a Lewis book is never easy reading. What better time to read this one than during the Lenten season, right?

The Screwtape Letters is an epistolary novella that contains the letters of a demon Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood with detailed advice on how to lead his assignment, a man only named as "the patient" to sin and eventual eternal damnation. In these letters, Screwtape tells Wormwood of particular human weaknesses and how they can exploit it, of religious weaknesses and how to make it their patient's downfall, of how they're just not in it for general mischief but snatching human souls from their Enemy.

I was discussing this book with a friend a few days before I finished reading it, and he told me that while he liked the book, he didn't have the heart to review it because it struck too many familiar chords. I could say the same for me, too. The Screwtape Letters is almost humorous in some ways, especially whenever Screwtape would scold Wormwood for messing up, but it's more chilling in more ways than it is humorous. Screwtape outlined ways on how Wormwood could lead his patient to eternal damnation, and the ways he listed were a little too familiar that it borders on being uncomfortable. I admit that it really made me think of the times when I fell for the same things -- the feeling of "owning" my time that I get mad at any interruption, or worrying too much about tomorrow instead of focusing on today, self-righteous thinking. This book poked a little too much at the parts of my heart that I try to not look at, and helped me see myself for all the ugliness with all the sin that I've fallen into. I remember cringing as I highlighted the parts of the book that struck me the most, like these:

It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds; in reality our best work is done by keeping things out. (p. 16)

There is nothing like suspense and anxiety for barricading a human's mind against the Enemy. He wants men to be concerned with what they do; our business is to keep them thinking about what will happen to them. (p. 25)

It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one -- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. (p. 60)

Now you will notice that nothing throws him into a passion so easily as to find a tract of time which he reckoned on having at his own disposal unexpectedly taken from him...They anger him because he regards his time as his and feels that it is being stolen. (p. 112)

It's not that this book is not without hope -- in fact, it ends quite hopefully. But seeing it in the eyes of the "protagonists" it doesn't feel like it. This book is not really for fast reading -- each letter is meant to be read slowly and reflected on, maybe even discussed with other people of faith. Like other Lewis books, I think The Screwtape Letters is one for re-reading, because I'm sure different passages would hit people depending on what is the state of their life when they read this.

Of course, this is still considered as fiction, but like all other Lewis books I've read, it's one that made me think. I can't help but remember Ephesians 6:12 as I read this book: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." The Screwtape Letters is a book that definitely needs to be read more than once.(less)

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Sep 12, 2007 Bagger rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction

I have read this book twice before but after my worship pastor mentioned a quote that I had forgotten in one part of the book Wormwood writes his uncle Screwtape with great fear that his subject has begun going to church, his uncle quite easily assures him that the best thing to do is keep him in church, but keep him proud of the fact that he always attends the services or sits in the same area, as long as Wormwood keeps him in the building and away from God.
I think Lewis is one of those authors...more

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Apr 15, 2009 Natalie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: god-is-dead

If I didn't know anything about C.S. Lewis, and if he hadn't written a foreword to this book making his status as a Christian more than clear, I would have thought that this book was a satire.

Screwtape is an epistolary novel, a series of letters written by a senior devil of hell to his younger, more inexperienced nephew. The correspondence deals chiefly with advice to the younger devil, Wormwood, about how best to tempt his "patient" (the human to which he has been assigned) away from virtue in...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Jake rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, literature

This is a hard review to write. Although I do believe in the 'spirit' of man and of a 'god,' this book annoyed me even though it is a brilliant work of art. My copy had a foreword from C.S. Lewis announcing his 'disbelief in an anti-god.' I accepted that easily enough. According to Christian Mythos, Lucifer was an angel that fell from God's grace, not Megatron compared to Optimus Prime, as several branches of the Christian religion have made Lucifer to be.

I liked the methodical way in which Scre...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Shovelmonkey1 rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone training to be the mildest mannered of devils

Recommended to Shovelmonkey1 by: my friend almost Dr Holly Miller

Shelves: bookcrossing-books, read-in-2011

*slightly ashamed face and twisting of foot in the dirt*
So I didn't actually finish this book. I was looking forward to reading it and it has been on my bookcrossing wishlist for a while but when it finally arrived I found that the anticipation had outweighed the the delivery of the end product to such an extent that I gave up. Shame on me? Well maybe.

I read all the Narnia novels when I was a child and my parents never told me that it was all metaphorical, allegorical and many other -als for Ch...more *slightly ashamed face and twisting of foot in the dirt*
So I didn't actually finish this book. I was looking forward to reading it and it has been on my bookcrossing wishlist for a while but when it finally arrived I found that the anticipation had outweighed the the delivery of the end product to such an extent that I gave up. Shame on me? Well maybe.

I read all the Narnia novels when I was a child and my parents never told me that it was all metaphorical, allegorical and many other -als for Christianity. This seems like a strange oversight as my mother used to go to Church every Sunday and she had read the Narnia series too so I'm assuming that she must have picked up on it. My Dad only went to church because he was made to go and he liked to sing hymns really badly, loudly and out of tune to amuse myself and my sister. This amusement was only normally surpassed by the arrival of the Vicar from the wings.

I believe the hidden bit at the side of the church is actually called the vestry, but church was always like a sort of theatre for me with people dressing up and fulfilling roles not always truly representative of their actual selves. The Vicar himself was not overtly funny but the fact that he looked exactly like Alan Rickman provided me with great scope for reciting endless chunks of script from Die Hard which was then, and still is now one of my favourite films.

The Screwtape letters are a series of epistles sent down (or up, I suppose) from a Senior Devil, instructing a more Junior Devil on the art of temptation in order to bring about the downfall of one specific individual who they call "the patient". The cover of the book shows an ugly gargoyle style grotesque, presumably as a representation of the devil. It strikes me that should demons and devils choose to pretty themselves up and present a more aesthetically appealing canvas then they would probably have a lot more success. Note to Satan: if you recruited your tempters and temptresses at Hooters, the Playboy mansion and wherever Daniel Craig and Jensen Ackles hang out, then you'd probably increase your success rate quite noticeably. Jensen I will do whatever you tell me to. That goes for you too Daniel.

While CS Lewis tries quite seriously to highlight in the letters, the areas in which sin can accidentally come upon us, the general tone is a little to meek and mild but that can probably be attributed to the period in which CS Lewis was writing. When it came down to it there just was not enough devilment for my liking (I suspect Screwtape would find me to be an all too easy convert).

On reflection I'm not really sure why I would have expected stories of unparalleled lusts and evil from the man who wrote The Chronicles of Narnia; those cuddly childhood tales of resurected (christ-like) lions and snowy wardrobe strewn landscapes where turkish delight is the equivalent currency to 30 pieces of silver. I am sure Senior devil, Screwtape, is offering sage advice to the trainee tempter Wormwood but his letters were too amiable and samey and without enough fire and brimstone to hold my attention.(less)

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Candace Hinnergardt I don't know...Lewis created a very satirical tale in that he made this scary idea of demons tempting and tricking and scheming and the scary idea of...more
May 21, 2012 07:51pm

Shovelmonkey1 So you are enjoying this book? I tried to check what rating you gave it but the easiest way to do that is via your profile but that is set to private....more
May 21, 2012 09:38pm

Mar 12, 2011 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Christians in need of some reminders

Shelves: 2011-reads, thought-provoking, i-am-not-worthy, glad-i-gave-it-a-chance, reviewed

But that is the cursed thing; the gods are strange to mortal eyes, and yet they are not strange. [The human] had no faintest conception till that very hour of how they would look, and even doubted their existence. But when he saw them he knew that he had always known them and realised what part each one of them had played at many an hour in his life when he had supposed himself alone, so that now he could say to them, one by one, not 'Who are you?' but 'So it was you all the time.' -from one of...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Patrick rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, classic, spiritual-religious

Full review at The Bookish Pinoy

I would highly recommend Screwtape Letters to those who are looking for ways to see this world from a new vantage point. I imagine that even non-believers should find the things described here pretty much interesting too. Bottom line is, you don’t need to be a Christian to enjoy reading The Screwtape Letters. If you’re like most people who just wants to live a good and rewarding life, then this book is for you. However, a good life does not necessarily equate to...more

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Sep 21, 2008 Wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't particularly enjoy this book but am glad that I read it. In fact, at times the book made my skin crawl. For those who have not read it, the book is written as a bunch of letters from a tempter, Uncle Screwtape, to his nephew, a tempter in training, named Wormwoood. Screwtape tutors Wormwood on how to tempt the "patient" he is assigned. Through the letters, you are constantly reminded and made to think about how the adversary tempts us. What is poignant is that the cunning and evil plans...more I didn't particularly enjoy this book but am glad that I read it. In fact, at times the book made my skin crawl. For those who have not read it, the book is written as a bunch of letters from a tempter, Uncle Screwtape, to his nephew, a tempter in training, named Wormwoood. Screwtape tutors Wormwood on how to tempt the "patient" he is assigned. Through the letters, you are constantly reminded and made to think about how the adversary tempts us. What is poignant is that the cunning and evil plans are not centered around obvious sins, that so often are what we think about when we think about temptation and sin. Instead, the tempters focus on much more subtle sins such as vanity, pride, distraction,insincerity, forgetting or being too tired say prayers,and how these can achieve the same goal as the more obvious sins which is ultimately to lead us away from God. That's how cunning and evil the devil is. He knows that by chipping away a little at a time he has a better chance at gaining us as his own.

You cannot read this book and not think of how pertinent it is to your life. It was a little frightening to find myself in the book as someone who has succumbed to some of these suttle temptations (many times). Perhaps thats why I didn't enjoy the read but still found it very insightful.

I found this "Beatitudes" in someone elses review (Jenelle) and thought it was great so I copied it from her review to mine. Really hit it home for me.

Screwtape Counterfeits
1. Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians — they are my best workers.
2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked — I can use them.
3. Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church — they are my missionaries.
4. Blessed are the trouble makers — they shall be called my children.
5. Blessed are the complainers — I'm all ears to them.
6. Blessed are those who are bored with the minister's mannerisms and mistakes — for they get nothing out of his sermons.
7. Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church — for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.
8. Blessed are those who gossip — for they shall cause strife and division that please me.
9. Blessed are those who are easily offended — for they will soon get angry and quit.
10. Blessed are those who do not give their offering to carry on God's work — for they are my helpers.
11. Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister — for he shall be with me forever.
12. Blessed are you who, when you read this, think it is about other people and not yourself — I've got you too!
(less)

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Aug 16, 2007 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

this review first appeared on [http://intraspace.blogspot.com]

cs lewis strikes again! not that i should be surprised, he is widely regarded as one of the best christian writers of the 20th century.

this book is the record of letters sent by senior demon screwtape to his nephew wormwood. wormwood is on assignment trying to turn a new christian away from God. the more experienced screwtape gives advice to the young demon. this in turn gives us an insight into the way humans are deceived and tempted...more

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May 14, 2008 Chantal rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I started reading this book on my way back from Christmas vacation. I was reading it on the plane which was filled with people leaving after the New Hampshire primaries. The lady next to me was a high-up leader in the Democratic party. I think when she saw that I was reading this book she didn't even ask if I was a Democrat.

I finished reading it after the semester was done while waiting for my car to get fixed. I was a few pages away from done when I got into a conversation with an amazing Afri...more

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Jul 04, 2007 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

This was my first C.S. Lewis book - I kept meaning to read the Narnia Chronicles, but never got around to it. Now I'm completely addicted to his writing, and plan to read many more of his books.

The Screwtape Letters is written from the perspective of an advanced demon (Screwtape), writing to his nephew, Wormwood. It takes a minute when you start the book to wrap your brain around the point of view - but once you realize what is going on, it really makes you think from different angles.

I knew L...more

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Dec 18, 2007 Samuel Barlow rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

This book really opened my eyes to the ways Satan tries to entrap people into sinning. Some sins were rather obscure, but most were very common that I myself am struggling with. I just realized that I do have a choice no matter what happens and that is all that counts. Once you no longer desire to do evil, you win, Satan loses. That is the adventure in this story. Screwtape and Wormwood, the tempters, are finally thwarted when the Christian, their subject, dies in righteousness (from what I gath...more

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Sep 26, 2007 Elaine rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I drudgingly read more than halfway though this book simply because I LOVE "Mere Christianity," and I was hoping it would get better. After I realized that I wasn't even really reading it anymore (because I was so bored), I decided to quit, at least for the time being.

I like the idea of the book, and there were some good one liners, but for some reason, the actual content and format just didn't do it for me. I was bored and disappointed because I know this is supposed to be a "classic" and a lot...more

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Feb 03, 2011 Alberto rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: escritores-favoritos, por-el-gusto, ficcion

El tema es fabuloso, y sobretodo por la forma como Staples Lewis aborda su sensibilidad de escritor y narrador, para lograr sentir lo que su personaje, un demonio, puede estar sintiendo, viendo y aconsejando a su sobrino, otro demonio pero aún inexperto.

El libro se presenta así para abrir boca: “En lo que se refiere a los diablos, la raza humana puede caer en dos errores iguales y de signo opuesto. Uno consiste en no creer en su existencia. El otro, en creer en los diablos y sentir por ellos un...more

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Jan 28, 2011 Ron rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: humor, christian-fiction

An absolute stitch, but make no mistake it also contains profound insights about our relationship with evil.

In many ways a more accessible statement of Lewis' beliefs than the contemporaneous, but denser Mere Christianity.

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Feb 11, 2009 Benson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Such an interesting book! I actually listened to this on disc during my daily commute and I will listen to it again to glean more from it. Very thought-provoking approach to understanding how temptation works and what tactics the devil uses to drag mortals down to his misery.

One take-away I valued, even though it has no doctrinal foundation, was the thought of having a specific demon assigned to me by the Father Below to get to know my every flaw and strength and exploit that knowledge. Then, c...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Karlee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was absolutely wonderful. Although a dark topic, Lewis manages to make it insightful and inspiring. We get a glimpse into the tactics of Satan, that we may already be aware of but are forced to reevaluate our every day choices, big and small. Almost consumed himself (as he mentions in the Preface of "Screwtape Proposes a Toast"), Lewis manages to stay on the right side of a fine line and created a beautiful book out of a topic that could have easily been eerily portrayed.

It got redund...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Baldbullsbarber rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As fiction TSL is entertaining. As a religious text it is quite, unsurprisingly, archaic and deadened in its messages. With any piece of religious apologia (Christian or otherwise) the author's most backward views will always be the most prominent. Views on homosexuality and desire for example are depicted as an evil drug that is coaxed into "the patient" by the hands of Screwtape's devil-nephew: "That is the kind of betrayal you should specially encourage, because the man does not fully realize...more As fiction TSL is entertaining. As a religious text it is quite, unsurprisingly, archaic and deadened in its messages. With any piece of religious apologia (Christian or otherwise) the author's most backward views will always be the most prominent. Views on homosexuality and desire for example are depicted as an evil drug that is coaxed into "the patient" by the hands of Screwtape's devil-nephew: "That is the kind of betrayal you should specially encourage, because the man does not fully realize it himself; and by the time he does you will have made withdrawal difficult."

Lewis also appears to value the humorlessness of Christianity seeing the accusation not as an insult or falsehood to be shed but as a shield to be raised by "good" Christians in the face of mocking: "Humour is for them the all-consoling and (mark this) the all-excusing, grace of life. Hence it is invaluable as a means of destroying shame." Perhaps it was commentary on the "absurdity" of existentialist authors such as Sartre and Camus that was popular at the time. Not to say TSL was itself a humorless book (Letter XVII, for example, which was particularly funny).

Early in the book Lewis mentions that all devils must appear hidden and it is only until they are revealed to "the patient" that they have lost him forever to the great "Enemy" in the Kingdom of Heaven which makes for interesting plot. But, there are also intensely morbid ideas present in TSL such as the want and desire of the Devils for their Patients to live long lives, thus, prolonging the chances of capturing them in sin. Lewis seems to suggest that the "Enemy" up in Heaven is being merciful by eliminating and allowing so few humans to live long, fulfilling lives: "How valuable time is to us (the Devils) may be gauged by the fact that the Enemy allows us so little of it."

One especially sharp weapon used by The Devils in bringing down the souls of Man into hell that C.S. Lewis describes is the idea of "The Historical Point of View" where "a learned man is presented with any statement in an ancient author, the one question he never asks is whether it is true." I believe that is what I am doing now with "The Screwtape Letters".(less)

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May 18, 2011 kristiee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Brilliant.
It's amazing how the book is written as letters from Satan's POV, and all the while you could feel God's presence written in every line. It teaches without making a lecture.
There are some part i didn't understand (due to it's language, and as i don't bother to check words on dictionary), and there are some parts that i have to read more than once until i grasp what mr. Lewis is trying to say.
but, anyway, it's the kind of book that would make you close it every 15 minutes just to call y...more

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Sep 15, 2012 K.D. Oliveros rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to K.D. by: Patrick

Shelves: religion, epistolary, funny, inspirational

They say that there are two types of literature: escapist (entertainment) and meaningful (life-enriching). Some books are either one of them. However, many are somewhere in between like most of C.S.Lewis works. For example, his children's book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is more of an escapist rather than meaningful while his Mere Christianityis more, if not purely, meaningful rather than escapist.

In my opinion, this book, The Screwtape Letters is exactly in the middle. Thus, I rated t...more

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Mar 10, 2008 Jennelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is very interesting. Two Devils: Screwtape (a learned Devil) and Wormwood (a devil in training)are writing letters back and forth to each other on the best tactics in capturing a human soul. C.S. Lewis claimed that "the book was distasteful to write, and he vowed never to write a direct sequel" I think it was distasteful for him to write because he must have felt that he was thinking like the adversary. It really makes you stop and think. It's a fairly quick read. I was in a book club...more

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About C.S. Lewis

CLIVE STAPLES LEWIS (1898–1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more th...more

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Books by C.S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #2)

The Chronicles of Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia #1-7)

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia, #3)

The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia, #2)

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“She's the sort of woman who lives for others - you can tell the others by their hunted expression.” — 957 people liked it

“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts,...Your affectionate uncle, Screwtape.” — 361 people liked it

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