Amasterpiece of satire, this classic has entertained and enlightened readers the world over with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life and foi...
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Apr 27, 2011
Anca
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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 More...
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 More...
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Apr 27, 2011
Beth
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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 t More...
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 t More...
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Apr 27, 2011
Chantal
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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 More...
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 More...
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Apr 27, 2011
Jeremy
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Although the language in this book can sometimes be difficult to understand (it's somewhat dated, and, well, British), its principles are timeless. This book is especially good for a new Christian.
The book is written from the point of view of a senior demon giving advice to a junior demon about how to win the souls of humans for Satan. The tactics are especially chilling when one realizes that they can be seen in his or her own life. Nevertheless, the perspective from which the book More...
The book is written from the point of view of a senior demon giving advice to a junior demon about how to win the souls of humans for Satan. The tactics are especially chilling when one realizes that they can be seen in his or her own life. Nevertheless, the perspective from which the book More...
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Apr 27, 2011
Markham
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The Letters were insightful and delightful. Screwtape Proposes a Toast, however, was worth three king's ransoms. Brilliant and cutting.
(Let us recall that although Lewis makes Screwtape say he that he describes English education, the material was actually targeted at American education. As an American having passed through the American education system, may I say, that things have not changed for the better. I guess the politicians on this side of the water didn't get the message.) More...
(Let us recall that although Lewis makes Screwtape say he that he describes English education, the material was actually targeted at American education. As an American having passed through the American education system, may I say, that things have not changed for the better. I guess the politicians on this side of the water didn't get the message.) More...
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Dec 07, 2011
AbbyJoy
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The Screwtape Letters is a fictional series of letters in which a senior devil, Screwtape, instructs his nephew, Wormwood, in how to tempt a man known only as "the patient". Despite the fact that we never see any of Wormwood's letters, Lewis expertly has Screwtape refer frequently to Wormwood's letters, therefore enlightening us to the general content of the junior devil's reports.
While it is easy to read and understand, the reader must always keep in mind that since the le More...
While it is easy to read and understand, the reader must always keep in mind that since the le More...
May 18, 2011
kristiee
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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 minu More...
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 minu More...
Aug 08, 2011
Kevin
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This book tends to circulate almost exclusively within Christian circles, and I think that's a shame; it is certainly a pleasurable read even for the avowedly nonreligious. While the follies and common hypocrisies of the devout are critiqued by many modern writers (not least Lewis himself--he saves his harshest criticisms for false believers), I haven't found another book that illustrates the equal absurdity of the atheist's position as succinctly as Screwtape. I was lead to this book by David F
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Nov 19, 2011
Mel
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The premise behind this book is that each chapter is a letter written by a devil, Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood, instructing the younger demon on how to corrupt his "patients"- us humans. Written by the author of the Narnia series and Mere Christianity, it is a clever way to point out some of our less honorable actions and activities.
I'm not deeply religious, but I am interested in how to lead a moral life. In that sense, I enjoyed this book. Rather than list all the More...
I'm not deeply religious, but I am interested in how to lead a moral life. In that sense, I enjoyed this book. Rather than list all the More...
Jun 16, 2011
Phil
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I have read the Screwtape Letters several times now (at least 5) and I have always admired the ingenuity that would think of such a literary device as letters from a devil to be a vehicle for a broader message, especially from the Christian literary community.
Undeniably, CS Lewis belongs to an older and more respected community than the current establishment which puts out such utter trash as the Left Behind novels and other cringeworthy books. Still, Lewis was writing in a vein that f More...
Undeniably, CS Lewis belongs to an older and more respected community than the current establishment which puts out such utter trash as the Left Behind novels and other cringeworthy books. Still, Lewis was writing in a vein that f More...
Apr 27, 2011
Jason
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The Screwtape Letters/Screwtape Proposes a Toast is one of those cases where reading as the author intended is, quite simply, not as entertaining as reading at face value. Here we have a pair of devils, an uncle and nephew, trading letters concerning attempts at damning an Englishman in what I'd guess from the references to German bombing, the time period running up to and during World War Two. The devil's strategies largely figure in terms of lack of self knowledge, or perverting moral sentimen
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Dec 17, 2011
Dorothea
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This is not going to be a long review. I have strong feelings about C.S. Lewis -- short version, I was once a diehard fan and am not anymore. I recently acquired another bookshelf and Lewis's books came out of a box for the first time in some years; the Narnia stories and The Screwtape Letters are the only ones I can contemplate reading with more interest than pain, for now.
I was glad to see that I still admire many of Lewis's insights into human character, especially about how we th More...
I was glad to see that I still admire many of Lewis's insights into human character, especially about how we th More...
Apr 27, 2011
Michelle
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I just don't like it. Might have something to do with unrelenting heaviness. Lewis is one of the greats, and I get that. Perhaps the timing was off. Does that ever happen to you? A book is good, and you know it is good, but you just aren't in a place to welcome it? I actually had to stop reading this one; it bothered me that much.
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Feb 01, 2012
Chrystie
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This isn't the short of book I usually read, but I was excited to read it for book club. How often can you read a book in the form of letters written by a devil to his nephew, advising him how best to win the soul of a man? It was really unusual, and it did drag for me in some spots, but I was amazed by some of the insights in this book (especially considering that C.S. Lewis was an atheist in his early life). There was some brilliant stuff in here. It makes me wonder whether I have my own l
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Jun 03, 2011
Kristel
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The Screwtape Letters was written by C.S.Lewis in 1942 with WW2 as the backdrop. This is a series of letters (epistolary style literary work) written by Screwtape to his young nephew, Wormwood, advising him on how to secure the soul of 'the patient'. It also contained the sequel, Screwtape Proposes a Toast in which Screwtape addressed the graduating class of tempters. This was published in 1959 and addresses the politics of the post war world. C.S.Lewis uses this satirical format to address the
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Sep 25, 2011
Brenna
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This is my 3rd reading of this book, not counting the dramatic production I saw a few years ago, and it is still excellent and never gets old. This is one of my favorite books, and I love the unique perspective, as the narrator is a devil. The part of the book that I have really taken to heart is when Screwtape tells Wormwood to get his "patient" to pray to an image or his idea of God. As he says, "For if he ever comes to make the distinction, if ever he consciously directs his pr
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Nov 28, 2011
Brandon
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CS is probably the smartest Christian that ever was. Simple, clever prose, and an amazing command of the task of personal spirituality. I'd consider CS Lewis the Eckhart Tolle or Deepak Chopra of Christianity, in that he stays within the confines of the mythology, yet makes Divine consciousness accessible to lay-folk in every moment, every attitude and every decision they make. I highly recommend this book to Christians because it makes intelligible the path of God in a way the Bible falls short
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Feb 07, 2012
Sherrill
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Of course this is a classic and one that I had studied in high school. It is a little hard to read because even the author admitted it is somewhat boring--just an exchange of letters between a devilish imp and his nephew Wormwood, with only one side doing the writing. It is a great expose of how we as humans can be tempted by the devil. It gives you food for thought about whether you are falling into these traps so artfully set. It like taking a bit of medicine as it is good for us to do that on
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Jan 01, 2012
Natasha
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A.MAZE.ING. Loved it. I'm so impressed with how intelligent C.S. Lewis was. I read a little blurp that he had written about writing this book and he said that it was so natural and easy for him to write at the beginning but then it started to be very difficult to keep going into that dark place to become Screwtape. And that that is why the book is pretty short, because he didn't want any of his readers to become too close to that darkness.
I loved this and found a lot of insight in it that I More...
I loved this and found a lot of insight in it that I More...
Sep 28, 2011
Michael
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An eerily accurate book that spans from the time of WWII up to now, is the best way I can describe this book.
The most poignant part of the book was the later added, "Screwtape Proposes A Toast". After reading it, I found that what is "predicted" by Screwtape very closely resembles what has been going on in the world now. Are we falling to the "demons" that will evetually cause our demise or have we already hit rock bottom? I don't know for sure, b More...
The most poignant part of the book was the later added, "Screwtape Proposes A Toast". After reading it, I found that what is "predicted" by Screwtape very closely resembles what has been going on in the world now. Are we falling to the "demons" that will evetually cause our demise or have we already hit rock bottom? I don't know for sure, b More...
Aug 18, 2011
Kris
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One of the greatest accomplishments of the Chronicles of Narnia is albeit a christian allegory, it is not pretentious in that it does not barrade you with the principles of the background story. It is an enjoyable story whether you are a Christian or otherwise. That however was not the case here. Lewis made a few notable conclusions but like Dante's Inferno, I felt like an outsider as I just don't follow the line of thinking, making it difficult to enjoy with the blatant beatings of principle .
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Apr 27, 2011
James
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It's one of the most famous images in the collective consciousness: a person trying to make a difficult choice being advised by an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. The Screwtape Letters proceeds from the idea that this fight for a person's soul is occurring at every moment, every day. This short novel takes the form of letters written from Uncle Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood, advising him on how best to drag his "patient's" soul to hell.
This book is nothin More...
This book is nothin More...
Apr 27, 2011
Elizabeth
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Such great nuggets!
The play version is coming to Austin (its Sat and we haven't decided yet if we are going) so I decided to pull out the book and reread it. Turns out it was 10 years ago that I read it. There was a letter inside from Caleb that he wrote right before we got engaged and he had such sweet things to say.
Even the preface (of both the book and Toast) contain such wisdom and yes I feel smart when I read CSL so that appealed to my pride. Really what he wants is for us to More...
The play version is coming to Austin (its Sat and we haven't decided yet if we are going) so I decided to pull out the book and reread it. Turns out it was 10 years ago that I read it. There was a letter inside from Caleb that he wrote right before we got engaged and he had such sweet things to say.
Even the preface (of both the book and Toast) contain such wisdom and yes I feel smart when I read CSL so that appealed to my pride. Really what he wants is for us to More...
Apr 27, 2011
Erik
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My first and only roommate at Grinnell College was one of my best friends from high school, Richard Hyde. We had not asked to be assigned together.
I'd met Richard through Hank Kupjack, probably my first true high school friend. While Hank and I started our relationship in the freshman year, by that summer the three of us were virtually inseparable. Hank, the older son of Eugene Kupjack, the miniaturist, was the talented artist. Richard, the younger son of a gruff businessman, was More...
I'd met Richard through Hank Kupjack, probably my first true high school friend. While Hank and I started our relationship in the freshman year, by that summer the three of us were virtually inseparable. Hank, the older son of Eugene Kupjack, the miniaturist, was the talented artist. Richard, the younger son of a gruff businessman, was More...
Apr 27, 2011
Nikki Faith
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Apr 27, 2011
Derrick
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A good book that I would suggest to anyone. The premise of the book is a set of letters that Screwtape (a demon in the administrative department of hell) is writing to his nephew Wormwood (who is a demon new to the tempting job). At first the introduction of it made me wonder exactly how Lewis wrote these letters since it made me think that he did not write them himself at all but instead derived them from some outside source, this was not the case though. The letters were great to read and t
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Apr 27, 2011
K.
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Warning, super long review. All for you, Liz!
Reread in June 2010 for Newton book group. So glad!
My copy has the preface to the 1961 edition as well as the preface for and “Screwtape Proposes a Toast.”
As I have loved and thought much about this book since I was first introduced to it, I thought I would insert from notes here that may inspire someone to pick it up.
The “Screwtape Letters” are a series of imaginary letters of advice from the supervis More...
Reread in June 2010 for Newton book group. So glad!
My copy has the preface to the 1961 edition as well as the preface for and “Screwtape Proposes a Toast.”
As I have loved and thought much about this book since I was first introduced to it, I thought I would insert from notes here that may inspire someone to pick it up.
The “Screwtape Letters” are a series of imaginary letters of advice from the supervis More...
Apr 27, 2011
Heather
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I've started this book twice before and never finished it. Why? I don't really know, I think because I really wanted to focus on it while I was reading I couldn't read it during a semester. It's kind of sad to say I didn't finish it because it's about 110 pages. Now I have finished it and enjoyed it. I found a few quotes from it quite inspiring and thought provoking. It is written from the point of view of a demon/devil and how Screwtape is trying to instruct his nephew Wormwood in the art
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Apr 27, 2011
Jeanette
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I will have to admit that I did not spend time reading this book as perhaps I should have. I raced through it, wanting to get a good overview of the book, rather than relishing its contents. In this manner of reading, I was not overly impressed with Screwtape's letters, although the book was quite interesting. I imagine that if I were more informed on the history of this work and its impact on the culture of that time, perhaps I would appreciate it more.
I did like "Screwtape Pr More...
I did like "Screwtape Pr More...
Apr 27, 2011
Colleen
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This book has been recommended countless times to me. I ended up getting it from the library on CD. I didn't finish listening to it, before it had to be returned. But several times I was surprized at the techniques the devils were using to keep their subjects from God... like the idea that if you focus their attention far enough away - they will feel compassion and seek to do good in international causes - while completely neglecting, overlooking the needs of those right around them. Or equa
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