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The Screwtape Letters

The Screwtape Letters

List Price: $10.95
Your Price: $8.21
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: So insightful, it might not be "fiction" at all.
Review: I first approached this book with the idea that I would take breeze through it, taking personal notes (for the purpose of my own spritual development) as I went along, owing to the depth of the book's insight. After just a few of the 31 chapters, I found that, not only was I forced to copy much of what was said, word-for-word (in order not to compromise the author's intended message), but that I was expanding on it to a virtually unlimited extent. What should have been a quick ~150 page read, wound up being an enormous, but fulfilling project. To read this book is to learn a great deal about one's self, human nature, God, and all that is spiritual.

This is one book that noone ever regrets having read. It is similar to some books of the Bible, in the sense that it uses a ficticious, third-person point-of-view to describe something that is not only highly realistic, as a story, but is extremely revealing of what IS real, in general

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Be warned!
Review: My dearest Wormwood,

You must do all you can to dissuade your patient from perusing this tome. It is full of mockery and contempt for our father below. You know that C.S. Lewis has established himself as a powerful writer for our Enemy. This book has proved especially damaging to the efforts of even the best fiends. The abominable writer's style is witty, but so poignant that your patient is sure to acquire far too many truths and insights into our meddlings.

I beseech you, Wormwood, work quickly. This drivel is so enjoyable and easy to read that if you neglect your charge for only a short time, your battle is lost. Convince him his money would be better spent on a new paperweight.

Your affectionate yet troubled uncle,
Screwtape

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: See it from the other side.
Review: Although C.S. Lewis said, of The Screwtape Letters, that it was the most deplorable book he had ever written, it is nonetheless captivating. The story is centered around a devil by the name of Screwtape, who writes letters to his nephew, another devil. Screwtape gives advice to his nephew in order to lead Christians astray from the "path of God." After all, the surest path to hell is the soft, gentle, gradual one (to paraphrase Lewis). Great insight, and take advantage of Lewis' creative imagination. --spaceboy

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: So that's what they're thinking
Review: C. S. Lewis takes you into the mindset of a pair of demons named Screwtape and his nephew Wormwood, who connive to corrupt an unnamed British man living during World War II. The elder Screwtape is imparting his wisdom on the lesser experienced Wormwood throughout the letters, often agonizing on the effect the "enemy" (God) is having on the subject human. Screwtape discusses a variety of tactics Wormwood might take in pulling this man's soul toward their goal.

The book is very interesting, but somewhat difficult to read. Lewis writes in an academic style which one might expect from an Oxford professor.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Book About the Christian View of Demons
Review: This book consists of thirty-one letters written from a demon (Wormwood) to his nephew (Screwtape) who is also a demon. CS Lewis does a great job of picturing how demons think and act. The demons address many different issues, and how they use these issues to further their cause of evil. The book has helpful in that it made the existence and danger of demons very real. It caused me to think, "How do demons try and ruin me?" One of the most important tools of the demons is religion. Satan and his workers tried to use religion to draw people away from God and God's Word. This book was a fun read, but also a difficult read in some areas. Parts of the book are very philosophical, and somewhat separated from the overall narrative. I think the book was very helpful, and would be enjoyed by the Christian who is interested in the spirit world.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "Screwtape and the Seduction of the Soul"
Review: Every once in awhile comes a book that rekindles the fire in your soul, and gets you back on the right path towards God. C.S. Lewis, Christian apologist has given us such a book, "Screwtape Letters and Screwtape Proposes a Toast." In this book Lewis masterfully writes a fiction book about the tactics that demons use against humans. The novel is a collection of letters between a demon named Screwtape and his uncle. Lewis focuses on how evil spirits use sublety as opposed to outright possession to draw people from God. Every Christian should read this book to learn the enemy's plan, knowing your enemy is one of the greatest weapons one can have. Although, "Screwtape" is a fiction composition as you read it you will see that it is based on fact, and daily life will testify to this. Encouragement and knowledge is what Mr. Lewis gives us with this book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The devil's workshop.....
Review: The wry and ironic Uncle Screwtape, an adminstrator in Hell, sends helpful missives to his demon nephew Wormwood regarding the temptation of souls. A tyro, Wormwood consistently fails to tempt his charge into abandoning the enemy (God) - the artifice employed to justify ongoing avuncular assistance. Through this series of 30+ letters, C.S. Lewis provides the reader an opportunity to look at the machinations of sin from the opposite angle. Like a film negative, this view provides an entirely different perspective in which darker, dimmer shadings come starkly to the fore.

A political message is appended with Screwtape Proposes a Toast. In a departure reminiscent of Toqueville, Lewis presents at least one danger inherent in democracy: the egalitarian trend towards mediocrity. This lesson is as crucial today as it was when Lewis composed it.

The Screwtape Letters give a reflective reader much reason for pause. This is no doubt the author's intent. Accordingly, it easily merits 5+ stars.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: This book creeped me out!
Review: I'll give it one thing. Whopping good writing, as All CS Lewis material is. But I wonder if his thought processes would have been better used dwelling on the bountiful God, the promising God, the providing God, then a bunch of demons writing letters.
C.S. did state at one point that "all the space is owned by either the Lord or Satan" that there is "no middle ground" and I guess he tried to prove it here. But the victorian prose which is his style can be trying, not unlike the 1611 KJV scriptural prose, which to me is the type of writing that takes a concordance to figure out, let alone make a believer out of someone.

That said, there are probably many, many C.S. Lewis fans that are going to hit the "helpful NO" button about this point in the review. Frankly, I don't care, you wanted to read a review... here we are!

I submit that better time could be spent dwelling on the promises of God, the comforter and the Blood of the Lamb... maybe even a quiet round of golf or two, rather than shutting yourself in with anti-theology, lobotomoy, botteinfrontofme liturature. LIVE the LIFE God gave you, and remember the GLORY of the Lord is HERE, and embrace those things that the LORD has given to you. In the Name of Jesus.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Our Anti-Father Down Below.
Review: After at least a decade and several personal recommendations to read it each year, I finally got around to buying "The Screwtape Letters." The initial emotion I experienced after reading its introduction was jealously as I could not help but wish that it was I, and not Lewis, who had such an ingenious idea. Once you discover the book's method, which is of a senior demon writing to his nephew with recommendations on how to steal souls, you'll be astounded at the wonderful complexity of the author's mind. His reverse theological technique provided ample opportunity to skewer many of the most powerful members of England's WWII society. What is most remarkable about the book is that it is even more applicable to our present day world than it was to the author's era. Moderate and touchy-feely churches are ubiquitous to our landscape and Screwtape undoubtedly would be most pleased with their constant empthasis on social issues rather than the Lord's Word. The book has tremendous meaning as it difficult to dismiss the possibility that the Devil influences our daily lives and the world around us. One cannot help but wonder if their are Screwtapes and Wormwoods in the air we breath who attempt, with subtle direction, to steer us away from productive activities and into the netherworld of souless entertainment.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Devil in the Details
Review: This book is one of the better books by C.S. Lewis, a man of many great books. A junior demon is counseled by his uncle, a more senior demon, on the intricacies of tripping up your average Christian human. It is at times hilarious, and at other times poignant, as there are constant reminders throughout the book of how our weaknesses bind us and trip us up all too often.

C.S. Lewis stated this was the most difficult book he had ever written, because of the strain of putting himself into the frame of mind required to write from a demon's point of view. It will be well worth your time to read it.


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