Rating: Summary: Intelligent Look at the Devil Review: The only C.S. Lewis I had ever read up to this point was the Narnia series, when I was a kid. Those were great books that probably deserve a rereading at some point, even though I'm much older now. The Screwtape Letters find Lewis waxing on his favorite topic: Christianity. The book is a series of letters from Screwtape, a high-ranking administrator in Hell, to his nephew Wormwood, who is a tempter of man. The whole book is a wicked satire that Lewis pulls off well. Not only is this book fun to read, it has a serious message, too.I found myself laughing quite a bit with this book, although the laughter tends to be the nervous sort of chuckling that comes from discomfort. Too many times I found myself described within these pages. Especially when Screwtape discusses the types of laughter found among man and how these can be turned to good use in gaining souls for Hell. The most useful type of laughter for Satan is flippancy, when man laughs because he can always see a ridiculous side to everything. It is most useful because men who do this will never take anything as seriously as they should, especially the "Enemy" (the term Screwtape uses to describe God). Another interesting chapter deals with Jesus and the tendency of moderns to try to define and describe Jesus in terms that should be alien to him. Screwtape delights in efforts to make Jesus a Communist, a social theoretician or a magician/philosopher. All of these efforts divert man from whom and what Jesus really was. Screwtape also cackles over intellectuals, who are corrupted by the historical point of view. Intellectuals don't look for truth in what they read; they analyze writing styles, context, and historicity. By not looking for the truth, they are confused and turned away from God. Other topics are covered here as well: sex, marriage, prayer, Christianity and lots more. The best part of the book, by far, is the toast Screwtape gives at the end of the book. Lewis uses this toast to launch one of the most vigorous and thorough attacks on democracy that I've had the pleasure to read. I never knew Lewis had it in him!! A great book that should be read by a greater audience. I should make an effort to read more from this author. You should too. Recommended, with highest distinction.
Rating: Summary: A suggestion for C.S. Lewis Lovers Review: I'm an enourmous fan of C.S. Lewis and have been for many years. His explorations of Christianity bring a much needed intellegence to the faith and I have always been so grateful for his writing. On more then a few occasions, I have given his books to secular friends as an introduction to Christianity and have read them myself several times. His insight and observations have always given me something new to consider. unfortunately, I've always found other Christian writers of fiction to be strongly lacking the same level of intellegence. Recently, however, a good friend loaned me a copy of We All Fall down by Brian Caldwell. I found the novel to be every bit as intellegent and enjoyable as Lewis. Caldwell writes with real energy and passion and his novel made me rethink many aspects of my faith. I would strongly recomend it for people who enjoy C.S. Lewis. It's a great book.
Rating: Summary: Thoroughly Enjoyed Review: Though C.S. Lewis himself said he disliked writing this book, I enjoyed reading it more than almost any other book by him or anyone else. It's an incredibly funny book about a deadly serious topic. The letters are laced with moral implications and incredible humor. Even for a non-christian, this is a truly funny book. The constant references to "Our father down below" was funny, and the one letter where Screwtape gets so angry he accidently transforms himself into a millipede is alone worth the price of the book! Please, purchase this book.
Rating: Summary: Insightful! Review: C.S. Lewis is one of my favourite authors. Last year for my birthday, one of my friends gave me The Screwtape Letters for my birthday. On the inside cover she wrote that "it was about time you started reading C.S. Lewis". She was right. The Screwtape Letters was my first C.S. Lewis book. It was great, and it really makes the reader take inventory of his/her own thoughts, motives, and actions. C.S. Lewis captures the nature of that great struggle for your soul. Read and enjoy.
Rating: Summary: Wow Review: No other book has ever made me think so much and really consider my actions. I would say it's one of the greatest books ever writen, and the best I have ever read.
Rating: Summary: "The heart is deceitful above all things" Review: I love C.S. Lewis and I think this is an important subject. However, I was disappointed with the concept. Why does Christianity continue to point fingers at the Devil and/or demons? Lewis uses an interesting format (letters written from a ficitious demon named Screwtape to his aspiring nephew Wormwood) to convey an important message, namely temptation. Christians must be very aware of temptations that confront them in everyday life, and Lewis does his usual, masterful job of inserting wit and humor into a very serious subject. He provides many useful insights into temptation and often helps the Christian see why things are not always what they seem at first glance. That being said, I'm frustrated with Christianity's repeatedly blaming Satan and his demons for our own sins. The Bible teaches us that "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Man is wicked enough on his own to fall head first into a horrendous life of sin. We need no assistence from the evil one. Maybe I'm reading too much into Lewis' work, but in today's church, when angels and demons seem all the rage, I think many may miss this message's true intent.
Rating: Summary: A review of the audio version Review: Well, I won't repeat the other 100+ plus reviewers about what a great book "The Screwtape Letters" is, other than to say it will reward you to read it. I'd just like to comment on the unabridged audio version, narrated by John Cleese. They couldn't have picked a better vocal talent to do the Letters. In the introduction, Cleese speaks the persona of the Oxford/Cambridge don C.S. Lewis, not mimicing Lewis' voice, but copying the style of speech heard on Lewis' World War II broadcasts that eventually became "Mere Christianity". Then, through the rest of the tapes, Cleese becomes the ultimate fiendish (literally) bureaucrat, Screwtape. Screwtape's sputtering indignation and fury at his nephew's incompetence, which leads him to turn into a giant centipede, is captured to perfection. In the closing essay, "Screwtape Proposes a Toast", his effete snobbery at the fine vintage of bottled Pharisee is delightful. All in all, the ideal audio presentation of Lewis' masterpiece.
Rating: Summary: One of the best books ever written Review: What a powerful, well written book! Screwtape is a demon leader for the devil, and each chapter is a letter from him to his nephew Wormwood, another demon in Satan's horde. Screwtape gives Wormwood lots of advice on how he can turn his 'patient,' a new Christian convert, away from the Christian faith. And the suggestions that Screwtape makes are not only wickedly ingenious, but it makes you shudder when you think about how this pans out in the real world. But for me, the real highlights of the book are when Wormwood screws up and Screwtape, almost beside himself, takes him to task in moments of great humor. I have never read a writer in the 20th century who was ever the wordsmith as Lewis was, and this book is the peak of the mountain. A must read and a must buy.
Rating: Summary: A Kick in the Teeth -- in a good way Review: This book is one those rare finds that somehow combines the characteristic of being a generally easy read with the ability to kick you in the face with its truth and meaning. As the book progresses, it does seem to get harder, but that doesn't take away from the overall greatness of this book. In comparison to Mere Christianity, it's a much easier book to read, but seems to be directed to a smaller, already-Christian audience. Having said that, I would recommend it to anyone willing to take the time to read it and put the effort into getting something out of it, regardless of religious beliefs. It doesn't take a lot of effort, but as with any book that requires self-reflection, you won't get something out of it if you don't let yourself.
Rating: Summary: What theology should be Review: Ok, so you are curious about apologists and Christian theological writing, but aren't quite ready to tackle Tillich's Systematic Theology? Then the Screwtape Letters is a perfect choice. Not only a classic, it deals with questions of evil influence and human foibles in a way we can digest, both recognizing its relevance in our lives and laughing at Lewis' immense wit. The elderly devil Screwtape advises his devil nephew Wormwood on the subtleties of evil and how the easiest way to access the human soul is through the subject's own hubris. In a brief 134 pages Lewis captures the essential understanding of the existence of evil.
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