I often say that almost all of my theology comes from reading "The Narnia Suite," which I read for the first time at the age of eight, and more than a dozen times thereafter. I was particularly taken with The Last Battle, in which some people are very surprised indeed to learn that those they thought wouldn't be admitted into Aslan's Land because they fought on "The Wrong Side" of the aforementioned last battle, were in fact instantly admitted because it was their intention and their heart which was judged.

When I was a little older, someone gave me a copy of "The Screwtape Letters," and I have read it probably a dozen or more times over the years as well. Brilliant, allegorical, hilarious in parts, and filled with gentle wisdom, it is a theological masterpiece. I recall the first time I the letter in which one devil brags that he will soon win his first soul for the devil because although the man continues to pray, he doesn't believe what he says any longer. The older, wiser devil releases a stream of invective and explains the younger devil is an idiot, because doesn't the know that "those are the prayers that God loves best!?" How relieved I felt, as a young person, that there was a possibility God might still embrace me, even with all my doubts. Just one of the many gifts Lewis's work offers to those of us searching for a deeper relationship with God.

An excellent book which shows how the "other side" thinks. Great writing! One of my favorites!

I was hoping this version could replace my paperback copy; however, without the C.S. Lewis preface to the 1961 edition it is incomplete.

Like all Lewis' works, this book is full of insights into human life - into those aspects which are often too big and obvious for us to notice. These insights are given us directly from the enemy through the writings of a devil named Screwtape. He writes to his nephew (a novice tempter devil) about his nephew's "patient," a human struggling with faith, who is a representation of us. This book bettered my attitudes about people and life and faith by orders of magnitude! I recommend it to everyone!!

I don't know how well this great book translates to agnostic readers, but for me it was a very enlightening and concrete way to understand what it means to try to be a good man in a world of temptation.

In keeping with the time period, I believe it was Winston Churchill who said "All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing". In the Screwtape Letters the senior tempter, tells his apprentice, it is just as affective to get a man to stare into a fire until it turns to ash, as to get him to commit some great sin, because either keeps him from doing what he should. I wonder what Mr. Lewis would have thought of digital cable television? I am as guilty as anyone of staring at that box instead of doing good.

So here's the deal.

This is an excellent book for any believer from High School on up, that wants to be good and avoid evil.

But that's just me.

Of all of the fanciful worlds C.S. Lewis has created, this classic dealing with the realities of faith, Church, and the struggle between good and evil takes the prize. Often humorous, too-often right on target, The Screwtape Letters explores the journey of faith from the perspective of two demons. Wormwood, the novice demon, has taken on a new 'client' and receives advice from senior demon Screwtape. Lewis challenges the church's status quo and makes us think about whether we 'Christians' are really 'demons' at heart. Sometimes, it's hard to tell! You'll laugh and then you'll say 'hmmmmm'.

Though seemingly humorous in style, there is an intense sense of sobriety behind every scene that C.S. Lewis depicts to illustrate how the devil operates to tempt us. The background is World War II England. The object that the devil preys on is a young Christian. The circumstances of temptation; all of which are something we can relate to everyday, vary from personal devotional time, personal relationships, romance, and vocation to culture, worldviews and the war itself which the readers would discover to be the means to a happy ending for the young Christian, not a usual one, however. The appendix entitled, "Screwtape Proposes a Toast" deals with a more general strategy that the realm of evil formulates in their quest to ruin mankind by pushing them to the deepest abyss their depravity is capable of, "to harden these choices of the Hell-ward roads into a habit by steady repetition, ... to turn habit into a principle." Another interesting strategy is to wreck havoc in the culture by twisting the meaning of the word "democracy" from a narrow strict sense to a broad one.

The reason why Lewis does an excellent job in giving us the insights on the operation of the realm of the devil is because he understands human beings and culture well, which makes this book deeply personal, worth reading and learning from.

This is the second time that I have read this book. The first time was as a youth a very long time ago and it had a positive impact on me. I decided to reread it and see what additional insights it would bring into my life. It was clearly worth the few hours of my time it took to read this book. The device Lewis uses is very clever and forces one to look at sin, pride, and mediocrity from a totally different viewpoint. It becomes clear that it's not the big mistakes we make in life that really hurts us; sometimes those are the things that cause us to reevaluate our lives and repent. The things that really hurt us are the pride and the accumulation of little sins. Lewis seem to really be pushing for greatness of soul. Bottom line is this little book made me think about my life. That is what a good book should do.

The book also includes the essay, "Screwtape Proposes a Toast". This was written much later and instead of Screwtape writing letters advising Wormwood, he is at an awards ceremony at the school for tempters proposing a toast to future and past successes. It is basically a vehicle to complain about how the modern education system focuses on mediocrity. It also brings out some very good points to ponder.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. The principles espoused here apply to all people, religious or not.

With so many books to read and so little time, I rarely go back to re-read even my favorite works. Years ago, I discovered The Screwtape Letters and was blown away. The other day I found myself skimming through it again, then settling down to dig deeply through this treasure trove of misinformation.

A senior demon, Screwtape, is writing letters to an underling and giving advice in the ways of bringing down mankind one person at a time. He speaks with disturbing clarity, marked insight, and insidious desire. He wants to feast upon the souls of all of us, while serving Our Father Below. In this twisted world, we see life from the side of evil. From this framework, God is the Enemy, and so the reading requires a constant attention to the subtle lies Screwtape is mixing in with his letters.

The insights we discover through this flipped script are unsettling and important. We see the follies of self-righteousness and even unselfishness. We see through the schemes used to divide man and woman, the ploys of twisted pleasure, and the cyclical trap of pride/humility/pride. Every page brings revelation in this ultimate cautionary tale.

I'm a fan of Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, Space Trilogy, Mere Christianity, and The Great Divorce, but this title is still one of the most mind-blowing, yet accessible, books I've ever read. And re-read. And, most likely, will read again.

In "The Screwtape Letters", author C.S. Lewis sets out to tale the story of two demons attempting to keep a man from finding and keeping faith in Christ. Such a premise could easily have turned into a silly and not particullary interesting book. However, Lewis actually does a fantastic execution of his preimse. It held my interest. Lewis tales the story through letters written between the villians and weaves in some interesting commentaries on friendship, spiritual growth, and even the Second World War (I believe the book was finished in about 1941 or so though the particular edition I read had some later material as well). The writing is good and fans of Lewis will probably enjoy this work greatly. Overall, a fine book that I was glad I took the time to read.

This book describes how demons attack people spiritually by using various kinds of interesting stories. You will find the stories very interesting and easy to read.

This audio book really brought the story alive. This and the book itself really makes you think on your own life. I would recommend this to anyone, saved or unsaved, because anyway you look at it its pretty cool.

For those interested in exploring the ways in which the world trys to seperate us from God there is of course no one better to read than C.S. Lewis. Lewis uses subtle humor with his little devils in this short book and one can see the self in every chapter. I particularly like the chapter on the misuse of humility.

This book is an utter treasure of irony, reverse psychology, and a wondrous view of just how human nature works. There is nothing better than to find a story that makes you laugh at yourself and think, and this book really fits that bill. I love how proper demons can be, and it is truly scary how aware of human nature they can be. This is a great little reminder of how to be a good Christian and just what little holes are waiting in your armor.

Pretty good version. The vocal quality of the performer was good, but somewhat nasal.

Overall, great audio book for the students.

While I can't say that I LOVED this book, I certainly enjoyed it because it brought me face-to-face with some of my own dealings with Screwtape's master. Its truth hit too close to home for me to LOVE it.

Screwtape's advice and commentary to his nephew Wormwood made me squirm a little (a lot) as I realized that perhaps other relatives of this evil duo had been visiting in my home...and mind. For instance, on the first afternoon of reading the "letters," I was annoyed with my husband about some silly,insignificant little thing he had said. My soul said "Ouch," when I read these words from the 3rd chapter: "When two humans have lived together for many years it usually happens that each has tones of voice and expressions of face which are almost unendurably irritating to the other. Work on that...." Was Wormwood working on me???

This is a classic, timeless book that will speak to anyone who's ever wondered about the battle between good and evil. It reminds us that Satan and his minions are ever closeby...and very seductive and powerful.

Now this is a delightfully twisted book. The basis of the story is that a senior demon Screwtape is writing letters to his young nephew Wormwood, whom is a junior tempter. Their goal is to obtain the eternal damnation of a human target that throughout the book is known simply as their "patient."

C.S. Lewis wrote this novel of faith with temptations in that walk. And it doesn't necessarily pertain to Christianity but the struggles we all deal with on a daily basis possibly in marriages or just anything with which we constantly reflect upon. But in "The Screwtape Letters" it is about a new Christian struggling with sin.

Wormwood's goal is to have his newly believed Christian to fall in his walk of faith but tempting him into mortal sins, eventually leading to his damnation. And throughout the novel consisting of 31 letters between the sinister uncle Screwtape and his nephew, further unfolds missions, and the budding life of the "patient." They consider God "the enemy" obviously in their goal to obtain the patient's soul while God has other plans for him. Uncle Screwtape instructs Nephew Wormwood on how to capture the patient in sin.

All in all, I'd say this is a great read for any person of Christian faith, or just in general as long as you don't hold a biased opinion to the belief. C.S. Lewis does an excellent job on portraying how a newly born again Christian may feel. I give this novel a 5 star rating for capturing true feelings that all of us could relate to either through the patient in being temped or through Wormwood being pressured or feeling obligated to do well.

- Written by Chris Crothers

In examining my limitless collection of books, and with complete intellectual honesty, I declare that this book is my absolute favorite book of my entire life. I find myself surprised by that, because there have been so many wonderful, awe-inspiring books that I have devoured--but if I had to pick only ONE book as my favorite, it would have to be this one. It was in thinking about what to write in this review that I have come to this conclusion.

C. S. Lewis held such a brilliant God-given imagination, that ALL his works tickle the mind in places that one didn't even know existed! This book will have you laughing until you hurt one minute, and the next minute so full of spiritual sobriety, that the on-going, unseen (yet very "felt") battle raging around us becomes crystal clear.

It is far and few between that a book will call me back to it when I walk away. It is not often that I find such joy and delight when I can finally pick it up again--almost feeling a guilty pleasure when there are so many chores to do and work to be done!

What a brilliant mind this author had. What a blessing he was to our planet! My children love his works.

So yes..............I am reading it yet again, and I'm 100% positive it won't be my last time.


Carrie Lynn Jones
Author of: It All Began... When Jesus Gave Me Sneakers

Lewis presents delightful and penetrating insights into the human condition and real temptation. A great book for discussion of Christian themes in a secular setting.

The Screwtape Letters primarily covers Lewis' theology of virtue. The dark, wry humor in Screwtape's letters to his nephew Wormwood works well as a framing device for what is largely a series of essays on temptation and virtue. There's no real plot as such and Wormwood's target is never more than a cipher, as Screwtape would hardly have cared, but doing otherwise - perhaps with letters from Wormwood as well - would have been a different book. This one works remarkably well, funny and thoughtful.

It is flawed, though; Lewis dismisses some things too carelessly when they conflict with his own thoughts. A bit more ambiguity from Screwtape would have suited the work, particularly when he treads outside of the central conceits of the book. Screwtape Proposes a Toast, included at the end of the book, suffers from this particularly; showing a broader aim rather than the temptation of a single person, it veers into the political. Screwtape's musings work more effectively in other matters, though they remain entertaining to the end.

In older editions of this book, there's a fascinating preface by Lewis in which he talks about, among other things, his view of the nature of demons and angels and how they have been mis-portrayed in popular art and literature. That preface is not included in this edition.

The Screwtape Letters is Lewis's classic collection of diabolical correspondence. In it, a senior devil gives continued advice to his protégé on how best to tempt his victim and keep him from salvation.

Lewis does not propose any concrete doctrine on devils here, and this is not his point. Rather he focuses on highlighting the ways, both large and small, that Christians are distracted from God. Lewis explores the dangers of not being purposeful toward God and life, as well as what happens to people when they give in to temptation.

The book is presented as a collection of letters, all from Screwtape to Wormwood. But Lewis does a good job of making the conversation not feel one-sided, and he does a fantastic job with the devils' personalities. In fact the book is rather deeper than this, as there are two other plots going on. First is the fate of Wormwood's man. Second is the relationship between the devils, and the fate of Wormwood.

The Screwtape Letters is deeper than it appears, and is thoroughly thought-provoking. Most every reader will find elements in it to which he or she can relate. Christians of all maturity levels can benefit from this book.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The Screwtape letters are a series of letters from the senior demon Screwtape to his nephew, Wormwood, who is a demon in training. In the letters Screwtape guides Wormwood on the finer nuances of ever so slowly leading a patient down the wrong path. He suggesting planting thoughts in the mind of his patient, such as:
* When at church, focus on the funny hat the person in next the pew is wearing. No one of true faith could wear such a hat!
* Next, notice the shoes on the man seated next to him. They aren't the type of shoes he would wear.
* Encourage him to look for the perfect church. This congregation doesn't sing right, this sermon is too long, I don't fit in here...never let him look at the bigger picture of unifying with one goal in mind.
* When his mind begins to think of anything important, when he begins to see a glimpse that there is more to life than the physical, distract him with lunch time, the bus schedule, make him focus on "the real world".

This is an inspiring read. It reminded me how there are more things in life that distract us from focusing on our spiritual needs than those that help us meet them.

The point of view is a bit confusing at times, but both times I've read this it has improved my perception of how to try to live my life.

This is a wonderful reading, by a gifted narrator, of one of C.S. Lewis' best works. It is a satire and is both entertaining and illuminating. Highly recommended.

Whenever I review a book on a topic having to do with religion or politics, I always like to read the good and bad reviews. The bad reviews on this book are just amusing. This book is condemned as everything from sophmoric to "Christian brainwashing." Anti-Christians exist just like anti-Semites and anti-Muslims and anti-Black and so forth.

Anyway, the book is a pleasure to read. I suppose if you are hostile to open thought like many anti-Christians claim not to be, then you shouldn't read this if you aren't a Christian. C.S. Lewis never tried to hide his religion or his faith so how it comes as a surprise to some people that all of his books have a similar theme is beyond me.

So the book is a series of letters written by the elder of two demons, Screwtape. In his letters he is writing to his nephew, Wormwood is out for the first time to bring about the spiritual ruin of his target, a young man.

Through the letters, it is revealed the favorite tactics of the demon, such as creating a feeling of malaise and apathy in an individual so that they waste away time or fostering a resentment against family members.
There is a continuing sense of humor in the letters as Screwtape becomes more and more annoyed by Wormwood's growing number of mistakes, such as allowing the man to remember to pray to God.

The book delivers many messages, all of which are relevant today. One of the messages delivered is that spiritual ruin does not occur in one fell swoop but over time. The demons are patient and persistant. The fall from grace is gradual, much like any other form of corruption. I suppose these messages might not be accepted by some but what about the other messages, such as not giving in to apathy and by forgiving others, both of which are seen as counter-productive to the demons.

For Christians, this is a wonderful book. Like much of his work, there is alot of allusion here. Does C.S. Lewis really believe that there is a department somewhere in Hell where demons do paperwork like some office building here on Earth? Or are the demons symbolic of our own internal struggle? Is it a demon that makes you lie or is it your own self giving in to your selfish desires? The book shows through the letters, how our internal struggles can turn us away from God over time.


For non-Christians, well for those who aren't outright hostile towards this faith, this is a book that you can enjoy as well. So you may not believe in the Christian God or any god but that doesn't stop you from enjoying the Star Wars movies, now does it? There are still positive messages to be found in this book. Messages which can make all of us better people.

This is an excellent book, exactly what you would expect from C.S. Lewis. The spiritual insight set forth in this book is astounding. It unveils demonic tactics in a truly unique way that captures the interest of the reader.

C.S. Lewis could have refrained from writing this grand look at the war of the spirit. He could have followed the line so many cozy Christian authors have pursued throughout the 20th and 21st centuries and maintained the semblance of normality with an emphasis on inhibiting the imagination. He, like Tolkien, O'Connor and others, however, did not do that and opened up a flood-gate of raw wit, poetic imagery and an honest look on the war of the spirit-realm.

I remember first reading this bizarre but delightful look on spiritual warfare as a twelve-year-old. It's theme and message resound to me now the same way they did then - that the world of the spirit is very real, although we may not see it, and our spiritual enemy is a very tenacious and focused one. Lewis uses both humor and horror to convey these messages and their affect is a lasting one.

I highly recommend The Screwtape Letters to anyone wanting to find a hodgepodge of Lewis' imaginative work in process. Still a very relevant look on spiritual warfare from the perspective of a demon and his nephew as they collectively work together to try to keep a lost soul lost. This book exemplifies Lewis' range as a creative mind, and without it, it might be safe to assume that the Peretti's of the world would not have become what they are now.

I received this book as a Christmas gift from a friend at work, and I loved it. It's a humorous tale of an experienced devil (Screwtape) and his inexperienced nephew (Wormwood), who are trying to secure the damnation of a young man. Fortunately, they fail.

The book is a series of letters from Screwtape to Wormwood, telling him how to tempt the young man (e.g. by appealing to his pride, by confusing him, through sexual temptation, etc.) God is referred to as "The Enemy" and the devil is referred to as "Our Father Below," so the reader must interpret what is called good as bad and bad as good, since it's from the perspective of the devil.

For instance, at one point, Screwtape notes, "To us a human is primarily food; our aim is the absorption of its will into ours, the increase of our own area of selfhood at its expense. But the obedience which the Enemy demands of men is quite a different thing. One must face the fact that all the talk about His love for men, and His service being perfect freedom, is not (as one would gladly believe) mere propaganda, but an appalling truth. He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself...We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sons."

It's a thought-provoking book that forces you to take a look at your own life and determine whether you are living it in the way God intended.

Kara Lane, author of Wake Up to Powerful Living: 12 Principles to Transform Your Life!

I received this book as a Christmas gift from a friend at work, and I loved it. It's a humorous tale of an experienced devil (Screwtape) and his inexperienced nephew (Wormwood), who are trying to secure the damnation of a young man. Fortunately, they fail.

The book is a series of letters from Screwtape to Wormwood, telling him how to tempt the young man (e.g. by appealing to his pride, by confusing him, through sexual temptation, etc.) God is referred to as "The Enemy" and the devil is referred to as "Our Father Below," so the reader must interpret what is called good as bad and bad as good, since it's from the perspective of the devil.

For instance, at one point, Screwtape notes, "To us a human is primarily food; our aim is the absorption of its will into ours, the increase of our own area of selfhood at its expense. But the obedience which the Enemy demands of men is quite a different thing. One must face the fact that all the talk about His love for men, and His service being perfect freedom, is not (as one would gladly believe) mere propaganda, but an appalling truth. He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself...We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sons."

It's a thought-provoking book that forces you to take a look at your own life and determine whether you are living it in the way God intended.

This is just great for the novice who has not studied the concept of spiritual warfare. It is a unique perspective from a trusted and knowledgable scholar.

This Christian/fantasy tale involves the behind the scenes activities as an old demon (Screwtape) corresponds with and mentors his nephew (Wormwood) regarding the monitoring, temptation, and spoiling of a new and growing Christian young man.

It's an unarguably unique and clever concept. Regarding the non-fictional material here, Lewis accurately considers the general stages of, and the pitfalls of, the Christian re-birth and growth.

My only negative comment is that I found that the "upward progess" of the new Christian subject came perhaps a bit too easily, simply, and predictably. In my experience and observation as a long time "follower of Jesus" . . . it's been much more complex, more difficut, and more "tricky" than Lewis portrays it here. For all of us.

Still, an entertaining and spiritually worthwhile read.

I dont mean what I say in the title literally of course (heresy averted). I simply mean to say that this book is a must read for the following simple reason:

If you know your enemy (via the Screwtape Letters) and yourself (via prayer and the Bible) you will win the battle everytime.

Who can deny the insidious whisperings that infiltrate the noblest heart and penetrate the most virtuous mind?--those subtle impulses that beckon hither and thither to paths we ought not to travel upon. How often have we vowed never to yield to some enticement, only to succumb moments later to the very vice we had pledged to eschew? Whether manifested in the final, luscious slice of a calorie-loaded pound cake or in the tantalizing allure of a forbidden passion, temptation to choose wrong over right is ubiquitous in our lives as we daily make decisions of both trivial and profound significance. Yet while many have denounced the depravity of sin, C.S. Lewis, a mid-twentieth century British theologian, took a much more innovative approach - through the eyes of the devil himself. The resulting correspondence written between the seasoned devil Screwtape and Wormwood, his inexperienced nephew, is an insightful training manual on the art of human subjugation. In his masterful commentary The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis effectively employs satire, irony, and appeal to logos to enable his adult Christian audience to recognize and understand the devices of temptation.

From the beginning, Screwtape's writings unveil the real roots of temptation through satire. Wormwood's task is to bring about a soul's damnation, but as his uncle quickly observes, the newly christened tempter is prone to error. Critiquing his understudy, Screwtape chides, "Are you not being a trifle naïve? It sounds as if you supposed that argument was the way to keep him out of the Enemy's clutches... Jargon, not argument, is your best ally in keeping him from the Church" (p. 1). This passage is satirical because it exploits Wormword's fallible use of argument to undermine his patient's faith when mere diversion would be sufficient. It is a direct critique of the book's adult Christian audience who allow meaningless "jargon" to distract them from their faith. As evident in this example, C.S. Lewis masterfully uses satire to establish lesser temptations as valid components of sin in the reader's mind.

Additionally, the satire in Screwtape's letters provides valuable insights on the tactics employed by the beguilers. After offering a slew of tips for diverting people from their prayers, Screwtape states, "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. 15). Here he is specifically referring to the spiritual distance fostered by casual or self-promoting prayers, but the technique of distancing his patients from "the Enemy" characterizes all the devil's efforts. This example is satirical because it largely implicates the tempted - not the tempter - for planting seeds of temptation through a careless relationship with God. It reveals the devil's tendency to not only entice, but to encourage conditions where such enticements will be most compelling. By critiquing the audience's possibly cavalier approach to prayer, satire teaches the reader to recognize the devil's underlying tactics in temptation.

In addition to satire, C.S. Lewis uses irony to explore temptation's appeal to human flaws while simultaneously undermining the demon's methodology. On page 37, Screwtape writes, "Their nearest approach to constancy, therefore, is undulation." Wormwood's patient had recently dropped into a spiritual trough, and Screwtape cautions that such deviations do not of themselves lend to damnation. His statement is ironic because it underscores change as mankind's only dependable feature. But the true irony is that Wormwood's efforts to discourage ultimately undermine his objective because they humble the patient to rely wholly upon "the Enemy." Lewis' irony reveals both human flaws and demonic arrogance associated with sin. It enables his Christian audience to better understand temptation by concisely illustrating both its strengths and failings.

Another example of irony is Screwtape's inability to comprehend love. Referring to God as "the Enemy," he writes, "All His talk about Love must be a disguise for something else - He must have some real motive for creating them and taking so much trouble about them" (p.100). Because, as a devil, he is himself incapable of virtue, Screwtape incorrectly assumes that all righteous actions must also have ulterior motives. This non sequitor fallacy is satirical because it exhibits the tempter's deficiency in understanding, while reinforcing to the Christian audience that love really is "the Enemy's" driving motive. This satire provides dramatic insights by suggesting that temptation is only a pervasion of virtue which cannot supplant righteousness. Through this satirical device, Lewis convinces the reader that while Satan can mimic love as lust and induce man to commit all manner of sexual transgressions, he can never understand the true nature of love. This conundrum is further reinforced by the statement, "We know that He cannot really love: nobody can: it doesn't make sense. If only we could find out what he is really up to!" (p. 101). By satirically emphasizing Satan's misunderstanding of truth, Lewis establishes in his reader's perception the subtlety of sin as a perverted reflection of truth.

Lewis's irony is further bolstered through the use of distorted diction. The polarity of his word choice is best exemplified on page 117. Describing one particularly righteous girl, Screwtape writes, "Not only a Christian but such a Christian - a vile, sneaking, simpering, demure, monosyllabic, mouse-like, watery, insignificant, virginal, bread-and butter miss." The contrast between this vitriolic stream of adjectives and the virtuous purity of Christianity is deliciously ironic. God becomes "the Enemy" while Satan is tenderly patronized as "Our Father Below" (p.2). This ironically polarized diction reinforces the audience's understanding of sin as corruption. What Screwtape loves we should disdain, and Screwtape loathes we should embrace. By intensifying the contrast between good and evil, the irony of Lewis's "black is white" diction immediately alerts his reader to recognize temptation.

Finally, Lewis' rational dissection of temptation as a systematic progression appeals to the reader's sense of logos. Defining his intentions on page 44, Screwtape gloats, "We always try to work away from the natural condition of any pleasure to that in which it is least natural, least redolent of its Maker, and least pleasurable. An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula." With this object established, the devil then works systematically toward his victim's destruction. First he plants doubts so that a patient will question the value of religion. He then lets the person acclimatize to a lowered spiritual condition and finally moderate into complete religious complacency (p. 45-46). This progression toward captivity appeals to the reader's sense of logos because it follows a coherent chronology. By understanding the general logic of temptation and the ensuing misery, the audience is empowered to identify similar patterns in their own lives.

The appeal to logos is similarly employed in Screwtape's discourse on the sin of "fashion." On page 137, the devil lays out the consequences for yielding to fashion in an orderly, logical manner. First, an obsession with novelty "diminishes pleasure while increasing desire." Second, it costs money. Third, it leads to "excesses of lasciviousness, unreason, cruelty, and pride." And ultimately, it "distracts the attention of men from their real dangers." This appeals to the reader's sense of logos because it clearly illustrates the sin-driven regression from desire to danger. By appealing to logos, Lewis clearly displays the mechanics of beguilement to his audience.

As a whole, The Screwtape Letters provide invaluable insights into the world of temptation. From sensual passions to trendy fashions, and distracting jargon to cavalier prayers, C.S. Lewis thoroughly exposes his reader to the twisted realities of the devil Screwtape and his minion Wormwood. In so doing, he empowers his adult Christian audience to resist temptation when it strikes. The scathing satire, delicious irony, and rational appeal to logos unravel the tangled intricacies of temptation by defining its roots, devices, and systematic methodology. In a world filled with temptation, this book is a must read for any Christian adult eager to avoid an unpleasant reunion with "Our Father Below."

Who can deny the insidious whisperings that infiltrate the noblest heart and penetrate the most virtuous mind?--those subtle impulses that beckon hither and thither to paths we ought not to travel upon. How often have we vowed never to yield to some enticement, only to succumb moments later to the very vice we had pledged to eschew? Whether manifested in the final, luscious slice of a calorie-loaded pound cake or in the tantalizing allure of a forbidden passion, temptation to choose wrong over right is ubiquitous in our lives as we daily make decisions of both trivial and profound significance. Yet while many have denounced the depravity of sin, C.S. Lewis, a mid-twentieth century British theologian, took a much more innovative approach - through the eyes of the devil himself. The resulting correspondence written between the seasoned devil Screwtape and Wormwood, his inexperienced nephew, is an insightful training manual on the art of human subjugation. In his masterful commentary The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis effectively employs satire, irony, and appeal to logos to enable his adult Christian audience to recognize and understand the devices of temptation.

From the beginning, Screwtape's writings unveil the real roots of temptation through satire. Wormwood's task is to bring about a soul's damnation, but as his uncle quickly observes, the newly christened tempter is prone to error. Critiquing his understudy, Screwtape chides, "Are you not being a trifle naïve? It sounds as if you supposed that argument was the way to keep him out of the Enemy's clutches... Jargon, not argument, is your best ally in keeping him from the Church" (p. 1). This passage is satirical because it exploits Wormword's fallible use of argument to undermine his patient's faith when mere diversion would be sufficient. It is a direct critique of the book's adult Christian audience who allow meaningless "jargon" to distract them from their faith. As evident in this example, C.S. Lewis masterfully uses satire to establish lesser temptations as valid components of sin in the reader's mind.

Additionally, the satire in Screwtape's letters provides valuable insights on the tactics employed by the beguilers. After offering a slew of tips for diverting people from their prayers, Screwtape states, "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. 15). Here he is specifically referring to the spiritual distance fostered by casual or self-promoting prayers, but the technique of distancing his patients from "the Enemy" characterizes all the devil's efforts. This example is satirical because it largely implicates the tempted - not the tempter - for planting seeds of temptation through a careless relationship with God. It reveals the devil's tendency to not only entice, but to encourage conditions where such enticements will be most compelling. By critiquing the audience's possibly cavalier approach to prayer, satire teaches the reader to recognize the devil's underlying tactics in temptation.

In addition to satire, C.S. Lewis uses irony to explore temptation's appeal to human flaws while simultaneously undermining the demon's methodology. On page 37, Screwtape writes, "Their nearest approach to constancy, therefore, is undulation." Wormwood's patient had recently dropped into a spiritual trough, and Screwtape cautions that such deviations do not of themselves lend to damnation. His statement is ironic because it underscores change as mankind's only dependable feature. But the true irony is that Wormwood's efforts to discourage ultimately undermine his objective because they humble the patient to rely wholly upon "the Enemy." Lewis' irony reveals both human flaws and demonic arrogance associated with sin. It enables his Christian audience to better understand temptation by concisely illustrating both its strengths and failings.

Another example of irony is Screwtape's inability to comprehend love. Referring to God as "the Enemy," he writes, "All His talk about Love must be a disguise for something else - He must have some real motive for creating them and taking so much trouble about them" (p.100). Because, as a devil, he is himself incapable of virtue, Screwtape incorrectly assumes that all righteous actions must also have ulterior motives. This non sequitor fallacy is satirical because it exhibits the tempter's deficiency in understanding, while reinforcing to the Christian audience that love really is "the Enemy's" driving motive. This satire provides dramatic insights by suggesting that temptation is only a pervasion of virtue which cannot supplant righteousness. Through this satirical device, Lewis convinces the reader that while Satan can mimic love as lust and induce man to commit all manner of sexual transgressions, he can never understand the true nature of love. This conundrum is further reinforced by the statement, "We know that He cannot really love: nobody can: it doesn't make sense. If only we could find out what he is really up to!" (p. 101). By satirically emphasizing Satan's misunderstanding of truth, Lewis establishes in his reader's perception the subtlety of sin as a perverted reflection of truth.

Lewis's irony is further bolstered through the use of distorted diction. The polarity of his word choice is best exemplified on page 117. Describing one particularly righteous girl, Screwtape writes, "Not only a Christian but such a Christian - a vile, sneaking, simpering, demure, monosyllabic, mouse-like, watery, insignificant, virginal, bread-and butter miss." The contrast between this vitriolic stream of adjectives and the virtuous purity of Christianity is deliciously ironic. God becomes "the Enemy" while Satan is tenderly patronized as "Our Father Below" (p.2). This ironically polarized diction reinforces the audience's understanding of sin as corruption. What Screwtape loves we should disdain, and Screwtape loathes we should embrace. By intensifying the contrast between good and evil, the irony of Lewis's "black is white" diction immediately alerts his reader to recognize temptation.

Finally, Lewis' rational dissection of temptation as a systematic progression appeals to the reader's sense of logos. Defining his intentions on page 44, Screwtape gloats, "We always try to work away from the natural condition of any pleasure to that in which it is least natural, least redolent of its Maker, and least pleasurable. An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula." With this object established, the devil then works systematically toward his victim's destruction. First he plants doubts so that a patient will question the value of religion. He then lets the person acclimatize to a lowered spiritual condition and finally moderate into complete religious complacency (p. 45-46). This progression toward captivity appeals to the reader's sense of logos because it follows a coherent chronology. By understanding the general logic of temptation and the ensuing misery, the audience is empowered to identify similar patterns in their own lives.

The appeal to logos is similarly employed in Screwtape's discourse on the sin of "fashion." On page 137, the devil lays out the consequences for yielding to fashion in an orderly, logical manner. First, an obsession with novelty "diminishes pleasure while increasing desire." Second, it costs money. Third, it leads to "excesses of lasciviousness, unreason, cruelty, and pride." And ultimately, it "distracts the attention of men from their real dangers." This appeals to the reader's sense of logos because it clearly illustrates the sin-driven regression from desire to danger. By appealing to logos, Lewis clearly displays the mechanics of beguilement to his audience.

As a whole, The Screwtape Letters provide invaluable insights into the world of temptation. From sensual passions to trendy fashions, and distracting jargon to cavalier prayers, C.S. Lewis thoroughly exposes his reader to the twisted realities of the devil Screwtape and his minion Wormwood. In so doing, he empowers his adult Christian audience to resist temptation when it strikes. The scathing satire, delicious irony, and rational appeal to logos unravel the tangled intricacies of temptation by defining its roots, devices, and systematic methodology. In a world filled with temptation, this book is a must read for any Christian adult eager to avoid an unpleasant reunion with "Our Father Below."

I own the older version narrated by John Cleese and this version by far surpasses it. Joss Ackland's voice is spot on for the role of Uncle Screwtape. I have learned more about avoiding vice and applying virtue than I care to admit after listening to this.

In the preface to Lewis' final appearance of Screwtape, Screwtape Proposes a Toast, the author provides a terrific description of what his previous involvements with Screwtape included. Referring to his time authoring The Screwtape Letters, Lewis states "The world into which I had to project myself while I spoke through Screwtape was all dust, grit, thirst and itch...It almost smothered me before I was done. It would have smothered my readers if I had prolonged it." After reading this work, it is plausible that many would see the truth in these statements.

As humans, it is relatively easy to recognize when one is acting, thinking, or living inappropriately. This might be true because of the concept of the human conscience. Lewis, however, brings a new perspective to the human conscience while offering the idea that it is driven by purposeful direction guided by the influences of good and evil. Although, in this particular work, the words good and evil might be more subjective than one is accustomed to.

Reading this work is a rare opportunity to reflect upon the choices made by each individual as life is lived through the means of a brilliant author speaking as a diabolical fiend. The idea of reading the letters of one tempter to his apprentice seems reminiscent of childish fantasy. Quite to the contrary, this work is powerful on level after level and certainly intended for mature minds. This work is yet another masterpiece in Lewis' collection and, if fully appreciated, has the potential to change lives.

This book was great, it's particularly interesting how screwtape gets more overt with his utter disdain for his nephew. It was an absolutely fascinating read.

C.S. Lewis is still amazing.

The genius of this book astounds me. C.S. Lewis is somehow able to teach valuable lessons on every page while speaking as a demon. And it makes you laugh, too. The reader is smiling one moment and squirming at an uncomfortable recognition of self the next. The book is fairly short and could be a quick read, but you will want to stop and digest each letter for a while before moving on to the next. Excellent for a study group.

This is an incredibly dull book. I was forced to read it for a religion class and I can't believe there aren't more bad reviews of it. It is very tedious and the wording is old, making it all the more hard to read. I am not a hugely religious person and I would never recommend this book to a friend, possibly an enemy, but never a friend. If you're having sleeping problems, this book would be a great remedy.

Some books can only be read once and then forever forgotten. Some need to be read more than once, and they will still strike us afresh everytime we come back to the books. "Screwtape Letter" definitely belongs to the latter category. Other than the literary style of the book, which is very "tickling" (in a good sense), I will recommmend the book to be treated as a kind of "manual" to discern divine truths from false and half truths. The book will train our thoughts not just to stay positive, but more importantly to stay godly. The book does so by making us aware of how often we have been obtusely blinded by devilish thoughts.

C. S. Lewis was, without a doubt, one of the best writers of the century, and this book is C. S. Lewis at the height of his powers. It is clever, entertaining and insightful, at points even profound. At points you're almost tempted to take notes. People tend to think of "informative" and "entertaining" as opposites, or at least mutually exclusive. Lewis proves that that isn't true by writing a book that is both at the exact same time.

Some people seem think that this book is depressing or too heavy, but I don't think that's true. It's definitely not a dime novel or pulp fiction, and I suppose it does require a lot more thought than a lot of novels, but don't let that stop you. This book is wonderful satire that's not that hard to read.

If you've never read this book, I definitely recommend that you do so.

C. S. Lewis was, without a doubt, one of the best writers of the century, and this book is C. S. Lewis at the height of his powers. It is clever, entertaining and insightful, at points even profound. At points you're almost tempted to take notes. People tend to think of "informative" and "entertaining" as opposites, or at least mutually exclusive. Lewis proves that that isn't true by writing a book that is both at the exact same time.

Some people seem think that this book is depressing or too heavy, but I don't think that's true. This book is wonderful satire that's not that hard to read.

If you've never read this book, I definitely recommend that you do so.

This is the third CS Lewis book I read (after Mere Christianity and The Problem of Pain) and once again, I am mind-blown by this author. Lewis' wit is ever present in this volume too, and it's always a pleasure to read this excellent author. I truly believe he is a massive monument in intellectual history because of his theological writings.

The Screwtape Letters are basically letters written by a demon named Screwtape - he is an old senior demon - writing to his nephew Wormwood, a young demon sent to earth to tempt a human (the "patient"). He gives him advice on how to tempt humans. That may sound simple, but you have no idea of how intricate the tempting is. Along the way, Screwtape makes some very fine points about our modern world and its current ideology.

Much more than merely theological or Christian, this book possesses some really excellent psychological insights in human behaviour in groups and inner behaviour.

It's a relatively short read and is a really good one; it happens to be quite some fun as well. Lewis uses irony in seriously gifted ways and I never got tired of it, not to say that he over-uses it, not at all.

Definitely another Lewis classic.

In The Screwtape Letters CS Lewis writes of devils and their work, appealing to anyone with an intrest in the purpose of life and in how to succeed in that purpose. In his preface he explains that many symbols of devils and angels produce an undesirable effect. He gives examples such as, "The humorous, sensible, adaptable Mephistopheles has helped to strengthen the illusion that evil is liberating." (9; Revised Edition Preface) It was Lewis' intent to avoid this error. While CS Lewis's depiction of devils is not proven to be true, he successfully uses diction and characterization to appeal to our emotions to build a sense of the evil of devils and appeals to the readers' logic to guide us to our own conclusions on how to protect ourselves from the devils.

Lewis's first appeal to emotion is made in the effective diction of Lewis's preface, "Readers are advised to remember that the devil is a liar," (6; preface) The connotation of the term devils is distinctly evil, thus Lewis gives us a prejudice toward them. Lewis furthers this prejudice with his use of the term liar, indicating that the devil is not to be trusted.

Lewis's second appeal to emotion comes in his characterization of the devils as prideful. In the 31st chapter Screwtape expresses his victory over Wormwood "I have always desired you, as you (pitiful fool) desired me. The difference is I am the stronger," (145; ch.31) through this Lewis shows us one form of Screwtape's pride. This pride, the pride of one looking down on another, leads us to further distrust Screwtape.

It is easy to see the pride of one looking down on another, thinking himself better, but Lewis doesn't confine the devils to a single form of pride. In the 1st chapter he introduces a more complex form of pride, "...oh, that abominable advantage of the Enemy's!"(8; ch.1) Here is shown the pride of the weaker or lower resenting the greater for his strength, and making excuses for his own weakness or failures. This pride shows us another shortcoming of the devils, thus Lewis deepens our distrust of them.

A second characteristic, which Lewis reveals in Wormwood's attempt to send the "Secret Police" after his uncle and mentor Screwtape as displayed in the 22nd chapter is disloyalty. This quality is echoed by Screwtape, "Love you? Why, yes. As dainty a morsel as ever I grew fat on." (145; ch.31) he further explains that because Wormwood had failed he, Screwtape, would get to in some way consume Wormwood. Screwtape displays his disloyalty as he is not upset at his nephew's failure, nor interested in his defense, but rather pleased at the prospect of gaining from Wormwood's punishment. Thus Lewis continues to build our feelings of the evils of the devils right through the final chapter.

Through the words of Screwtape, Lewis appealing to our logic explains the immediate goal of the devils, "the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy." (56; ch.12) One such example is given in the first chapter as Screwtape relates a story of one of his "patients" who he almost lost. This patient, prompted by God, had begun to think religiously, and instead of arguing Screwtape just convinced the man that he needed to go for lunch, thus breaking the line of thought(9;ch.1). Lewis uses this as an appeal to logic, leaving us to conclude that this separation is to our detriment, as it is what our enemy, the devils, desires. This is how Lewis continues to build a foundation for the views he would have us develop.

Lewis again appeals to our logic to guide us to a conclusion showing that the methods by which the devils produce their desired effect are numerous and varied; Lewis, through Screwtape, gives an example of just how varied they can be, "All extremes ... are to be encouraged. Not always, of course, but at this period. Some ages are lukewarm and complacent, and then it is our business to soothe them yet faster asleep," (33; ch.7) the methods given are opposing, so Lewis builds the logical basis for the belief that the devils will do it any way that works. Throughout the work Lewis gives many examples of possible methods of the devils such as, "tortured fear and stupid confidence are both desirable states of mind," (67; ch.15) the devils would encourage either state of mind. So the logical conclusion is that we will be face a wide array of methods of temptation depending on the age in which we live, and the temptations to which we are most susceptible.

Lewis presents another method of the devils as Screwtape warns Wormwood of "strengthening in [his] patient the fatal habit of attending to universal issues," (8; ch.1) and that he should not argue about "doctrines as primarily `true' or `false,'" (8; ch.1) thus we may logically conclude that in order to overcome the temptations of the devils we must think upon the eternities, and consider what is true and what is false. Perhaps this is why Lewis writes in such a way as to require personal thought, so we will think of what is true and false and thwart the devils.

Lewis gives further insight into the methods of the devils through the words of Screwtape, "The safest way to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts,"(56;ch.12) So we know that the devils are not going to be overt. "Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick," (56; ch.12) Lewis, through the words of Screwtape, explains just how small an effective attack can be. Lewis's use of cards as a sufficient method shows just how subtle the way to Hell can be, as many would argue that the use of cards is not wrong at all, but it is what it leads to. If cards are all it takes to get someone to put God out of his mind, to disregard God's word, then it is sufficient, and the devils know it. So again he leads us to a logical conclusion: to protect ourselves from devils we must be aware of the small things that separate us from God.

Through all of this Lewis makes no conclusions. He leaves that to us. As we consider such things as, "So do not allow any temporary excitement to distract you from the real business of undermining faith and preventing the formation of virtues," (25; ch.5) we may learn more of how we should act, perhaps that we should do the opposite, but Lewis never says it. By leaving the conclusions to us Lewis helps us to form our own personal methods of protection, suited to our own strengths and weaknesses.

In his book, The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis successfully instructs us how to protect ourselves from devils. He carefully appeals to our emotions through his use of diction and characterization of the devils to convince us of a need to protect ourselves. He then gives us logical instruction, but he leaves the conclusions to us, allowing us to form our own methods of protection.

Ever wonder what separates us from God? This book will give you some hypothetical, all though theologically sound ideas as to how Saten and his dominion run chaos on earth. This book will make you take a look at how you think about how you are influenced by the secular world around us, and our reactions to it. Are we tempted in ways we have never thought about? It is easy to think of being tempted by money, lust, self-pity... but what about being tempted by the mundane, the obvious, the everyday? What about being tempted/preoccupied by the ails of the world at large, yet being soured by the needs of the person that lives next door to you? Does that seem to little or unnecessary? Or perhaps... if everyone chose to help and care for the person next door, then eventually the people a half of a world away would feel that influence? C.S. Lewis' novel is timeless and is must read for anyone who is finding new interest in the Christian faith, or has been a Christian and would like to understand the aspect of temptation even more.

'The Screwtape Letters' is a brilliant book that should be read by every Christian or anyone else seeking to understand the nature of evil.

I first read this classic about 20 years ago. I thought it was great then and even better when I just reread it.

Written as a series of letters from a senior demon, Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood, this book paints an amazing picture of the tactics used to divert people from their walk with God.

As Screwtape writes: 'You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy (Christ). 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 the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick.'

Lest anyone come away with the false impression that Lewis is condemning card playing, that is not the point at all. He is talking about anything diverting one from his/her relationship with God being a potential problem.

This book is full of brilliant dialogue from the senior miscreant to the junior. It is a great eye opener about the types of things that can lead one astray.

Highly recommended.

"The Screwtape Letters" is perhaps my most favorite C.S. Lewis book. In it we read a series of letters from a "senior" demon to his "junior" temptor. And in it we learn all about the fine and subtle tricks that demons play on us. What makes this book so amazing (and quite honestly frightening!) is that as you read you begin to mentally check off each trick that you've encountered in your OWN life! By the time I finished this book, I was so convinced of its truthfulness that I started telling all my friends and family to read it (and read it carefully!) Read it yourself -- you'll be shocked, but you won't be disappointed.

This is a masterpiece. People just don't write like this anymore. If anyone told you not to get this book they are crazy.

Mr. Lewis' great achievement here is that he manages to succeed where literally thousands of fire-and-brimstone sermons have failed -- this book forces you to analyze your life against the Christian ideal. At the same time, it is carried forward by an inherent sense of hope and optimism -- Mr. Lewis doesn't fall into Milton's trap of admiring Screwtape. It also serves as a great spiritual pep-talk: you are given the secrets, if you will, of how the Enemy works...and strategies to foil him are freely confessed.

Some letters are more entertaining than others, but each finds its mark (and each found at least one mark within me, to be sure).

A friend of mine (a professed agnostic) once described this book as the most compelling case for Christianity he ever came across. I would have to agree.

This book does contain the essay "Screwtape Proposes a Toast," but it lacks the wonderful introduction (by Mr. Lewis himself) that I found in another paperback (which I have since lost). Still, it is hard to argue with _any_ version of this work.