I got a great deal from this. Lewis zeroes in on the subtleties of bad thoughts, even though he ascribes them to demons. I don't wish to engage in that debate, although many would assert that that factor is vital to my spiritual well-being; in fact, it might be the crucial element. Alright, whatever. Call it what you will. I'm going with bad thoughts. I believe I'm capable of generating good and bad thoughts on my own without an angel or demon pulling the strings.

Now, what to do with these bad thoughts that prevent me from living in harmony with my fellow humans? Well, Lewis doesn't really explore that aspect. This book is an excellent tool for helping me to notice them, but there isn't much in the way of a proposed solution. He identifies a vast number of problems, though, and as some like to say, if you spot it, you got it.

I engage in a lot of self-help activities throughout the week, so there were no earth-shattering insights in here for me, but they were excellent reminders and timely. I need reminders. The inner workings of the diseased part of my mind are subtle, cunning, baffling, powerful, and patient, and it's good to come across things that pull the covers off and expose it to the light of day. This book accomplished that.

C. S. Lewis is not for the uneducated, I'm sorry to say. I think this is advanced-level reading, and you need to be able to focus. Focusing isn't always my strength, but with persistent effort, I was able to do it and understand the message. There wasn't an abundance of big words or anything, but one's reading comprehension should be above average, and that's not my strong suit.

Included in this is "Screwtape Proposes a Toast," and I think that should be required reading for everyone. Five stars for that alone. Be forewarned, though; it's political and not at all politically correct. In fact, it showcases the dangers of political correctness and liberalism, though it doesn't use those terms. It uses the term "democracy." This isn't to say Lewis was against democracy, but I think he was highlighting the pitfalls. There are pitfalls in any system. As for me, I'm still a fan of democracy. Or a Republic, rather.

Yeah, there's that. But Churchill also has another quote about democracy that makes my point. "Nobody pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."

Anyway, what Screwtape refers to as democracy is really socialism wearing a democracy mask, which is easy to do. It's kind of ironic that I read this in mid-2016 when the pushback from the results of what Lewis was talking about are important issues in our presidential election. Back in the late 50's when "Toast" was written, a lot of it was just beginning. We've had a couple of generations go through the new education system, and it's interesting to see what's happened.

So, if you're seeking spiritual improvement or a historical perspective on some matters, it would be worthwhile for you to check this out. It's quite Christian, so if you can't tolerate that brand of theology, you'd better leave it alone until you can.

Pre-reading note, 6-23-16:

(See also Letters from the Earth)

God has a sense of humor. He's always pulling this ironic stuff on me, and usually, it's a lot of fun even when I end up having to eat crow. This isn't one of those situations, and it's harmless enough since I'm not getting my britches caught on my own pitchfork, which is how the irony usually plays out. This is just one of those low-key "well, how about that" things; a matter of timing. A mere coincidence if you like those.

Yesterday I started The Screwtape Letters. Today a friend met me for dinner. He saw what I was reading, said the circumstances were odd and that my God has a weird sense of humor (he's an atheist), then gave me a gift: Letters from the Earth: Uncensored Writings. He suggested I read the two together just for kicks and giggles, so that's what I'm going to do. This has the makings of a celebrity death match! Who will win? Will I achieve spiritual betterment from C. S. Lewis, or be driven into permanent irreverence by Mark Twain? Luckily, I think I can appreciate each for what it is even if I read them simultaneously, but this should be fun.

Now to go divide the chapters into something close to equal percentage portions... Let's see, one is 200 pages, the other 300, so I guess about 60 pages of one, 100 of the other, then back and forth until I'm done? Or there are 32 chapters in the first, and 14 sections of the other, but there are subsections in some of those, so that's 30 sections, but some of those are only a couple of pages long, and another is 100 pages... Though I have read the first two sections of the first, so that leaves 30 sections in each... God, I hate math! I seem to be driving myself into an anxiety attack. This sounds like a job for...

That's the ticket. Throw the planning to the wind, act spontaneously, and just go back and forth whenever the hell I feel like it. I wonder what I'll learn from all this? Probably that I'm crazy, though that became obvious after I reread my last paragraph. Or was reinforced to me, rather. Oh well. Here we go!

Post-reading note, 8-7-16:

Just as I suspected. I can appreciate each for what it is. My soul seems in no more or less danger of damnation than before I started, nor does it seem I'm about to ascend to a higher plane. I gained a lot of wisdom from Mr. Lewis, and some laughs from Mr. Twain. I also gained a bit of insight from Mr. Twain and some chuckles from Mr. Lewis, and I thank them both for all of it.

It took longer than I expected to complete this project, but that's because I'm never able to immerse myself in these kinds of books the way I can a novel, no matter how much I enjoy them. I approach them with determination and a purposeful stride, but no excitement. So, please don't let the month and a half reading time make you think I didn't like these, for I did. And I was also busy with other non-reading projects too, now that I think about it. Both of these get my recommendation to anyone who thinks they might be interested in them.

**Title: My Struggle with a Book**

I really struggled with this book. Before and after reading it, I came across two Goodreads reviews that, in different ways, stated that if you identify as Christian, you need to read this book. Well, I do identify as Christian, although I'm not overly religious. However, this book mostly went over my head. It was also quite depressing, and I'll talk more about that later.

Thanks to [this review](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5290079), I realized that I did understand it enough to take away at least two important messages. Firstly, thinking for yourself and doing things in your own way is good, while following every single trend that comes along is bad. This is something I've always done, so that's great. Secondly, doing things for others out of true charity and caring is good, while doing things for others for the sense of spiritual one-upmanship it gives you is bad. This is another thing I've always done or tried to do, so again, "great".
The problem with my understanding of these messages was that I didn't realize they were the main messages. Were these sorts of things the point of this book? Were there more of them? Because for me, mostly this book was just depressing. There were some things that Screwtape advised his nephew to have his "patient" do that I sometimes already do or have done. Not out of any perverse or malicious intent, but simply because I suffer from Major Depressive Disorder to the point where it disables me (along with three severe anxiety disorders).
Parts of this book had me reading the sections and telling myself, "Jenni, you are not going to Hell because you're depressed." I try to live a good life within my little bubble - a Christian life, if you will - but I rarely leave the house. I rarely want to leave the house and I rarely feel able to leave the house. But I am NOT housebound because I have a little devil telling me to be housebound.
So I really struggled with this book. To me, it was a very dry and depressing read. One of my Goodreads friends (the only [review](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1526063504) I read before starting this book was hers *hi, Delta!*) said she found this book to actually be laugh-out-loud funny in places. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I did not share in the laughter. I actually found myself sleeping more during and immediately after reading it. (Not really a good sign for someone who suffers from depression.)
The good thing about all the excess sleep I got is that I felt able to tackle my review (if you've read this far, you've been reading it!) and now feel restored enough to resume reading in my "comfort genre" (mostly paranormal romances and urban fantasies) once again.
As for the star rating, I'm a bit stuck because the Goodreads star system is all about "I liked it" or "I really liked it", and this way of rating books doesn't work for me with this book. So I think I'll call it a 3.5 star "good" book and give it four stars since Goodreads doesn't believe in the half-star system (*grrr*). It was a good book. It made me think; granted, what I was thinking wasn't always good and was downright depressing in places, but still...I was thinking! So it was a good book. It just wasn't really the right book for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**Addendum**:
I just noticed that I forgot to talk about "Screwtape Proposes a Toast", which was included after the Letters and which I did read. Perhaps I forgot about it because even more than the Letters, this Toast went over my head? I mean, I understood the words, but I didn't take anything away from them. Unless, of course, you can count "ignore everything Screwtape has to say" as being a good takeaway. ;-)

\\n  3.5 stars - good\\n

The Screwtape Letters is a classic work by C. S. Lewis that many people have heard of but not read. It presents a purported collection of letters from a senior demon, Screwtape, to a junior tempter, Wormwood. One of the key insights is that the Infernal Bureaucracy is based on the axiom of consume or be consumed.

After the first letter, Wormwood's patient becomes a Christian, and Screwtape offers advice on how to undermine this newfound faith. The letters explore the use of subtle distractions rather than direct attacks. For example, avoiding discussions of truth or falsity and categorizing things as brave or progressive. Playing on small annoyances is more effective than tempting to spectacular sin. The tempter should also prevent the convert from noticing that they are drifting away from their faith.

The letters are short and to the point, and offer interesting perspectives on the nature of God and the spiritual battle. Lewis found it difficult to write from the perspective of the infernal, but his work provides valuable insights into the dynamics of spiritual life. He resisted requests to write more, but did pen a sequel, Screwtape Proposes a Toast, which offers further instructions on the art of temptation.

This summer, consider sitting down with The Screwtape Letters. It can be read for entertainment or to expand our understanding of the spiritual battle that surrounds us.

Summary: The classic collection of letters between a senior demon and junior tempter charged with undermining the new found faith of his "patient."

In anticipation of reading it with a group (hypothetically/someday), I'm giving this four stars. To be honest, I don't think I, alone, got as much out of it as all that. I admit that I found it a slow read, despite the epistolary style and the brevity.

However, there were plenty of bits that I did appreciate. And, yes, I did laugh out loud a couple of times. If I'd been reading it with other people around, I would have read some bits to them. I do recommend it to Christians, atheists, and others. It's full of universal ideas, and there are also a few ideas particular to the author's personal culture. I found it interesting that it was written during WWII and does reference "the European War."

Regarding humor and its potential as a means to destroy shame, the author states, "If a man simply lets others pay for him, he is'mean'; if he boasts of it in a jocular manner and twits his fellows with having been scored off, he is no longer'mean' but a comical fellow.... Cruelty is shameful--unless the cruel man can represent it as a practical joke."

On the topic of [a prediction of social media], the author writes, "All humans... have some reluctance to think about the Enemy [God]... [as it] involves facing and intensifying a whole vague cloud of half-conscious guilt.... [and it does] cut him off more and more from all real happiness.... You can make him waste his time not only in conversation with people he likes, but in conversations with those he cares nothing about on subjects that bore him. You can make him do nothing at all for long periods."

One of those "should have read by now" classics that lived up to its reputation.

This particular classic has long been on the list of must-reads for many book enthusiasts.

It has managed to maintain its allure and popularity over the years, and rightfully so.

The moment you pick up this book, you are immediately drawn into its captivating world.

The story unfolds in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to turn the next page.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their lives.

The writing style is engaging and流畅, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the narrative.

Whether you are a fan of classic literature or simply looking for a great read, this book is sure to satisfy.

It is a testament to the power of great storytelling and the enduring appeal of the classics.

Once you have finished reading it, you will understand why it has earned its place among the ranks of the greats.

When I was a child, my thoughts and reading habits were those of a child. This included going through the entire Chronicles of Narnia series at least four times. C.S. Lewis had a significant impact on my early understanding of faith and remains an important figure in Christianity, comparable to a modern-day Paul in his influence as an expositor of belief. I also devoured the Space Trilogy, The Problem of Pain, The Great Divorce, and repeatedly watched our VHS copy of Shadowlands, a 1993 film where Anthony Hopkins portrays “Jack” Lewis. However, there was one book I had not read, The Screwtape Letters, which was a source of embarrassment for me. It was high time to correct this omission!

The Screwtape Letters is a small book with an interesting premise. A high-ranking demon, Screwtape, writes to his novice nephew, Wormwood, giving advice on how to corrupt a human soul and ensure the man's damnation. I had expected a more colorful and action-packed story in terms of scenery and back-and-forth conflicts. Instead, it is simply a series of 31 letters that the elder demon composes, each starting with "My Dear Wormwood". We never hear Wormwood's replies, but we can guess their content by reading Screwtape's subsequent letters. Wormwood is constantly making mistakes and losing his hold on his assigned human to “the Enemy”, which is God. As Lewis explains in the preface, the concept of hell is not a series of red-tinted caves filled with pitchfork-wielding demons, but rather a dull bureaucracy where quotas must be met and souls must be won. The demons are nourished by the spirits of these fallen humans: the more corrupted, the tastier they are. It's like a demonic version of Monsters, Inc.

This is a topsy-turvy world where bad is good, up is down, and God is the enemy. I often had to re-read passages to understand the intended meaning because of the double negatives. For example, in one passage, Screwtape instructs Wormwood on how to keep his human distracted. He tells Wormwood to keep the human's mind on the inner life and encourage him to focus on the most advanced and spiritual duties while neglecting the most elementary ones. He also wants to aggravate the human's horror and neglect of the obvious. This passage is both confusing and clever because it shows how Lewis uses the perspective of the demons to highlight habits that he finds annoying in other people. He also comments on social mores, such as marriage, and suggests that it doesn't have to be passionate or romantic. However, the book is also provincial in its focus on English culture and the conditions of war (it was published in 1942). For example, Lewis portrays pacifism as a position that can be used to corrupt the human soul.

One of the more concerning things about the book is that Lewis seems to believe that this is how reality works. He thinks that there are dedicated demons who monitor our every act and thought and try to corrupt us towards hell. They even have the power to influence trends and culture. Meanwhile, God is also playing an influence game to save us. The idea is exhausting and has frightening implications for what counts as “free will” in such a theology. There is also an inherent contradiction in that the spirits claim to live outside of time and be unfamiliar with human chronologies, but they must work promptly and sequentially to influence the human's actions or risk losing him to the Enemy. And, as it turns out, they do eventually lose. The man dies during the war and goes to heaven. For his failure, Wormwood becomes a meal for Screwtape and the other demons. This seems like an evolutionary selection process that would result in some highly effective demons with great success rates.

The volume I read also includes an additional story that Lewis wrote for an American magazine, Screwtape Proposes A Toast. In this story, the demon offers reverse criticism of the societal trend towards encouraging everyone that they're all the same and equally worthy. Lewis worries that this “democracy” will lead to mediocrity and dumb down the next generation.

In conclusion, I can't help but suspect that C.S. Lewis was projecting some of his own manipulative tendencies onto the universe. One could write a similar book from his perspective, The Clivestaples Letters. In it, he might advise his nephew, a Christian writer, to be careful to make God's opinions match his own while hiding this intent and shielding it from criticism by putting his own preferences in the mouths of demons. He could also construct his sentences in a way that makes them difficult to understand, so that by the time the reader figures them out, their critical faculties will have weakened. He could instill in the reader a need for the imagined benefit of eternal life and invent an invisible cast of characters fighting for their soul, influencing their every action. With the stakes so high and such a sneaky game going on, the reader would be less likely to think for themselves and would accept his opinions and preferences as the way to salvation.

Once again, C.S. Lewis has made a significant impact on the Christian community with his profound and perceptive writing.

The Screwtape Letters are truly captivating, filled with devious strategies and thought-provoking ideas. In the first few letters, there are several points that really resonate deeply.

One such point is when Screwtape reveals to Wormwood the limited and narrow-minded perspective that Christians often have of God, in contrast to the truly overwhelming and terrifying glory that causes the demons to tremble.

I wholeheartedly encourage every Christian to read these letters. They offer a unique perspective on various temptations, presenting them in ways that often elude believers.

Hopefully, this will lead to a strengthening and deepening of one's faith. My favorite quote from the book is, "It's funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out" (Lewis ch. 4).

This quote highlights the subtlety and cunning of the devil's tactics,提醒 us to be vigilant and not let our guard down.

I began reading this book on my return journey from Christmas vacation.

It was on the plane, which was teeming with people departing after the New Hampshire primaries. The woman seated beside me happened to be a high-ranking leader within the Democratic party.

I have a hunch that when she noticed I was reading this particular book, she didn't even bother to inquire whether I was a Democrat or not.

I completed reading it after the semester had concluded, while waiting for my car to be repaired.

I was just a few pages short of finishing when I engaged in a conversation with an extraordinary African-American woman.

She shared with me the story of how she managed to make it back to St. Louis with her two children through prayer, after her husband abandoned them.

I cherish the experiences that unfold when I set aside my book to interact with people.

This book was perhaps a little drier compared to the other books I've read this year, yet it is undeniably a classic.

It also contained some truly great quotes that left a lasting impression on me.

C.S. Lewis, a renowned 21st-century novelist, is widely known for his numerous famous books. His works, such as "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "The Screwtape Letters," are highly regarded by Christian apologists and theologians. "The Screwtape Letters" is a particularly intriguing novel due to its unique theme, storyline, structure, and tone. In this novel, Screwtape, a demon at the top of Satan's army, writes letters to his nephew, Wormwood, who is trying to lead a man's soul to Hell. Through this premise and Screwtape's letters, C.S. Lewis explores many of the common paradoxes and dilemmas in Christianity. He also shows how demons might try to undermine Christians and their relationships with God by imagining himself as a demon. Overall, C.S. Lewis's work offers us a way to better understand ourselves by metaphorically explaining the fundamental differences and purposes of Hell and Heaven. By carefully reading Screwtape's instructions, we can gain a better understanding of what the Christian religion requires and promotes for a happy afterlife. I highly recommend "The Screwtape Letters" as it is a great example of writing from an antagonist's perspective and adds a unique and vibrant element to Christian literature.

Read in the following years:

2007 was a significant year. It was filled with various events and developments across the globe. People went about their daily lives, facing different challenges and opportunities.

In 2010, specifically on 14 February, something special might have happened. Maybe it was a day of celebration for some, a day of love and romance. Or perhaps it was a day that held a particular meaning for an individual or a group.

These years, 2007 and 2010, are just a part of the continuous flow of time. They are filled with memories, experiences, and stories that make up our lives. As we look back at these years, we can reflect on how much has changed and how much has remained the same.

Each year has its own unique charm and significance, and together they form the tapestry of our existence. Whether it was a year of joy or sorrow, success or failure, it all contributes to our growth and understanding of the world around us.

So, as we remember these years, let us also look forward to the future with hope and anticipation, knowing that there are many more memories and experiences waiting to be made.

Though this was a tough one to wade through due to the use of British terminology from Lewis' time period, not to mention Lewis' expansive vocabulary, I am really glad that I read this book.

It would be hard to read it and not be inspired to be a better person.

The book was written from the perspective of Screwtape, one of Satan's head minions, to Wormwood, one of Satan's lower-ranked minions.

The premise is that Screwtape is training Wormwood how to best tempt his assigned human.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"All virtues are less formidable to us once the man is aware that he has them, but this is specially true of humility. Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, 'By jove! I'm being humble', and almost immediately pride - pride at his own humility - will appear."

"You should always try to make the patient abandon the people or food or books he really likes in favour of the 'best' people, the 'right' food, the 'important' books." --- I think it is important that we know ourselves.

In the following quote, "the troughs" he refers to are the trials and hard times that we face in mortality. ". . . in His [God's] efforts to get permanent possession of a soul, He relies on the troughs even more than on the peaks; some of His special favourites have gone through longer and deeper troughs than anyone else." So if seem to be facing an unequal amount of trials lately, you may be one of God's "special favourites." The rest of that paragraph on pages 38-39 is pretty amazing as well as he goes on to talk about how God wants us to become like himself. . . "We [Satan's side] want cattle who can finally become food; He [God] wants servants who can finally become sons. We want to suck in, He wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; He is full and flows over. Our war aim is a world in which Our Father Below has drawn all other beings into himself: the Enemy wants a world full of beings united to Him but still distinct."

Just the premise of the book is a good reminder. If you think of the amount of spirits that were cast out in the pre-existence - one third - it makes sense that there could be one of them assigned to each of us on the earth at any given time, tempting us. Logistically that makes sense.

I could go on. C.S. Lewis was a genius. I recommend this book to anyone who has a desire to be a better person. Let me know if you read it . . . I would love to discuss it with you!

Let his inner resolution be firm and unwavering. He should not give in easily to whatever challenges or difficulties come his way. A reasonable period for enduring should not be shorter than what the trial is likely to last. It is essential that he holds on and perseveres. However, it is often the case that a man may yield just when, had he but known it, relief was almost in sight. This emphasizes the importance of having faith and believing that better times are ahead. We should not let our momentary weakness or lack of patience cause us to give up too soon. Instead, we should stay strong and continue to strive towards our goals, knowing that the rewards will be worth the effort.