An astute, relevant and humorous piece of fiction awaits you. It serves as a thought-provoking work that prompts us to deeply consider the spiritual dimension of our lives. First published in the 1940s, this remarkable piece has withstood the test of time. The observations it makes about human nature possess a timeless quality, enabling them to resonate with readers even today. In fact, they feel extremely contemporary, as if they were written just yesterday. This work is truly a gem that is well worth reading. It offers valuable insights into the human condition and has the power to touch our hearts and minds. Whether you are a lover of literature or simply someone seeking a good read, this piece of fiction is sure to captivate you and leave a lasting impression.

A truly fascinating (albeit theoretical) book delves into the ways in which Satan endeavors to lead Christians astray from their deeply held faith. It explores the remarkably common tricks that he might employ in this devious pursuit. This book offers valuable insights into the spiritual battles that believers may face. It is recommended for readers aged 13 and above due to its mentions of wars, romance, and sins in a general context. By understanding these tactics, Christians can better arm themselves and remain steadfast in their faith. It serves as a reminder that the forces of evil are constantly at work, but with knowledge and vigilance, believers can resist and overcome.

This book has truly solidified C. S. Lewis as one of my all-time favorite authors.

The level of creativity that went into conceiving the concept of this book is simply astonishing. In an excerpt that I read after the story, I was taken aback to see Lewis admit that it was rather easy for him to write. However, I wasn't as surprised when he said that it was difficult for him to remain in the mental state in which he was writing.

The structure of the book is really one-of-a-kind. I appreciate the fact that it is an epistolary tale, yet not in the traditional sense. It is challenging to classify this as a typical story, even though there is undoubtedly a narrative. It functions as a sort of thought experiment that manages to incorporate philosophy and satire. All of these elements blend together effortlessly to produce a book that presents a plethora of interesting arguments.

This is one of the most captivating works that I have ever had the pleasure of reading, especially as a Christian. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Moreover, the short story that was included as a bonus was a charming little addition.

Reviewed for THC Reviews

I'm a huge enthusiast of C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia series. However, until now, those were the only works of his that I had read. They are highly enjoyable, yet they are targeted at a younger audience. Given that Mr. Lewis was a productive author, mainly of numerous non-fiction books regarded as classics of the Christian faith, I believed it would be fascinating to explore something different. The Screwtape Letters had been at the top of my list. So, when it was selected as our latest church book club read, I was extremely excited to finally explore it. Nevertheless, now that I've read it, I must confess that I didn't end up enjoying it as much as I had anticipated.

Ordinarily, I have excellent reading comprehension. So, at the risk of sounding uninformed, I really struggled to understand a significant portion of the text. I generally managed to figure out the essence of the meaning behind some of Screwtape's letters, while others eluded me. I identified several possible reasons for this. Firstly, the book is written in a more classical, scholarly literary style, and I can't claim to be a great fan of classic literature. In fact, according to LibraryThing, I can count on one hand the number of books in my collection that were published before the 1970s (the era in which I was born). One of the reasons I don't read many classics is that the writing style tends to be different and more challenging for my modern mind to comprehend. Not to undermine those who enjoy this style (I admire your ability to understand it), but I primarily read for pleasure. So, if I'm straining my brain to make sense of a book, it just isn't that enjoyable to read. Secondly, I suppose I mistakenly thought that the book was a fictional story when, in fact, it's Christian apologetics wrapped in satire or allegory (depending on your perspective). I've enjoyed both of these literary styles on occasion, but for some reason, this one simply didn't appeal to me. I've seen many people say how witty or humorous it is, but I didn't really find it funny at all. However, I freely admit that maybe my sense of humor is lacking (my husband has said so on occasion). Finally, I had a hard time with how dark and diabolical the narrative is. Yes, I know it's supposed to be, as it's allegedly written by a devil with extensive experience in tempting humans to fall. But the whole black is white and white is black juxtaposition was confusing to me at times. I know many readers enjoy symbolism and analyzing hidden meanings, but I'm not generally one of them. Therefore, I think I would have fared better with a similar book, covering the same type of message, that was written in a much more straightforward manner.

As for what I did gain from the pages, I understood that Screwtape is a very demanding uncle who doesn't tolerate Wormwood's failures to tempt his human to the dark side easily. In fact, he regularly scolds his nephew for his shortcomings. Perhaps I would have understood the dynamics here better if Wormwood's correspondence had also been included, which is what I thought was the case when I started reading it. However, Screwtape merely makes reference to some of the things his nephew said. While the rest can generally be inferred, I still felt like a crucial perspective was missing. One lesson I learned is that Screwtape makes it clear that almost anything can be used to make a human fall, even things we think are good. Therefore, we must always be vigilant against the possibility of being misled or simply becoming complacent. I also think I picked up on a few details that would apply well to the current world we live in, where the intersection of politics and religion has become such a prominent part of our daily lives. In fact, there were several small things I noticed, but unfortunately, they never quite came together for me into a bigger picture. It truly pains me to give such a beloved classic of my faith a mediocre rating. But as I said before, if I'm not understanding a book, I'm not enjoying it, and my enjoyment level is primarily what I base my ratings on. I do admit that this may be more a flaw in my own mind than the book's message, as seems to be evidenced by the high ratings it receives on online books sites and the recommendations I've heard offline as well. So, feel free to take my review with a grain of salt.

One of those rare books that not only illuminates the issues in the world but also makes us look at the "log in our own eye." The character arc of the off-screen Christian, who is only referred to scornfully by the hateful Screwtape and nephew, is a brilliant piece of writing. It shows how the forces of evil try to undermine and corrupt the faith and goodness within a person. Even at the end of 2020, this story still rings true. We can see the same battles being fought within ourselves and in the world around us. The book serves as a reminder to stay vigilant and to keep our focus on what is truly important. It challenges us to examine our own beliefs and actions and to strive for a closer relationship with God. It is a powerful and thought-provoking work that continues to have relevance and impact.

Esta obra maestra de C.S. Lewis ofrece una visión satírica y perspicaz sobre la naturaleza humana y la tentación.

A través de las cartas ficticias de un demonio experimentado a su aprendiz, Lewis explora temas como la moralidad, la debilidad humana y la estrategia diabólica para corromper a las personas.

The ingenious touch of humor in this work invites reflection on the struggle between good and evil in daily life.

Clever premise, but severely out of date.

Even the demons are vintage 1940s gentlemen from a quaint, sedate England that died a long time ago.

It seems as if the whole concept is stuck in a bygone era, lacking the vitality and relevance of the present day.

I kept imagining a more modern exchange, e.g.:

"My dear Wormwood,

Your patient is a 53-year-old football hooligan with a grotesquely distended beer gut, high on cocaine, who stabbed his mother multiple times in the face for telling him to stop watching youtube? Jolly good work, ol' boy!"

This updated version would bring a sense of realism and shock value, highlighting the darker aspects of modern society.

It would make the story more engaging and relatable to a contemporary audience, who are familiar with the chaos and violence that can occur in our world.

By contrast, the original portrayal of the demons and their conversations feels almost comical in its outdatedness.

It fails to capture the true essence of evil and the challenges that modern-day humans face.

Perhaps it's time for a rewrite to bring this clever premise into the 21st century.

I would highly, highly, highly recommend this book to anyone, whether you have been a Christian for years or you are exploring religions.

This book has been sitting on my bookshelf since my adolescent years because C.S. Lewis' writing style always intimidated me. However, prayer and resources like litchart/cliffsnotes are helpful in breaking down each letter.

The Screwtape Letters is a relatively quick read as it consists of 31 letters written by a "senior" demon, Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood, on how to tempt and take a human soul.

As I read this book, 1 Peter 5:8 was constantly on my mind. In this satirical novel, the correspondence between Screwtape and Wormwood reveals the subtle ways the enemy can attack. The enemy can use anything, even things like charity and love, and twist them to bring about pride and division. Emotions are not inherently bad, but when we act out of fear or let emotions dictate our actions, the enemy rejoices. Satan doesn't want us to think for ourselves. In the book, Screwtape encourages Wormwood to keep his "patient" occupied or often discusses keeping certain thoughts away from the patient so that he doesn't "awaken the patient's reason."

John 10:10 states that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. The letters clearly show his attempts to steal joy, kill hope, and destroy relationships.

This book has helped me become more watchful and sober-minded, as 1 Peter 5:8 advises. The enemy is always seeking opportunities to attack. Although C.S. Lewis scared me with his detailed descriptions of the little ways we can be attacked, it is good to be equipped and able to recognize when we are under attack.

Oh man, I truly had an extremely hard time staying awake while reading this particular piece.

I persisted in going through it because I was extremely eager to know whether Wormwood succeeded or not.

I continuously told myself, “it’s not long at all, so it should be over soon.”

Well, to my dismay, it took me a whopping 3 days to read just 118 pages.

This was such a good book!

It was truly captivating from the very beginning. The story was so intriguing that it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

What made it even more special was the unique and very interesting perspective it gave on the way the devil works.

The author did an excellent job of exploring this concept in a way that was both thought-provoking and engaging.

I found myself constantly reflecting on the ideas presented in the book and how they related to the world around us.

Overall, it was a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a book that offers something different and truly captivating.

I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

It may seem simple in many spots. However, there is a great deal of thought-provoking material that is presented in what can, for lack of a better word, be described as a fun format. This combination of simplicity and depth makes the content both accessible and engaging. It allows readers to easily understand the concepts while also challenging them to think more deeply. The use of a fun format helps to make the learning experience enjoyable, rather than枯燥 and乏味. It吸引 readers and keeps them interested, even when dealing with complex topics. Overall, this unique approach to presenting information is both effective and refreshing.

Our cause is never more perilous than when a human, having ceased to desire yet still purposing to do our Enemy's will, gazes around a universe from which every vestige of Him appears to have disappeared, and inquires why he has been abandoned, and yet persists in obedience.

I find it extremely challenging to precisely express my emotions regarding this book in words, yet I am determined to give it a try nonetheless. This was an astonishingly enlightening and dreadfully captivating exploration into devils and the temptations that humans face. Although this book is by no means lengthy, each page holds a great deal of significance. It contains all those little details and perspectives that can be utilized to distort the mind and either draw one towards or away from God.

All I can assert is that you must definitely read this book. I have never come across a book quite like it. This one is certain to remain with me for a very long time. It has truly made a profound impact on my thinking and perception.