"The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis

This book is comprised of several letters from one Screwtape, "a highly placed assistant to 'Our Father Below'" to his nephew, Wormwood, an amateur devil. What is found in the pages of these letters are various ways and means that the "Father Below" and his minion demons use to tempt humans to fall away from "the Enemy." It is important to note that anything Screwtape says is good is not good and anything he says is bad or of "the Enemy" is actually good. Got it?

The reader gets a twisted glimpse of the struggle of one unnamed man who Wormwood has been assigned to tempt. Screwtape's letters are written in response to letters written to him by his nephew Wormwood (the reader does not get to read Wormwood's letters). Usually, Screwtape begins by outlining some mistakes made by Wormwood in being able to tempt the man and then sets forth to explain how to be successful under the circumstances.

In the preface to the book, C.S. Lewis writes, "Readers are advised to remember that the devil is a liar. Not everything that Screwtape says should be assumed to be true even from his own angle." Remembering this advice was helpful in reading the letters because a lot of Screwtape's explanations seem as if they are made up on the spot to make himself seem superior to Wormwood.

C.S. Lewis wrote that this was the easiest of all his books to write but also the least satisfying. It gnawed on him and made it difficult to find enjoyment and feel peace while writing it. Reading the letters can be very burdensome because so many different sins and temptations are exploited; even seemingly small things that the devil has learned to work with to lead us astray. Lewis is not deterred by gross sin such as being unchaste and lays it out in decent but firm language. I found that I could only read about 1-3 chapters at a time even though they are very short in length. In a way it reminds me of the time I read The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball because I felt weighed down by every possible temptation I had ever succumbed to.

Here are some samples of the wisdom and advice from Screwtape the demon:

"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."

"Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."

"A spoiled saint, a Pharisee, an inquisitor, or a magician, makes better sport in Hell than a mere common tyrant or debauchee."

The edition of The Screwtape Letters that I own also has a short story added at the end that is entitled Screwtape Proposes a Toast. This takes place at a dinner of some sort where Screwtape gives an address to some graduating novice demons and makes a toast to the principal of the institution. It is 12 pages in length and very interesting reading about "democracy" and pride.

In the end, I highly recommend this book to anyone; it is well written (more better writed than my this here review) and well thought out. It can easily be read just a few chapters at a time and will leave you thinking about your motives and desires. Be ready to feel guilty sometimes during the course of reading this book - that is, unless you are completely naive or chillingly unremorseful.