I’ve read through this book a number of times. The first thing that always strikes me is the perspective. Lewis is writing from the viewpoint of a Senior Devil (Screwtape) to a Junior Devil (Wormwood). Wormwood has a human being to tempt, and Screwtape is there to help him handle his charge. This perspective gives us some interesting phrases like, “Our Father Below”. Good is evil and vice versa in this book.

But this book is far more than just an creative writing exercise. Screwtape has a profound understanding of human nature. Here’s some of that wisdom:

* "Prosperity knits a man to the World."
* "Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point."
* "Whatever men expect they soon come to think they have a right to."
* "Up to a certain point, fatigue makes women talk more and men talk less."
* "Suspicion often creates what it suspects."

The chapters are short, the reading is easy, and the wisdom is deep. ( )

Perhaps better termed fictional essays than fiction, Lewis nonetheless tells a story of a man's awakening to Christianity, temptation, and final redemption through the literary device of letters of advice from a senior devil to the novice devil assigned to achieve the man's damnation. The author employs a dry sense of humor in Screwtape's correspondence to satirize the follies of contemporary English living, especially religious factions, philosophy of history, and, in "Screwtape Proposes a Toast," what Lewis considers to be a suppression of "great men" in everyday civic life and especially in the educational system. Non-explicit, theological discussions of sexuality; a brief scene of evisceration witnessed by the human during bomb raids on London during World War II.

Put forward as a series of letters from Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood. Screwtape is the Under Secretary in Hell working for Our Father Below after being promoted due to never failing to claim his assigned souls. Wormwood is a new graduate from the Tempter's Training College for Young Devil's run by Slubgob and is out on his first assignment. The way thngs are set up in Hell is new graduates are sent after a particular soul, which when it is gained will feed the others. If they fail then they will become the food instead.

Screwtape's letters are full of advice for the young Wormwood on the best ways to tempt his soul. Workig in their favour is a background working with his mother plus the European War which Wormwood is excited about but Screwtape seems nonplussed about. Some of the advice follows getting his patient caught up in "the real world", pleasures of the flesh (and if he stays chaste at least marrying the kind of women they prefer), men's vanity and misusing prayer.

My copy also includes a chilling toast from Screwtape at the end to new graduates from the college. He talks of using Democracy to their advantage but also reminds them to go after one patient rather than just caring about the downfall of society as a whole. He also speaks of the vintages they are dining on and how they compare to past souls he has consumed.

This was a very well written satire with some excellent points. At one point it talks about how the demons control the fashion industry changing what look and body type are in. The aim is to keep in vogue unreasonable body images that no one can live up to but that men desire which is especially relevant today. They also talk about ministers and priests who can be used to sway belief their way due to their own fanatacisms. Interestingly it was addressed to his college friend JRR Tolkien. ( )

I was surprised at how funny this book is, and amazed at how much thought C.S. Lewis must have given to human nature. Fairly slow reading for me - I had to concentrate hard on the long convoluted sentences and on remembering whose POV it came from. ( )

A "what not to do" guide for Christians. Gotta love it. ( )