Screwtape Proposes a Toast and Other Pieces by C.S. Lewis

Why read the book? C.S. Lewis wrote Screwtape Proposes a Toast and Other Pieces. The book brings back the senior devil Screwtape from The Screwtape Letters. In the main title piece Screwtape gives an after-dinner speech at a banquet for young devils who have just finished Tempters’ Training College. He complains that today’s humans make poor material for Hell because they are not great dramatic sinners but small, lukewarm, and mediocre people. He explains how the devils now use the word “democracy” to feed envy and make people resent anyone who stands out or does better than others. The collection also includes strong essays such as The Inner Ring and On Forgiveness. Lewis uses sharp satire to show how evil works quietly through everyday life. The book helps readers see the subtle temptations that surround us and how small choices can lead to great loss. Favourite quote The feeling I mean is of course that which prompts a man to say ‘I’m as good as you.’ The first and most obvious…