The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Four Loves
Book Review: Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the finest book I have ever read on love outside of the
Bible. Lewis' insights on friendship define what true friendship is and cautions us that those who we call friends for lack of a better word have value and admonishes us not "to desparage silver because it is not gold". He encourages us that if natural love is to see eternity, it must be committed to Charity Himself. An excellent book and profitable to everyone.
Book Review: Great
Summary: 4 Stars
This book has proven to be useful for the class I am using for. It was delivered in a very timely matter and I find that I am very satisfied by the service provided by AmazonBook Review: Just wonderful...
Summary: 5 Stars
I find so much comfort in this book. C.S. Lewis once again brings his keen intellectual analysis, and his profoundly honest introspection to bear in this, his unique Christian interpretation of the complex subject of love. Often when reading Lewis, I find that I have to put the book down every couple of minutes, and just ponder and analyze exactly what he's saying, and it's the same with this one. His descriptions and analysis of the affection between people and their pets, co-workers and family members is spot on, his take on the deep and profound nature of real friendship rings true, his summary of the unbridled power of romantic/erotic love will strike a chord with anyone who has been in a passionate love affair (for better or worse), and his take on the selfless love of mankind in general, and God ultimately, gives us a needed dose of perspective.
I love the fact that Lewis was so educated, and so familiar with the religious and philosophical traditions of the West specifically, and the world in general, and that he has a deep understanding of and respect for those non-Christian traditions. He most certainly did not come to Christianity through an ignorance of, contempt for, nor fear of other traditions. I find it sad that so many non-Christians have an image of Christianity as a narrow-minded, bigoted tradition hostile towards other religions---reading C.S. Lewis will dispell that. I feel greatly indebted to C.S. Lewis for helping me on my journey, and The Four Loves is one of my favorites of his. If you're struggling with ANY type of love (and aren't we all), please read this book.
Book Review: Keen Observations
Summary: 5 Stars
Though C. S. Lewis was a bachelor most of his life, he never lived alone. And the people with which he shared his home were far from perfect. In one of his letters, he writes that he often came home with a feeling of dread, because he was afraid of the horrible conflicts that had arisen in his absence. A peaceful home was something that Lewis did not experience very often.
This - apart from his literary input - provided him with ample examples of what different kinds of love are like and what their corresponding weaknesses are. Especially the weaknesses. It does not come as a surprise, then, that "The Four Loves" is filled with everyday examples of human weaknesses, many of them in a home setting.
As in his other writings such as "The Screwtape Letters," Lewis makes his observations of human nature with a keen eye and articulates them eloquently, focusing in this book on the themes of affection, friendship, romantic/erotic love, and selfless love (in the original sense of "charity").
About romantic love, for instance, he says that oftentimes it "extenuates - almost sanctions - almost sanctifies - any actions it leads to. When lovers say of some act that we might blame, `Love made us do it,' notice the tone. A man saying, `I did it because I was frightened,' or `I did it because I was angry,' speaks quite differently. He is putting forward an excuse for what he feels to require excusing. But the lovers are seldom doing quite that. The confession can be almost a boast. In extreme cases what their words really express is a demure yet unshakable allegiance to the god of love."
Strong words. But with much wisdom.
"The Four Loves" is as challenging as it is delightful and instructive. I have little doubt that I shall read it again one day.
- Jacob Schriftman, Author of The C. S. Lewis Book on the Bible: What the Greatest Christian Writer Thought About the Greatest Book
Book Review: Lewis at his best
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is short but covers the topic well. This is one of the most concise and clear books I have ever read. An excellent piece of writing.