In Wiser Than Serpents, Catholic speaker and theology professor Andrew Swafford--author of Lunatic, Liar, or Lord and Next Stop: The Afterlife--guides everyday Catholics through the surprising spiritual wisdom of C. S. Lewis's beloved classic The Screwtape Letters.
The Screwtape Letters, first published in 1942, is a fictional series of letters from a senior demon, Screwtape, to his inexperienced nephew, Wormwood, who has been tasked with tempting an ordinary man away from God. Writing from the enemy's perspective, Lewis exposes how subtle distractions, small compromises, spiritual pride, and misplaced fears erode a Christian's faith and trust in God.
With pastoral clarity and a distinctly Catholic lens, Swafford "untwists" Screwtape's demonic insights, helping readers recognize these same temptations in their daily lives. He translates Lewis's imaginative satire into practical wisdom for modern Catholics seeking to grow in discernment, prayer, and holiness.
Whether you've read The Screwtape Letters many times--or not at all--this book serves as a modern spiritual survival guide for
- resisting everyday temptations and growing in holiness;
- navigating family tensions and difficult relationships with charity;
- confronting anxiety and discouragement;
- wrestling honestly with doubt;
- persevering in prayer and allowing it to bring about lasting transformation;
and much more.
Through these real-life challenges, Swafford outlines a path of deeper trust and complete abandonment to God, reminding readers--in Screwtape's words--that "when they are wholly His they will be more themselves than ever." Wiser Than Serpents invites Catholics to live with greater spiritual awareness, freedom, and confidence in God's grace.
