The Four Loves
by C.S. Lewis
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Book Reviews of The Four Loves
Book Review: With Agape for All
Summary: 5 Stars
I approached this writing with some prior experience and formal study of love. Consequently, I cannot judge with complete objectivity, how one might feel about The Four Loves if this was one of their first exposures to the concept. The book made perfect sense to me and was as captivating as any of Mr. Lewis's writings. While the book was not entirely ordered in the way that I would have liked, he adds his own concepts to the Greek notions of agape, storge, philos and eros. These additions help to explain the Greek notions to the modern reader and are at least as meaningful. They even suggest further ways in which to better understand that extremely nebulous word. He sees much farther in matters of loves than the typical modern writer. His knowledge of Renaissance and Medieval literature and history gives him a deep well of insights from which to draw and reveals how deficient the English language is in some basic areas of humanity despite having over 1/2 million words.Lewis points us clearly in the direction of Christianity and the necessary selflessness it prescribes. Until we are truly selfless in attitude and not only in deed, we miss the Christian point of view.
I like the way he makes me think. This was my second Lewis book, after Screwtape, and it firmed my resolve to read more.
Book Review: It's the Greek, English-speaker!
Summary: 5 Stars
Koine Greek is the language of the New testament (and the Septuagint), as well as the spoken and written language of the early Church fathers and the seven great Christian Church councils.
Despite English being a rich language, full of diversity and vocabulary, many Koine words just don't translate well, or are poorly translated, and therein is the origin of much misunderstanding of Christian theology and cosmology. For instance, 'metanoia' is usually rendered as 'change of heart' but is more like 'a long dark night of the soul followed by a repentant altar call and acceptance of Justifying Grace.'
Thus it is with our English word love, which subsumes not one but FOUR words from Koine Greek: "storge" (affection), "philia" (friendship), "eros" (sexual or romantic love) and "agape" (selfless love).
THE FOUR LOVES lets you join C.S. Lewis, master theologian and Christian apologist, for a series of superb and profound essays into the nature of love and our relation with God.
LOVES is serious, deep stuff and a must-read, not just for Christians but for anyone interested in the origins and nature of Love. This book is a key addition to any serious collection of philosophy or theology and will truly change the way you look at love, the world, and your Creator!
Book Review: A Wonderful Overview
Summary: 5 Stars
This is in my opinion C.S. Lewis's best nonfiction work. The premise has been done before, but rarely with the sort of insight given here. His overviews of Affection and Friendship are much too often overlooked and glossed over as unimportant, but here they're given a status they really deserve.
The section on friendship, and the idea that people are bonded through mutual passions, and his grim statement that people who are just looking for a friend will never find one, was spot on. Friendships are formed as an extension of a passion for something bigger than the individual. A mutual cause drives people, whether they be sports fanatics, a tribe pining for survival, or art critics.
The pitfalls he explains for the loves such as lust, bigotry, elitism, etc. are self explanatory, but it's also practical. Friendships are exclusive by their very nature, and there's nothing intrinsically wrong with such a thing. Eros is most certainly exclusive. He emphasizes that we can't be friends with everyone, love everyone with Eros, but we can love everyone with Charity, the final section of the book.
One could write a book three times longer and not come close to the depth portrayed in this little book. Strongly recommended.
Book Review: Characteristic Insight
Summary: 5 Stars
There is really some dynamite material in here. C.S. Lewis explains in typical style and clarity all that is right and wrong with love. Dealing with affection (that warm, fuzzy, it-sure-bugs-me-how-you-twiddle-your-thumbs-but-it's-endearing-in-a-funny-sort-of-a-way type of love you experience after knowing people for a while), friendship, Eros (romantic love, not to be confused with Venus (sexual passion), which is only an element of Eros), and charity, the highest of the loves, Lewis explains the glory of each, and the temptations that arise because of the glory. Much of the book is just hilarious, since he points out little faults common to us all, and he makes it easy to laugh at ourselves. But he also offers much practical advice, good for understanding and enriching our relationships.Main thesis of the book: If you make love God, love becomes a demon. Love is a great gift from God, but because love is so lovely, it's a great temptation to serve it as the whole end and purpose of life. But if this occurs, love becomes a demon, and turns against you. Keep God at the forefront of your mind and your relationships, and love can be kept rich and sweet in its proper perspective.
Book Review: Unbelievably profound and enlightening, easily his best
Summary: 5 Stars
Many individuals think that Mere Christianity is the flagship work of Lewis, which is understandable, however I really believe Lewis is at his best in this book.
His overall tone and voice throughout the entire book convinces you of the material and points without ever really seeming like Lewis is even really trying to convince you of anything but is just expressing deep truths that we've always known to be true but never really discovered them.
It's easy to see how Lewis has influenced so many authors and thinkers over the years and continues to be an influential thinker and writer well into the 21st century.
If you look at some of the new writers of the 21st century who will probably shape Christianity and the literary world themselves, they have each been influenced by C.S. Lewis.
If you've never read Lewis or have only read the Narnia series, you must begin diving into his non-fiction books because he is a well of wisdom and insight that will be around forever, as a writer and as an influence on other writers.
This book will help reveal to you the many different aspects of love in life.