The Four Loves
by C.S. Lewis
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Book Reviews of The Four Loves
Book Review: A Comprehensive and Comprehendible Love Story
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Four Loves" is one of C. S. Lewis' lesser-known, but most important writings. In a brief 156-pages, Lewis captures the essences of "AFEC": Affection, Friendship, Eros, and Charity.
From the Koine Greek of the Bible, affection is "storge," friendship is "phileo," romantic and/or sexual love is "eros," and charity or love for God is "agape" (self-giving, unselfish, other-centered, grace love).
Lewis' remarkable achievement is his integrative, balanced, and holistic approach to love. Many theologian-philosophers tend to emphasize one ("agape"), demonize another ("eros"), minimize a third ("phileo"), and misunderstand a fourth ("storge").
Lewis not only correctly interprets all four loves while giving each their validity and importance in their respective spheres; he does so in his renowned pithy, provocative, philosophical, and practical style.
Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," "Soul Physicians" and "Spiritual Friends."
Book Review: Ever wonder what love is?
Summary: 5 Stars
This book will tell you. It discusses in depth the four different kinds of love. It's classic Lewis; it inspires the reader and delivers deep insight in laymen's terms.
The text is a treasure chest embedded with jewels like this:
"God, who needs nothing, loves into existence wholly superfluous creatures in order that He may love and perfect them. He creates the universe already foreseeing - or should we say "seeing"? there are no tenses in God - the buzzing cloud of flies about the cross, the flayed back pressed against the uneven stake, the nails driven through the mesial nerves, the repeated incipient suffocation as the body droops, the repeated torture of the back and arms as it is time after time, for breath's sake, hitched up. If I may dare the biological image, God is a "host" who deliberately creates His own parasites; cause us to be that we may exploit and "take advantage of" Him. Herein is love. This is the diagram of Love Himself, the inventor of all loves."
In a word: beautiful.
Book Review: For those who have felt that sense of longing in our hearts.
Summary: 5 Stars
Trust is fragile and does not come without an open heart.
C.S. Lewis' book on the four loves: affection (between a parent and a child), friendship, romantic love, and charity or love towards God is truly a remarkable piece of work.
Professor Lewis writes with an easiness rare amongst writers, speaks deliberately and with wisdom in his words.
He speaks of trust and of hearts, of humanity and humility. Truly, this is a moving book (or was for me) as well as a book which takes the seriousness of love rather lightly and playfully, for good reason. The seriousness and playfulness of love are but opposite sides of the same coin.
Read this book with an open, honest, yet vulnerable heart. One needs to take risks in the matters of the heart. And you shall experience the best of dark and bright.
--spaceboyBook Review: interesting & unique
Summary: 3 Stars
An interesting and rewarding read, but difficult in sections. Overall the good points, and unique views were worth it. I thought the author had some well thought-out ideas but meandered on the supporting arguments. The main idea being the ancient Greeks had four words for love depending on the type of love. C.S.Lewis analyses these types of love; Affection, Friendship Eros, and Charity. I suspect most readers will be surprised when they read what is included in each classification. I would recommend an audio version of book. The supporting arguments are better suited to the ears, which are more adept and can selectively tune-in. I plan on reading other books by C.S. Lewis. Hopefully the main thoughts put forth in the next book will also outweigh a writing style that does not seem to agree with me.Book Review: Fantastic!
Summary: 5 Stars
The seller was efficient, honest, and pleasant. The book was first reported as being in "good" condition, but when the seller discovered that the book had highlighting throughout, he immediately e-mailed me, giving me a chance to back out of my purchase based on the new information. I chose to buy the book anyway, and was pleased with the purchase. The book was not highlighted to the extent the seller implied! It was in very good condition.
As for the book itself, it is a great read worth coming to over and over again. Anyone with family, friends or a "significant other" in his/her life must read this book. C.S. Lewis comes to the table with wonderful ideas and a friendly, enjoyable -to-read voice. I loved this book!