486: Vice & Virtue — Temperance

This book is a collection of essays by David Foster Wallace, published in 1997. The title essay, 'A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again,' chronicles Wallace’s experience on a seven-night Caribbean luxury cruise, dissecting the indulgences and the hollow promise of pampering. The collection also includes influential essays such as 'E Unibus Pluram,' which examines television’s impact on contemporary literature and the use of irony in American culture. Wallace’s writing is characterized by his wit, extensive use of footnotes, and profound insights into various aspects of American life and culture.

The Screwtape Letters is a Christian apologetic novel written in a satirical, epistolary style. It consists of 31 letters from Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to 'Our Father Below' (the Devil), to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon tasked with securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. The letters provide advice on various methods of undermining God's influence and promoting abandonment of God, while offering insights into human nature and the Bible. The book is a profound and striking narrative on spiritual warfare and the power of the devil, highlighting the subtle forms of sin such as vanity, pride, and distraction that can lead humans away from God.

In 'Dedicated,' Pete Davis explores the tension between keeping options open and yearning for purpose and depth. He argues that commitment to places, professions, and causes can lead to fulfillment and offers insights from history, personal stories, and psychology to encourage readers to embrace dedication over infinite browsing.

In 'Mere Christianity', C.S. Lewis argues for the existence of God and defends Christian theology. The book is divided into four parts: the first argues for the existence of God based on the 'law of human nature'; the second defends Christian theology, including the 'Liar, lunatic, or Lord' trilemma regarding Jesus Christ; the third explores Christian ethics, including the cardinal and theological virtues; and the fourth discusses the Christian conception of God, particularly the Holy Trinity. Lewis also addresses topics such as free will, morality, sexual ethics, and the institution of marriage. The book is known for its clear and logical presentation of Christian apologetics and has been praised for its straightforward and humorous writing style.