The God Delusion
By Richard Dawkins
(Mariner Books, Paperback, 9780618918249, 464pp.)
Publication Date: January 2008
Other Editions of This Title: Hardcover, Compact Disc, Compact Disc, MP3 CD
Categories: Atheism
 |     |
A preeminent scientist -- and the world's most prominent atheist -- asserts the irrationality of belief in God and the grievous harm religion has inflicted on society, from the Crusades to 9/11.
With rigor and wit, Dawkins examines God in all his forms, from the sex-obsessed tyrant of the Old Testament to the more benign (but still illogical) Celestial Watchmaker favored by some Enlightenment thinkers. He eviscerates the major arguments for religion and demonstrates the supreme improbability of a supreme being. He shows how religion fuels war, foments bigotry, and abuses children, buttressing his points with historical and contemporary evidence. The God Delusion makes a compelling case that belief in God is not just wrong but potentially deadly. It also offers exhilarating insight into the advantages of atheism to the individual and society, not the least of which is a clearer, truer appreciation of the universe's wonders than any faith could ever muster.
Richard Dawkins taught zoology at the University of California at Berkeley and at Oxford University and is now the Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford, a position he has held since 1995. Among his previous books are The Ancestor's Tale, The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, Climbing Mount Improbable, Unweaving the Rainbow, and A Devil's Chaplain. Dawkins lives in Oxford with his wife, the actress and artist Lalla Ward.
"A powerful argument for how to think about the place of religion in the modern world. It's going to be a classic." -- Seed Magazine
"In the roiling debate between science and religion, it would be hard to exaggerate the enormous influence of Richard Dawkins." Salon
"A particularly comprehensive case against religion. Everyone should read it. Atheists will love Mr. Dawkins's incisive logic and rapier wit, and theists will find few better tests of the robustness of their faith." --Economist
"If I had to identify Dawkins's cardinal virtues, I would say that he is brilliant, articulate, impassioned, and impolite . . .The God Delusion is a fine and significant book." The San Francisco Chronicle
This book is on these lists:
Lindes's Wish List by lindesCourage's Wish List by courage
Ofstoneandice's Wish List by ofstoneandice
Food For Freethought- Freethought books by Food4Freethought
Scholarly Pursuits by cmasson
NF Spirituality & Religion by Hazelthyme
Science by asianpear382
Reader's Wish List by reader
Odelltsang's Wish List by odelltsang
Books I Want to Read by rockfan109
All lists >>
 |
Flight Behavior Barbara Kingsolver Harper |
 |
The Art Forger Barbara Shapiro Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill |
 |
Sweeth Tooth Ian McEwan Nan A. Talese |
 |
The Light Between Oceans ML Steadman Scribner |
