The God Delusion
by Richard Dawkins
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Book Summary Information
Author: Richard DawkinsEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-09-18
ISBN: 0618680004
Number of pages: 416
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Book Reviews of The God Delusion
Book Review: "...to be an atheist is a realistic aspiration, and a brave and splendid one."
Summary: 4 Stars
Richard Dawkins writes that persons of high intelligence are more likely to be atheists. If that be the case, then he's preaching to the choir with this book, basically a long sermon in support of atheism written at an above average level of reading difficulty. Not quite as in-your-face inflammatory as Hitchens' god is Not Great, The God Delusion reads like something out of a required reading list for a college-level course; however, the information is thought-provoking and the book itself is set up in an organized manner. Although it is classified as non-fiction, asterisks are scattered here and there, sometimes with anecdotes that give the feel that the author is having a (one-sided) conversation with the reader (Pp 92, 145, 211). Going so far as to explain the difference between the his two definitions of agnosticism (p 47), Temporary and Permanent (Agnosticism in Principle); providing a one (strong theist) to seven (strong atheist) scale of religiosity (p 50); and summarizing points made in certain chapters when especially confusing, as in Why There Certainly Is No God (p 156); he is "intrigued and mystified by the disproportionate privileging of religion in our otherwise secularized society [p 27]." Dawson attempts to dispel misconceptions about statements made by certain famous people, routinely used to "prove" that said people were theists; provides detailed examples about especially violent acts found in the bible; and tries to explain why religion: makes no sense; is unnecessary; and at times, is downright bad. But, as with most works on this subject, only fence sitters leaning towards atheism are likely to be converted solely through his words. A quote from a speech made by Douglas Adams (p 20) is apropos, "'Here is an idea or a notion that you are not allowed to say anything bad about; you're just not. Why not? Because you're not.'" Atheists will rejoice, agnostics will ponder, and theists will likely feel that the delusion is all his. The information included in the book is excellent; however, the presentation of it is excessively scholarly. Similarly interesting: god is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens and, (though an even tougher read) The Closing of the Western Mind by Charles Freeman.
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