books about: skepticism

books about: skepticism

books:

Skepticism

Richard Dawkins

Mariner Books, 2008

A Book for Every Thinking Person's "Must Read" List
One will readily expect the perceptions and reviews of Richard Dawkins' THE GOD DELUSION to fall along what might euphemistically be called "party lines." Blue Staters, rationalists, and the college educated (especially in mathematics, engineering, the sciences, and ...

Letter to a Christian Nation (Vintage)

Sam Harris

Vintage, 2008

A true breath of fresh air....
BRAVO!!! This is one the most clearly argued and important cultural critiques of the last decade. Mr. Harris gives elegant voice to the concerns many of us have over the power that modern religious groups wield to alter not only history but our daily lives. We need ...

The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason

Sam Harris

W. W. Norton, 2005

Sam Harris presages Sarah Palin.
Sam Harris writes: "In our next presidential election, an actor who reads his Bible would almost certainly defeat a rocket scientist who does not." If Stephen Prothero is correct in his book "Religious Literacy", which concludes that Americans are illiterate about ...

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

Timothy Keller

Dutton Adult, 2008

The gentle approach toward non-believers and the world.
This book is unique in the sense that it doesn't encourage argument with non-believers but instead, understanding. Keller points out, very elegantly, that we need to know what we believe and understand the doubts about what we believe whether they're ours or someone ...

Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon

Daniel C. Dennett

Penguin (Non-Classics), 2007

Fills a niche.
In the God Delusion, Dawkins makes an argument against religion and articulates what he believes to be scientific theories that prove god does not exist. In God Isn't Great, Hitchens gives what reads more like an indictment of organized religion throughout history and ...

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything

Christopher Hitchens

Twelve Books, Hachette Book Group, 2007

God is not Great
Hitchen's book God is not Great is a thought provoking book that shows much of the violence that has been caused by people of faith. Hitchen's give historical, as well as personal examples of how religion has caused chaos, and even great ignorance around the world. ...

Parenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion

AMACOM, 2007

Amazingly refreshing
I have not finished it yet but it is just what I needed to get the support that was lacking as I raise my son to be a free-thinker.

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan

Ballantine Books, 1997

Changed my live and views! I love you Carl!
This one book helped me to reject 9 years worth of silly occult beliefs. I suppose I didn't 100% believe them, but they were things I wanted to believe. I knew that this book would change me and for awhile I was even nervous to read it, but a few months ago, my time ...

Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity

John W. Loftus

Prometheus Books, 2008

The Gold Standard
John Loftus presents a thorough, honest, reasonable and accurate case for why he is an atheist, and more to the point, why Christianity should be rejected. This is a book to be read cover to cover, as each chapter builds on the chapters before it. He makes an excellent ...

Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism

David Mills

Ulysses Press, 2006

Exceeded all of my expectations...
I've been questioning relgion for quite some time, but never really labeled myself as an atheist. This book is intended as a specific rebuttal to the creative design 'science' promoted by religiously influenced schools. Not only does it wonderfully refute creative ...

On Bullshit

Harry G. Frankfurt

Princeton University Press, 2005

Thin and Expensive but interesting
It is a quick and interesting read. The book isn't only insightful, but I also like the writing style. Yes, we are surrounded with BS, and I agree with the author that BS is probably bigger enemy of the truth than outright lies. At the same time, BS is so prevalent in ...

Think on These Things

Jiddu Krishnamurti

Harper Perennial, 1989

You will "feel" at peace after reading this book! Literally!!
Before you read this book "Think on These Things", you must remember one thing: Krishnamurti, most of the time, answered questions from children. That being said, don't be surprised when you read questions and explanations as if he is talking to a child. There are ...

Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time

Michael Shermer

Holt Paperbacks, 2002

Well thought out book showing how even smart people can believe weird things.
Well written easy to understand book about the psychology of how people (even smart people) can fall into common logical fallacies and come to wrong conclusions if they aren't careful. Must read.

50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God

Guy P. Harrison

Prometheus Books, 2008

A must read, even if light on Christian apologetics
Most of what I'd like to say about this engaging and easy-to-read book has already been said in previous comments. I appreciate Harrison's gentle yet penetrating approach, as well as his ability to level the playing field of all religions by referring to the "gods" of ...

The Mind of the Market: Compassionate Apes, Competitive Humans, and Other Tales from Evolutionary Economics

Michael Shermer

Times Books, 2007

Why Evolution Is Sound Economics
Michael Shermer's "The Mind of the Market: Compassionate Apes, Competitive Humans, and Other Tales from Evolutionary Economics" is yet another insightful, and provocative book from him, making the best, most persuasive case why accepting evolutionary theory ought to be ...