Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Scott A. Hunt on December 27, 2011 at 8:50am

Of course my list is likely to grow much larger as I see what everyone else is reading.

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Permalink Reply by Ashley on December 27, 2011 at 8:58am

The God Delusion.

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Permalink Reply by Pat on December 27, 2011 at 9:15am

My own personal reading list, or books I would recommend:

The Religion Virus - James A. Craig

The Bible Unearthed - Israel Finklestein and Neil Silberman

The Devil's Dictionary - Ambrose Bierce

H.L. Mencken on Religion - H.L. Mencken (edited by S.T. Joshi)

Inherit the Wind - Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

The Anatomy of Revolution - Crane Brinton

The Last Place on Earth - Roland Huntford and Paul Theroux (Nothing to do with theism, morals, or ethics, but just one hell of a true adventure story about the race to be the first to reach the South Pole).

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Permalink Reply by Hollyn on December 28, 2011 at 2:13pm

Fun list, some of these I will have to check out for myself. Dawkins has an amazing list of books that you can pretty much pick at blindly and you wouldn't have to worry about picking something bad. So unless you didn't include Dawkins because you've already read his stuff... get some Dawkins!

But, I have to say, personally, I wouldn't waste my time with the satanic bible. Anton LaVey is a sanctimonious asshat. I mean, it's fun for giggles for about 10 minutes... sorta like the anarchist's cookbook, but overall (personally) I just like to forget he exists.

It is my personal opinion that the devil's dictionary (Ambrose Bierce) is far more interesting than the satanic bible.

I took home a copy of the satanic bible when I worked at a used bookstore about 7 years ago, it was published in 1969 but what's hilarious (to me) is that it was distributed by Avon books.

Lastly, for an all around fantastic read (nonfiction) - Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams.

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Permalink Reply by Scott A. Hunt on December 28, 2011 at 2:22pm

I've read Dawkins, Sam Harris, Hitchens, Hemant.  I want to read more but I'm trying to keep my list to a reasonably length.  It would probably help if I'd stay away from the 1000 page monsters from Neal Stephenson.

 

Good info on the Satanic Bible.  I'll look for the Devil's Dictionary instead.

 

I wish I had some better used book stores near me.  I really, really miss Half Priced Books.

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Permalink Reply by Hollyn on December 28, 2011 at 3:07pm

I know the feeling of biting off more than you can chew. I remember the day I picked up Ancestor's Tale, Selfish Gene and Blind Watchmaker... I walked away from the library thinking, "yeeaahhh.... this isn't gonna happen."

Used book stores are becoming obsolete. I feel pretty lucky to have Powell's near me.

Coincidentally, it was HPB that I used to work at (where I got the satanic bible). I really, really miss HPB -before I started working there. Both my boyfriend and I worked there, it's where we met, so I'm happy for that. But that was such a horrible experience. Lesson learned: don't ever work at your favorite store.
It could have been a better experience if the manager hadn't been such a lying, game-playing, nepotistic bitch. Oh, what a clusterfuck that whole situation was....
I hear the Texas stores are pretty nice. The company, overall, was really good to their employees. I was just unfortunate enough to be working at the store with the coked out DM and the aforementioned lying, sexist bitch for a manager. Yay California.

Woah there, little tangent... easy now....

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Permalink Reply by Scott A. Hunt on December 28, 2011 at 3:24pm

It could have been a better experience if the manager hadn't been such a lying, game-playing, nepotistic bitch

Too funny!

 

And the library isn't a great option either.  No way I can get through that list of books without a good bit of late fees.  Even in the winter!

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Permalink Reply by Hollyn on December 28, 2011 at 3:31pm

Yeah, libraries... I usually am able to renew my copy a billion times to avoid late fees unless someone else has the book reserved. My biggest problem is that once I read a book, if I enjoyed it, I want to keep that book. It becomes part of my experience and I don't like to give it up. Libraries are really just glorified book brothels where the whores are free unless you bring em home late.

*sigh* first world problems.

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Permalink Reply by Scott A. Hunt on December 28, 2011 at 4:00pm

Libraries are really just glorified book brothels where the whores are free unless you bring em home late.

 

I may steal that.

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Permalink Reply by Hollyn on December 28, 2011 at 5:56pm

:-)

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Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on December 28, 2011 at 3:51pm

Glory Road is great fun, among a long list of Heinlein favorites of mine.

Got any dragons you want killed?!?

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Permalink Reply by Brian George on December 28, 2011 at 7:31pm

I just finished Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children. If you haven't read it, think of a Harry Potter type novel written by Dean Koontz.

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