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Permalink Reply by Richard K. Emms on August 2, 2011 at 6:42am

I have a modest collection of good Atheist reads.  Some Dawkins like the God Dillusion and The Greatest show on Earth, but I also recommend Jared Diamond and the Atheist Manifesto.  Hitchens is good too, but can get somewhat tedious, as he repeats himself a lot.  His videos are much better.  Presently I am reading both collected works of Ben Franklin, (not really the true Atheist, but a great Humanist), and Thomas Paine.  The Age of Reason should be required reading for all American Atheists, but first read Common Sense to get you into the spirit of the times.  It really sparked the American Revolution, and set the stage for a secular nation, to be free to believe what ever crazy stuff you want.

   Really make me wonder how we got to where we are today!!!

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Andrea on August 2, 2011 at 8:07pm

I am glad I am not the only one who finds Hitchen's style a little difficult. I was beginning to question my intellect and choice of literature.

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Permalink Reply by Pat on August 2, 2011 at 12:22pm

"The Evolution of God" by Robert Wright. While not a per se atheist work (Wright tends to believe, though not in the modern form of gods worshiped by organized religion) he does a good job of showing how the present Abrahamic religions evolved from the polytheism contained in the old testament, through christianity, islam, and into the modern form such belief takes today. I'd certainly recommend it.

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Andrea on August 2, 2011 at 8:12pm

I do like how he acknowledges that religions have taken pieces from other religions. Some seem to claim their religion is 100% from the mouth of their god although they have similar stories.

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Permalink Reply by Natasha's Pet Ape on August 5, 2011 at 1:57am

"The Evolution of God" by Robert Wright"  how the present Abrahamic religions evolved from the polytheism. 

sounds good. will look into it.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Wood on August 2, 2011 at 4:06pm

I'm currently on the third of three books written by Bill Bryson, who walks here and there and has wickedly funny observations of modern life.

 

I think Dawkins's "The God Delusion" is quite excellent, although I like Harris's stuff as well.

Atheism: The Case Against God (Skeptic's Bookshelf) [Paperback]

George H. Smith 

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Permalink Reply by Natasha's Pet Ape on August 3, 2011 at 1:42am

yes, i did mention de sade, but not seriously. but his tongue is about as  caustic on religion as it gets.

 

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Permalink Reply by mojo5501 on August 6, 2011 at 10:43am

I enjoyed "Why Evolution is True" also.  I thought Coyne did a great job arguing the case and had a lot of examples to back up his argument.  His analysis of vestigial organs in different species, including our own, was fascinating.

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Burgett on August 2, 2011 at 5:32pm

One of my favorites is Carl Sagan's The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. It is more about skepticism and critical thinking at times than about atheism but it had a lot of influence in my ideas about religion and is done in a very non-offensive manner. A great book to suggest for friends that you know are probably atheists but haven't quite admitted it to themselves yet.

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Permalink Reply by Natasha's Pet Ape on August 3, 2011 at 1:56am

Carl Sagan's The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark.

thought i had read all of sagan's books. i will have to check that one out. will do.

but great book on non-theism. well, ...

so many great quips and quotes from everybody like mark twain to hawkings.

but where is a writer like cynical ferdinand celine or drunken bukowski or wired h.thompson. or obscene derisions from burroughs or callous lines from vidal, or vicious diatribes from the afore mentioned de sade. where is some great writer that has a journey of an atheist with the heart of a poet? someone who gets lost at sea but can be found washed ashore at some cuban cabanna or madagascar bar. some j. conrad who knows what to do with a poison arrow and how to apply it best to a jungle missionary.

is there one who can actually write as well as reason?

still looking.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Burgett on August 3, 2011 at 3:26pm

I only started reading it a little while ago and am hesitant to recommend it because I haven't finished it, but in reading your post I would suggest The Good Book: A Humanist Bible by AC Grayling. Parts of it are very beautiful, its made me want to cry. I do find it at times to mirror the bible too much. The message is different but the word flow can feel a lot like reading the bible which I find to be either attractive or unattractive depending upon my mood. At least the beginning is a great read, though.

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Permalink Reply by Citizen Atheist on August 2, 2011 at 6:07pm

Favorite...Christopher Hitchens' - "The God Delusion"

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