The Portable Atheist - have you read it?

[Lisa0825]

Just before I had the bright idea to check out this forum, I ordered this book. Then, I posted here and got a whole bunch of other great recommendations too. Portable just arrived today, and I expect the others to start appearing on my doorstep on the next several business days.

WOW this is a great big book with small print! :wow:

Rather than reading cover to cover, I thought I might ask to those who have read it if you have any particular favorite parts, since it is a collection of writings by so many people. Maybe I'd start with the favorite chapters and then move on from there? Any votes??

Thanks! :-)

[lazarus]

1. About 2/3 through it

taking a break, as some of the stuff is a bit dreary.

Just give each writer 8-10 pages. If you're wondering why the hell you're bothering, switch ahead to the next writer.

It's mostly good, though. I'm coming up on the 20th century stuff, when Sagan and Dawkins get their say, so that'll be fun. It could have used a better selection from Bertrand Russell, too.

BTW, get Bertrand Russell's "Why I Am Not a Christian". Very good booklet that will help clarify some things for you. I think Dawkins is better, for the most part, as he attacks religion as a whole, but Russell was the first one who clarified my thinking for me.

[Warpy]

6. Bertrand Russell is the one who told me

that not believing in a god could be a good thing, something very important to a squirrely kid who didn't buy a word of it but who was afraid to stop playing the game.

I recommend "Unpopular Essays" most highly. They're short and to the point and were my introduction to Bertrand Russell when I was 12.

It's also getting tough to find them out there.

[onager]

2. Couple of similar books you might like...

If you aren't burned out on book-buying, that is. I'm just happy to finally see somebody who buys books the way I do - gimme, gimme, gimme!

1. Doubt: A History: The Great Doubters and Their Legacy of Innovation from Socrates and Jesus to Thomas Jefferson and Emily Dickinson by Jennifer Michael Hecht

http://www.amazon.com/Doubt-Doubters-Innovation-Jefferson-Dickinson/dp/0060097957/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278811381&sr=1-1

Since you're a recent "de-convert," I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is just fantastic, and the perfect answer to those people who keep yammering about "The New Atheists."

Hecht proves there's nothing new about atheism. It has a history just as varied, rich and long as religious belief (if not longer). Hecht's style is light and very readable.

In the last quarter - 20th century doubters - Hecht sorta runs out of gas. She covers the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris and Hitches very quickly. But that's a minor nitpick.

2. 2000 Years of Disbelief: Famous People With the Courage to Doubt by James A. Haught

http://www.amazon.com/2000-Years-Disbelief-Famous-Courage/dp/1573920673/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278811314&sr=1-1#_

A collection of quotes, with a thumbnail bio of each subject. Like Hecht's book, it runs from ancient times to modern, covering famous and less-known doubters - Voltaire, Ingersoll, Freud, Bertrand Russell, etc. Some of the quotes and sourcing are controversial, but the book is still worth having. Sort of a shorter and less dense version of the Hitchens book - "The Atheist's Bedside Reader," more or less.

The information about Thomas Edison made me ROFL. His second wife Mina was a devout Xian, and she once invited a bunch of preachers to dinner, thinking their discussions of Learned Theology might convert her husband.

When the assembled clerics started nattering, Edison simply stood up and said: "I'm not listening to any more of this nonsense." And stalked out of the room.

After that, Mr. and Mrs. Edison just agreed to disagree about religion, and lived happily ever after.

[Synnical]

10. I have both of those books!

:hi:

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[realisticphish]

3. fantastic book

lots of great material in there (but as said above, I had to skip a couple entries)

[YankeyMCC]

4. Here's more

The list was put together by Susan Jacoby who's book "Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism" has been recommended and I second

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/spirited_atheist/2010/07/summer_reading_for_infidels.html

BTW: I got this list from a Zen Roshi who's also a UU minister, he just happened to put up a list of books to read for the summer.

[realisticphish]

5. this was great, too

add anything by Robert Ingersoll... I absolutely love his stuff

[onager]

7. Found a book of Ingersoll lectures in a thrift store once.

I think I paid a whole dollar for it. One of the best deals ever!

[ChadwickHenryWard]

8. I'm reading it right now.

It's fairly good. I haven't broken into the 20th century yet, but so far it's been worth the read. The only one I would recommend skipping is Marx. His sections was incredibly opaque, so far that I would have to characterize it as the worst reading I've ever read. It wasn't even about atheism. I was made to wonder whether or not it was a joke on the reader to include it. The best part so far has been David Hume on the nature of miracles. He laid out when it is a good idea to believe what somebody claims and when it is not.

[Lisa0825]

9. Thanks everyone :-)

I think I may start with the ones I find most interesting based on the name. I doubt I will finish this one right away since it is a collection... maybe read a chapter here and there while starting on other books in between.