The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Non-Believer
From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of God Is Not Great, a provocative and entertaining guided tour of atheist and agnostic thought through the ages—with never-before-published pieces by Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali.Christopher Hitchens continues to make the case for a splendidly godless universe in this first-ever gathering of the influential voices—past and present—that have shaped his side of the current (and raging) God/no-god debate. With Hitchens as your...
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The acclaimed journalist and bestselling author of "God Is Not Great" selects and introduces an illuminating collection of the most essential and influential writings for the non-believer. Includes selections from Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Bertrand Russell, Thomas Jefferson, H.L.Mencken, Sam Harris, and others. Unabridged. Publishers Weekly Interconnecting a vast range of sources from Lucretius to more contemporary authors, Hitchens brings together a mix of naysayers and skeptics regarding religion and, in particular, God. While not all of his selections are by fervent atheists, Hitchens connects them in such a way as to explore how and why people have rejected religious beliefs throughout the ages. Additionally, he provides valuable introductions to many of the pieces, situating them for the listener in the context of his overall argument. While some provide great insight and questions for listeners, others are only tangentially relevant. Nicholas Ball has an agreeable voice, but when transitioning from introductions to the excerpt, he rarely pauses and listeners may not even realize the excerpt is being read. His timing and speed may work well with other material, but lacks the reflection and nuance needed for this diverse and complex work with many different writing styles. Simultaneous release with the Da Capo hardcover (Reviews, Oct. 29). (Jan.)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Acknowledgments xiIntroduction Christopher Hitchens xiiifrom De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of Things), Book I, Translated by W. Hannaford Brown 1from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: A Paraphrase from Several Literal Translations by Richard Le Gallienne 7Of Religion, from Leviathan 12Theological-Political Treatise 21The Natural History of Religion 26Of Miracles 32An Account of My Last Interview with David Hume, Esq. 46A Refutation of Deism 50Moral Influences in My Early Youth, From Autobiography 57Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right 64Evangelical Teaching 75Autobiography 93An Agnostic's Apology 97Miracle 112Thoughts of God, From Fables of Man 116Bible Teaching and Religious Practice, From Europe and Elsewhere and A Pen Warmed Up In Hell 119Author's Note to The Shadow Line 123God's Funeral 126The Philosophy of Atheism 129A Letter on Religion 134Why I Am An Unbeliever 138Memorial Service 143from The Future of an Illusion, Translated and edited by James Strachey 147Selected Writings on Religion 155from A Clergyman's Daughter 166In Westminster Abbey 168Monism and Religion 170An Old Story 178An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish 181Aubade 207Church Going 209The Wandering Jew and the Second Coming 211The Demon-Haunted World 218The God Hypothesis 226from Roger's Version 239Conclusions and Implications, From The Miracle of Theism: Arguments for and against the Existence of God 246Genesis Revisited: A Scientific Creation Story 267That Undiscovered Country 270Thank Goodness! 277from A Farewell to God, A Personal Word 282Questions to Ask Yourself 285Why There Almost Certainly Is No God 287Gerin Oil 305Atheists for Jesus 307from God: the Failed Hypothesis, Cosmic Evidence 311A Working Definition of Religion, From "Breaking Which Spell?" 328If God Is Dead, Is Everything Permitted? 333There Is No God 349End of the World Blues 351What About God? From Dreams of a Final Theory 366"Imagine There's No Heaven": A Letter to the Six Billionth World Citizen 380The Koran 384The Totalitarian Nature of Islam 445In the Shadow of God, From The End of Faith 454Can an Athiest Be a Fundamentalist? From Against All Gods 473How (and Why) I Became an Infidel 477Credits and Permissions 481Index 485
\ From Barnes & NobleChristianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism: British atheist Christopher Hitchens is an equal-opportunity nonbeliever. In this provocative anthology, the author of God Is Not Great draws support from famed free thinkers, including Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Mark Twain, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Bertrand Russell, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Karl Marx, and H. L. Mencken.\ \ \ \ \ Publishers WeeklyInterconnecting a vast range of sources from Lucretius to more contemporary authors, Hitchens brings together a mix of naysayers and skeptics regarding religion and, in particular, God. While not all of his selections are by fervent atheists, Hitchens connects them in such a way as to explore how and why people have rejected religious beliefs throughout the ages. Additionally, he provides valuable introductions to many of the pieces, situating them for the listener in the context of his overall argument. While some provide great insight and questions for listeners, others are only tangentially relevant. Nicholas Ball has an agreeable voice, but when transitioning from introductions to the excerpt, he rarely pauses and listeners may not even realize the excerpt is being read. His timing and speed may work well with other material, but lacks the reflection and nuance needed for this diverse and complex work with many different writing styles. Simultaneous release with the Da Capo hardcover (Reviews, Oct. 29). (Jan.)\ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.\ \ \ Library JournalSince the publication of his best-selling secularist manifesto, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, Hitchens has become a visible and vocal advocate, along with fellow atheists Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Sam Harris, of a return to Enlightenment values and a rejection of religion. The Portable Atheistcontinues that agenda by collecting a diverse sampling of secularist literature that spans more than two millennia. Each selection includes a short introduction by Hitchens that explains its historical context, its significance, and its influence on the development of secular thought. The 47 readings here represent a broad cross section of literature by nonbelievers, with selections from poets, novelists, journalists, philosophers, and scientists. Gathered here are many of the best-known secularists, from Lucretius and David Hume to Bertrand Russell and Carl Sagan. This collection also includes previously unpublished works by Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Nicholas Ball provides versatile and nuanced readings across multiple genres, from the lilting verse of Omar Khayyam's The Rubaiyatto the denser prose of Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan. Ball should capture the attention, if not the sympathies, of believers and unbelievers alike. Highly recommended for all general library collections, but particularly those with large religion, history, and philosophy holdings.\ —Philip Bader\ \ \
