Susan Jacoby: Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism
Excellent overview of the prominent role that freethinkers (atheists, agnostics, and deists) played in America's past, including the founding of our country, the abolition of slavery, and giving women the vote. (*****)
Sam Harris: The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason
One of the most frightening books I've ever read. Among numerous other topics, Harris argues that it is almost inevitable that atomic weapons will fall into the hands of religious radicals -- if not terrorist, then perhaps a nation with religious radicals in charge. (****)
Daniel C. Dennett: Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
I highly recommend this book for anyone who is about to embark on studying religion and atheism. Why do people enjoy music? Why do we like to socialize? Why do we sometimes become violent? Science has attempted to answer each of these questions. Dennett proposes that science attempt to answer another: Why are people religious? Even if one of the religions is true, that still means that billions of people believe religions that are not true. Why? What is it about our evolutionary past that makes us willing to believe? (*****)
Jared Diamond: Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
Why wasn't Europe invaded by ships carrying gun-wielding Native Americans or Africans, rather than the other way around? This is an excellent explanation of why some societies became quite advanced, while others remained primitive. (*****)
Richard P. Feynman: "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character
Very entertaining and thought-provoking collection of anecdates from the life of perhaps the best-known physicist of the 20th century. (****)
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Scientists analyzing data from the Huygens probe say that Saturn's moon Titan has more methane than they expected, but Jean-Pierre Lebreton, mission manager for the Huygens probe, said "This methane cannot be coming from living organisms." There doesn't appear to be any explanation in the article as to why he said that, not that I doubt him. Anyone have any details?
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Carl Sagan: Demon-Haunted World
(*****)
Martin Gardner: Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science (Popular Science)
Another classic for new skeptics, this one focusing more on pseudoscience than on the paranormal. (****)
James Randi: Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions
This is a classic for those wanting an introduction to some of the basic topics tackled by skeptics. (*****)
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