Julian Baggini

Do you think of atheists as immoral pessimists who live their lives without meaning, purpose, or values? Think again! Atheism: A Very Short Introduction sets out to dispel the myths that surround atheism and show how a life without religious belief can be positive, meaningful, and moral.

Atheism: A Very Short Introduction

Is a life without religion one without values or purpose? Julian Baggini emphatically says no. He sets out to dispel the myths surrounding atheism and to show how it can be both a meaningful and moral choice. He directly confronts the failure of officially atheist states in the twentieth century, and presents an intellectual case for atheism that rests as much on reasoned and positive arguments for its truth as on negative arguments against religion.

Atheism

Mariel Adrianna de la Garza

I picked up this book at B&N and was genuinely curious and excited to read it. While the substance of the book was good - provided a discussion of background, history, atheist views and arguments re: morality, the meaning of life, among other things - I found the tone to be condescending. It felt as though I was reading a book for other atheists, that I was eavesdropping on a conversation I was not invited to. (I don't believe that was the author's intent, and I am sure there are many theist books that cause the same reaction in others.) By the end of the book I was bored and ready to move on to something else. 

At the end, there is a helpful and extensive reading list with with a lot of suggestions, so I may pick up one of those. I would recommend this book to others for its intended purpose: a brief insight into Atheism. I am giving the book 4 stars for substance, readability, and resources for future research, though I personally had a 2-star reading experience.

Atheism: A Very Short Introduction

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