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The God Delusion | 
 enlarge | Author: Richard Dawkins
Publisher: Black Swan
Category: Book
List Price: £8.99
Buy New: £3.24
You Save: £5.75 (64%)
New (39) Used (14) from £1.89
Rating:  731 reviews
Sales Rank: 75
Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed with additions
Pages: 464
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 4.8 x 1.3
ISBN: 055277331X
EAN: 9780552773317
ASIN: 055277331X
Publication Date: May 21, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Guaranteed Brand New. Available for immediate delivery from UK address by First Class post.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 726 more reviews...
 Says just about all there is to say about God July 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a book that everybody should read. Dawkins takes religion apart with methodical scientific knowledge, common sense and humour. He also persuades us that our world would be much better of without religion and that it is our responsibility to challenge its superstitions wherever we find them.
Dawkins has been accused of being to hard on religion and especially of using language that is rather strong to get his points over. I cannot disagree with this more. If you have ever seen one of his documentaries (and if you haven't you should) you will surely agree that the language in the book here reflects a polite, well mannered, logical and determined man. When Dawkins's language rarely veers from the emotionally detached it is only at points when he is trying to explain his sheer incredulity at the lies and fantasies of religion or in his deep sadness over the misery it can cause.
Dawkins mostly criticises the big monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) as causing the most pain in the world. Within this much of the focus is on Christianity because as he freely admits this is the one that he is most familiar with. Nevertheless he is even-handed in his scorn for all organised religion and has the arguments and examples to back his point of view.
The book begins with some general background about religion and moves on to arguments for God's existence which is then countered by Dawkins's thoughts on why there is almost certainly no God. It's important to note here that Dawkins doesn't categorically state 100% that there is no God. He counts himself as a defacto Atheist and a scientist. He freely admits that he would change his mind about God if there were concrete evidence to show him he, she, or it is real.
From here he moves onto questions such as Why do we have religion? Why are we good? and What's so wrong with religion? These sections of the book are very interesting as Dawkins describes his views on the issues through the lens of a Darwinian.
If there is any criticism I have with the book is that it seems to rely less on science as it proceeds towards the end than at the beginning. Nevertheless Dawkins does build his opinion on the foundations of science and what we can prove rather than trying to use science to prove what he believes as many religious people do.
Only one other minor niggle. Dawkins holds up the Roman Emperor Caligula as a typical example of a cruel figure from ancient history. I would have thought there were many more applicable examples from this period. I guess we can forgive him for not being an excellent historian as well as an excellent scientist.
Overall an important book for everyone whatever religious persuasion you may be. A really compelling, thought provoking and fantastic read.
A very intelligent man...so why doesn't he do a bit more reading? July 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Richard Dawkins is a very intelligent man, that much is evident. A professor at Oxford, prolific author, witty and knowledgeable. So why doesn't he actually do some wider reading so that he can accurately report on issues of religion, Christian theology etc. I'm not a scientist, but if I were going to write a piece on science then I would at least read something BY scientists and not ABOUT them, on what they actually think and not what someone has told me they think. Whatever Richard Dawkins is as a scientist I distrust him completely as an accurate reporter of Christian theology. A first-year theology student or informed layperson will simply not recognise the crude characterisations of Christian theology that are painted by Prof. Dawkins. How can someone who is looked up to by so many as a well-informed commentator be so very ignorant of some very basic and accessible issues of what is believed by so many Christians. One has to conclude that Richard Dawkins writes this way because it serves his purpose in the polemical debates. At times, this book descends to the level of fundamentalist rant. It is so sad that someone of Professor Dawkins' standing has resorted to the level of debate enjoyed by those religious fundamentalists' he so despises. For analyses that are just as witty and insightful, but far fairer, try the late Carl Sagan. Other fascinating and stimulating reads are those works on science and religion by people who, unlike Richard Dawkins, are conversant and competent on both eg Prof. Sir John Polkinghorne or Prof. Alister McGrath .
 Very tenous argument...uter drivel July 2, 2008
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
I bought this book with high hopes of reading strong and convincing arguments against the idea of there being a supreme being. I'm no religious person and have my doubts that there is a god but this book is soooooo boring, disjointed, repetitive and clogged with very weak and almost ridiculous arguments and analogies. c'mon prof dawkins, u cud hav done better!
total waste of money...i cud have written a better book on the subject!
 Too much pretentious waffle and French... July 1, 2008
1 out of 6 found this review helpful
I love to read and always planned on having this book on my shelf. The subject of atheism fascinates me. However, upon trying this work, I found it long-winded, pretentious, boring, superfluous, self-congratulatory and completely uninspired. I know reading some of the reviews on here, that people will think me narrow minded and uneducated for saying such things. But such is life. My only use for this piffle is for getting an early night in.
My apologies Dawkins fans - I think the author was more intent on showing off for the 'hierarchal parasites', rather than expressing his points of view in a manner which is entertaining for all. Big mistake. This book received mass coverage because the news reports nothing but dross. Had this book been placed on a shelf and left for the people to recommend to others, I doubt it would have sold at all. Thanks.
Mostly Froth June 30, 2008
4 out of 9 found this review helpful
I read this book because I am a Christian and I wanted to challenge my faith and see whether it could stand up to the arguments of one of the most well known advocates of atheism. I did enjoy the sections on science in which Dawkins has a clear expertise, but I was unimpressed by the majority of his arguments against religion. The manner in which he delivers his arguments is so emotive that he lacks the objectivity that characterises serious intellectual argument. He is emotionally involved with the topic to the point of enjoying quoting people insulting religion. At times he comes across as an unpleasant mocking character. He also uses religious extremists to illustrate his points that are far from representative of what most religious people think. His arguments are highly selective of the evidence and hardly approach a systematic or rigorous treatment of the subject. I have the feeling that he is being deliberately sensationalist in order to sell more books that seems to be the primary reason for its publication. I started the book as a believer and finished it as a believer.
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