Continuing this series...
Did Jesus Exist? by G. A. Wells
Argues that Jesus was not a real historical figure. I disagree with the thesis, but it's relatively well-argued.
Three Stars
Best American Science and Nature Writing 2006 ed. Brian Greene
Some excellent essays in here.
Four Stars
Imperialism the Highest Stage of Capitalism by Vladimir Lenin
Interesting mainly for its historical significance.
Three Stars
The Natural History Reader in Evolution ed. Niles Eldredge
Nice collection of essays on evolution.
Three Stars
Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan
First-rate science popularization, combined with a poetic perspective on our role in the universe.
Five Stars
God and the Burden of Proof by Keith M. Parsons
Has maybe a couple points I'd regard as serious mistakes, but on the whole does an impressive job of introducing contemporary philosophy of religion and demolishing the pretensions of its heros in under 200 pages.
Four Stars
God, Freedom, and Evil by Alvin Plantinga
This book enjoys a greatly inflated reputation within professional philosophical circles. Uses technical philosophical ideas to try to prop up the free will response to the problem of evil, but largely ignores the arguments of the philosophers it claims to refute. It its reputation a sign that today's philosophers mistake technical obscurity for quality? Embarrassing.
One Star
How the Mind Works by Steven Pinker
A treasure-trove of information on the human mind. Nuanced and philosophically aware to boot.
Five Stars
The Problem of Evi by Peter van Inwagen
Adds little to what van Inwagen has already published on the subject; Daniel Howard-Snyder's anthology is a better purchase.
Two Stars
The Evidential Argument from Evil ed. Daniel Howard-Snyder
Gives a good idea of where current academic debate on the problem of evil is. The essays are not particularly strong, though--the well written passages come as a surprise.
Three Stars
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Convincingly-drawn protagonist. No mere Tolkein knock off, unlike many allegedly good fantasy novels.
Four Stars
The Portable Atheist ed. Christopher Hitchens
Hitchens has an excellent eye for good writing, and many of the authors included are must reads. I don't care much for his excerpting of Sagan, though.
Five Stars
Providence and the Problem of Evil by Richard Swinburne
Classic Swinburne: takes a very long time to say very little.
Two Stars
1 comment:
The only books I can weigh in on in this are Pinker and Hitchens.
Hitchens - hands-down great shit.
Pinker - I am really not apt to trust everything he says on this, especially after his defense of Larry Summers in the scandal about his comments on gender and math and science. There is ample evidence to suggest that there is no gap and that neither gender performs more proficiently in math of science than the other. And I'm not just a vehement supporter of this because I'm female; there's plenty of evidence to support that there is no gender gap - http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4458519 . There is probably plenty of factual information in it, but the dubious stuff I'd be careful about .
-Katharine
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