Militant atheism is on the rise. Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens have dominated bestseller lists with books d...
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Nov 25, 2011
Stupac
rated it: 
Just finished this one. Mostly I got this book because I have read quotations of Berlinski's other works and found them witty and fascinating. This book did not disappoint. This book has received some criticism because of its elaborate language, which I personally very much appreciated, but I can understand that it is not for everyone. It would appeal most to those who appreciate a little philosophical humor, and being well read also helps (he lost me at a few of his allusions, but for the most
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Apr 26, 2010
Mark
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With a title like that, you’d expect this book to appear straight out of a Christian publishing house located in the basement of a fundamentalist church. The cover does nothing to dissuade you – it’s black with big red letters with a couple of devil horns sticking out of the title. Frankly, add a couple of cartoons & a paranoid suspicion of the Vatican and the outside would look like it came from of the pen of Jack Chick. (If you’re curious, I don’t think that is a good thing!)
But on More...
But on More...
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Apr 09, 2008
Paul
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I don't feel like spending much time writing any sort of review for the book: The Devils Delusion: Atheism and its Scientific Pretensions. Berlinski has a Ph.D from Princeton and has taught philosophy and mathematics courses at universities around the world. He claims on page 1 to be “a secular Jew. [His] religious education did not take. [He] can barely remember a word of Hebrew. [He] cannot pray. ]He] has spent more years than [he] cares to remember studying mathematics and writing about the s
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Aug 09, 2011
This is one of the most important books I've read in scientific literature "for the layman". Written by a secular Jewish scientist and mathematician, this book explores what science really does know and what it does not know. It's an examination of the facts without the philosophical BS that tends to subjectively dilute what little we know. Among the topics are the existence of God and the theory of evolution.
The reason I love this book is because it is incredibly and thoroughly log More...
The reason I love this book is because it is incredibly and thoroughly log More...
Jun 29, 2011
Bill
rated it: 
My take on the book is similar to these one-star reviews on Amazon:
[1] http://www.amazon.com/review/R32THN89AG5...
[2] http://www.amazon.com/review/R1F862GTI1L...
[3] http://www.amazon.com/review/R210ZCGA6NF...
A few things that stood out to me were (in no particular order):
1. It's noteworthy that the author claims, in the book, to be agnostic, yet the whole book is a case for some sort of creator-god and intelligent design. By claiming to be agnostic, B More...
[1] http://www.amazon.com/review/R32THN89AG5...
[2] http://www.amazon.com/review/R1F862GTI1L...
[3] http://www.amazon.com/review/R210ZCGA6NF...
A few things that stood out to me were (in no particular order):
1. It's noteworthy that the author claims, in the book, to be agnostic, yet the whole book is a case for some sort of creator-god and intelligent design. By claiming to be agnostic, B More...
Jun 12, 2010
Jesse
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I had really high hopes for this book. #1 it comes highly regarded. #2 I'm always interested in hearing a different opinion than my own and this was quite promising. I loved the idea of a secular point of view stating a defense for religious thought and a rebuttal to arguments by Harris, Hitchens, and others. Well this booked seemed to be full of contextual biases and out of context statements. Add in a serious dose of "you can't prove it, so you are wrong" and you've got the g
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Jun 30, 2011
Scarlett
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I liked the concept of this book more than I liked actually reading it. I really liked the author's writing style and the point he was trying to make. However, perhaps partially because my habit of wanting to take the opposite opinion of whatever I'm reading, whether I believe it or not, I thought he was maybe a bit harsh on science. I definitely agreed that there is no reason to put science on a pedestal and faith in science is still faith. However, sometimes he just seemed... overly conten
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Jan 24, 2010
Doug
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The author has an annoying shtick: he thinks he's funny, and he wants you to know it, goddamn it -- and God damn all those atheists, especially Dawkins for saying that "The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, caprici
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Aug 05, 2011
Loved it. Witty, incisive, and intelligent, Berlinski discusses the arrogance and failings of scientific atheism and those who claim it is the the "be all and end all". Science, he argues, is not, in fact, a disinterested pursuit of the truth.
I think one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much, quite apart from the fact that it's a breath of fresh air amidst all the anti-religious material being published, is that I found his perspective so unique and interesting. A secular, agnost More...
I think one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much, quite apart from the fact that it's a breath of fresh air amidst all the anti-religious material being published, is that I found his perspective so unique and interesting. A secular, agnost More...
Dec 17, 2009
Bill
rated it:
Working my way through the dross of Dawkins' The God Delusion, I was casting about for a purgative to restore my faith in agnosticism. Little did I realize I'd be climbing into bed with the intelligent designer and (ostensibly) "secular Jew"* who coached Ann Coulter in writing Godless!
Sheesh! When will I learn to google before I leap?
Consider the second star as a triumph of style over substance. As a stylist Berlinski is clever to the point of incoherence.
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Sheesh! When will I learn to google before I leap?
Consider the second star as a triumph of style over substance. As a stylist Berlinski is clever to the point of incoherence.
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Jan 16, 2011
Scott
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One of the aspects of writers like Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris etal. is that they are fairly good writers and can be pretty witty in skewering Christians. Christians usually argue from strong philosophical positions and reasonable evidence, but most try to be respectful of the opposition while attacking the argument.
Berlinski enters the debate challenging the scientfic claims used by New Athesists. He is not bound by religious restraints on comments, so his rebuttals are much more sca More...
Berlinski enters the debate challenging the scientfic claims used by New Athesists. He is not bound by religious restraints on comments, so his rebuttals are much more sca More...
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Oct 22, 2010
Frank
rated it:
Delightful and subversive. Berlinski, a secular Jew and respected mathematician, author, and professor, gleefully undertakes to puncture the pretensions of our modern all-but-established religion, the Church of Materialist Atheism. This book has one main premise: the claims of Dawkins, Harris, Pinker et al, the leading evangelists of this religion, are nowhere near as strong as they say, nor do they give any conclusive proof against the existence of a Creator. Berlinski covers physics, inclu
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Mar 03, 2009
Jason
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As both a scientist and a believer, there are few things that make me squirm with more gusto than hearing other scientists spout dogmatic baloney for one side of an argument and against another. There is no room for dogma in either science or religion, and one would hope that people buried up to their knees in either discipline would be the first to acknowledge such a fact. Sadly, no. As a result, every single page of this book made me want to squeal with glee, but since I'm not a little girl
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Oct 15, 2008
xJane
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Berlinski's book is, from its title, a rebuttal to Richard Dawkins' the God Delusion. It is, however, more often a rebuttal of Sam Harris' Letter to a Christian Nation specifically and broadly to all atheist works. Having read neither, I will take as a given that both Dawkins and Harris say what Berlinski says they say. However, given how inconsistent his own internal arguments are, I wonder.
Berlinski starts by assuaging the fear of his atheist readers. He is not a theist! He pro More...
Berlinski starts by assuaging the fear of his atheist readers. He is not a theist! He pro More...
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Apr 19, 2008
Donald
rated it: 
David Berlinski is one of the most intellectually honest writers I have ever read. His dissent of neo-Darwinism is argued in the realm of physics, biology, chemistry, and philosophy. I will read this book more than once. Himself a secular, unbelieving Jew, finds the great conundrum of nature and grace difficult, but somehow an essential component of human existence.
There are no cliches in this book. His disagreements with Weinberg, Pinker, and Stencker are respectful. He is even r More...
There are no cliches in this book. His disagreements with Weinberg, Pinker, and Stencker are respectful. He is even r More...
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Aug 14, 2011
Ini termasuk jenis buku yang dibaca bukan karena suka, tapi karena lagi ngedit terjemahannya. Penulisnya berusaha berkelakar dan meruntuhkan argumen lawan-lawan ateisnya dengan menggunakan teori-teori fisika alam semesta, tapi sungguh kelakar yang membuat saya kewalahan, karena setelah keping puzzle itu diletakkan di tempat yang saya curiga tepat, ternyata gambar keseluruhannya masih belum terlihat jelas. Duh, I need lots of distraction to enjoy this book.
Jul 25, 2011
Jon
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Berlinsky takes on the New Atheists such as Dawkins and Hitchens and seeks to show that the new emperors are wearing no clothes. The essence of his argument is that they overreach in their attacks on religion by failing to recognize the limits of what science actually delivers. While his snarky comments about the individuals involved are often a hoot, his writing is often too clever by half and he would benefit from simple and straightforward rather than almost always going for the clever turn o
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Sep 18, 2009
Caroline
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A pretty well-though out argument, not for the existence of God, but rather for the fact that you can't prove that God doesn't exist. Berlinski also makes the interesting point that, in the end, scientific atheists still display the quality of faith, just in science rather than in deity. It is a little dry style-wise, but the content is fascinating.
Sep 04, 2011
Jared
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Finally, someone who treats the New Atheists with the same sort of respect and common courtesy that they treat their opponents. :)
Berlinski was, at times, over my head, but then again some of these ideas and arguments are over my head and he'd need to be there to address them.
Berlinski is a secular Jew and thus is not constrained with the same pangs of conscience that most are who take the New Atheists to task. A pleasure to read.
Berlinski was, at times, over my head, but then again some of these ideas and arguments are over my head and he'd need to be there to address them.
Berlinski is a secular Jew and thus is not constrained with the same pangs of conscience that most are who take the New Atheists to task. A pleasure to read.
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Mar 31, 2011
Steven
rated it:
This book, written by a "secular Jew" challenges many of the arguments brought up by prominent atheists. This book isn't trying to prove God, but to show that He is far from disproved, and I think it does that well. I enjoyed it.
Jul 26, 2011
Ronald
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A quick but not a light read. Demolishes the "you're an idiot if you don't believe we evolved from the Big Bang" orthodoxy of the Scientific Church. Makes Dawkins look silly in his rabid claims to the truth.
Dec 15, 2011
Eric
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A scathing critique of philosophical materialism and current evolutionary theory. Hilarious throughout, and yet deeply serious and challenging! Love Berlinski's wit!
Jun 19, 2010
Joseph
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I like Berlinski's style. The conclusions of this book may be agnostic, but he sheds doubt on the overconfidence of the new atheism. And this makes you think twice.
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Jun 04, 2008
Jay
rated it:
I looked forward to this book with promise, hoping to stock up on ammunition to use against hard-core atheists who use science as the basis for their rejection of, or ridicule of, religion--specifically, Christianity. Unfortunately, Berlinski's writing style is so dense, and full of asides and unnecessarily flowery language, that's it's very hard to follow his points and see his arguments through to their conclusions. It also seems more like stream-of-consciousness writing and not a well-organiz
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Aug 29, 2011
My dad loves this book and recommended it to me, but it is not my thing. I think it is inflammatory rhetoric (albeit sophisticated) like an intellectual Glenn Beck (who my dad also likes, but not for me). I don't think agnostics or atheists can really defend religion because they can't fight for the paradigm. For example, he can't say "I believe in God because when I pray, my prayers are answered" or "this is how religion feels to me"; all that's left for him is, "you
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May 20, 2009
Neal
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Berlinski, a secular Jew, combines his incisive wit, a comprehensive understanding of a wide array of topics, and a searing curiosity to dispel the myths of the "New Atheism." He shows clearly that science has not (can not?) prove their is not a God, no minds, evolution, the Big Bang even, etc. The lack of evidence is astounding, according to Berlinski, and it is near impossible to disagree with him. To those needing a counter-read to the hogwash of the New Atheists, this is one of
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Aug 23, 2011
Nick
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this witty and insightful book. Berlinski, a Secular Jew, wants readers to know that people with a so-called "religious agenda" are not the only ones who have massive doubts about the fallacious claims of the Atheist-controlled scientific community. Where are the alleged proofs of Darwinian evolution? What about the "facts" that would support String Theory or Quantum Physics? Unfortunately, the scientists are left in a "very awkward position"
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May 13, 2008
Cbpax
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This was not light reading and it was rather slow reading.
I almost gave it up at times but everytime I almost quit reading I'd hit another great nugget that would make me continue. The buried nuggets made me rate the book a 3.
I'm sure Dr. Berlinski is a great mathematician but he's not a great writer. Every so often he comes out with a great thought and that did make the book a keeper. (Since I have not been able to make myself read "The God Delusion" perhaps it is just More...
I almost gave it up at times but everytime I almost quit reading I'd hit another great nugget that would make me continue. The buried nuggets made me rate the book a 3.
I'm sure Dr. Berlinski is a great mathematician but he's not a great writer. Every so often he comes out with a great thought and that did make the book a keeper. (Since I have not been able to make myself read "The God Delusion" perhaps it is just More...
Sep 09, 2011
Eli
rated it:
Thoughtful and humorous, David Berlinski offers a clear rebuke to the ridiculous religion of scientific naturalism. Recommended.
Dec 18, 2008
Brian
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This one is a ton of fun. A "secular jewish scientist" making fun of the recent atheist writers. No holds barred.
