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44th out of 283 books
—
177 voters
Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism
by
Susan Jacoby
"Jacoby accomplishes her task with clarity, thoroughness, and an engaging passion."
-Los Angeles Times Book Review
At a time when the separation of church and state is under attack as never before, Freethinkers offers a powerful defense of the secularist heritage that gave Americans the first government in the world founded not on the authority of religion but on the bedr...more
-Los Angeles Times Book Review
At a time when the separation of church and state is under attack as never before, Freethinkers offers a powerful defense of the secularist heritage that gave Americans the first government in the world founded not on the authority of religion but on the bedr...more
Paperback, 370 pages
Published
January 7th 2005
by Holt Paperbacks
(first published 2004)
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Susan Jacoby crafts a lucid and engaging history of the nonreligious movements that have done so much to shape our country. It's the kind of book one would hope is taught in school in some far-off utopia where "In God We Trust" is removed from coins and "under God" in the pledge can be seen as the embarrassment that it is. Sigh, one can dream.
Jacoby's book is comprehensive without seeming muddled, and conveys a reverence (if you will) for great thinkers and speakers that have been sadly relegate...more
Jacoby's book is comprehensive without seeming muddled, and conveys a reverence (if you will) for great thinkers and speakers that have been sadly relegate...more
This book was a shock to me in many ways. I was unaware of the very early opposition to the godless constitution of the United States. Quite unrealistically, I had thought the cultural wars debating the role of religion in government and the role of government in religion originated in the 20th century.
The book also introduced me to the works of Col. Robert Ingersoll, who seems to be an amazing speaker on the topics of religion, government, and liberty. I am quite appreciative that I have found...more
The book also introduced me to the works of Col. Robert Ingersoll, who seems to be an amazing speaker on the topics of religion, government, and liberty. I am quite appreciative that I have found...more
8 likes · like · see review
This is an excellent and fair history of American secularism. Susan Jacoby reclaims American history from the religious right. She writes of freethinkers, deists, atheists, agnostics and other dissenters and their involvement in the drafting of the constitution, the abolition and suffragist movements, the progressive and freethinker movements, and the attacks on secularism from the red scare, the Scopes Trial and McCarthyism. This is a great book for those that have bought the lie that the US is...more
3 likes · like · see review
I appreciate the point of view of this book, and it is truly sad that no one could, today, stand up and celebrate America's secular foundations.
Having said that, the book is not particularly interesting or persuasive. It is a history of so-called forgotten freethinkers (read secular humanists), although I am not sure the degree to which Thomas Paine and William Garrison are forgotten or ignored. (I'll give her Ingersoll.) Nor am I sure the degree to which Abraham Lincoln's conflicted views of re...more
Having said that, the book is not particularly interesting or persuasive. It is a history of so-called forgotten freethinkers (read secular humanists), although I am not sure the degree to which Thomas Paine and William Garrison are forgotten or ignored. (I'll give her Ingersoll.) Nor am I sure the degree to which Abraham Lincoln's conflicted views of re...more
1 like · like · see review
Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism by Susan Jacoby
"Freethinkers" is a fascinating historical account of the role of freethinkers in United States. This book provides an important narrative of the impact of freethinkers in the creation of the first secular government in the world. This 448-page book is composed of the following twelve chapters: 1. Revolutionary Secularism, 2. The Age of Reason and Unreason, 3. Lost Connections: Anticlericalism, Abolitionism, and Feminism, 4. The Beli...more
"Freethinkers" is a fascinating historical account of the role of freethinkers in United States. This book provides an important narrative of the impact of freethinkers in the creation of the first secular government in the world. This 448-page book is composed of the following twelve chapters: 1. Revolutionary Secularism, 2. The Age of Reason and Unreason, 3. Lost Connections: Anticlericalism, Abolitionism, and Feminism, 4. The Beli...more
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was surprisingly deferent to her husband Henry's misogynistic wishes.
Say what?
The number of new things that you will learn are too many to mention. The history of American freethought (a wonderful and decidedly positive word to describe doubters and nonbelievers) is as old as the nation itself. Susan Jacoby has accomplished a great feat in making that lush history accessible and succinct, while still a solid launching point for further study. Abraham Lincoln was a very dif...more
Say what?
The number of new things that you will learn are too many to mention. The history of American freethought (a wonderful and decidedly positive word to describe doubters and nonbelievers) is as old as the nation itself. Susan Jacoby has accomplished a great feat in making that lush history accessible and succinct, while still a solid launching point for further study. Abraham Lincoln was a very dif...more
There's a LOT of good material in this for freethinkers interested in our history. And, more important for a popular history, this is a good explanation of why secularism is vital to the survival of the nation established in North America in 1787. But there's a very substantial lack of coverage of the many connections between American and British freethought in the 19th century.*
An interesting passage: "Values are handed down more easily and thoroughly by permanent institutions than by marginali...more
An interesting passage: "Values are handed down more easily and thoroughly by permanent institutions than by marginali...more
Excellent introductory history. I feel cheated that I never learned about the contributions of Elizabeth Cady Stanton or Lucretia Mott in more than a glossed-over fashion in my American history studies, nor of Robert Green Ingersoll at all.
These people, along with a host of better-known names such as Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine, as well as other lesser-knowns, had the courage of their convictions despite the social pressures of living in an overtly religious society. One point Jacoby's bo...more
These people, along with a host of better-known names such as Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine, as well as other lesser-knowns, had the courage of their convictions despite the social pressures of living in an overtly religious society. One point Jacoby's bo...more
1 like · like · see review
Before I started reading this book I was afraid that it might be more an anti-religion tirade than a history book. I'm happy to say that my assumption was unfounded. Jacoby's history of secularism in America is well researched, mostly unbiased, and nicely written. When she occasionally strays away from straight history and into editorialism, her thoughts are well thought out and soundly argued. It isn't until the final chapter, however, that she really steps completely out of history and into pe...more
Eloquent explanation of how the religious right has gotten a strangelhold on politics today.[return][return]Chilling.[return][return]I'm old enough to remember the Goldwater/Kennedy presidential race and am appalled about how such recent history has been already revised.[return][return]Jacoby gives a clear if not concise history of how the American constitution was specifically written with no mention of faith. The strange bedfellows formed along the way as various groups defended the division o...more
This was a very well-written, easy-to-read book. For the most part, Jacoby focuses the narrative on one intellectual and then describes the reactions to that person. This effectively introduces supporters, dissenters, critics, publications, and newspaper articles surrounding certain ideas. So we get to know several founding fathers, Stanton, Ingersoll and others and get a good feel of the public mood based on reactions and debates involving these individuals. On occasion though, Jacoby strays fr...more
A fascinating walk through American history from the perspective of "infidels, atheists, freethinkers, agnostics, deists, heretics." Made me think once again of how people are defined in terms of religion (e.g. "people of faith," "believers," etc.) and how "freethinkers" are thus defined most often in negative terms (unbelievers, heretics, "people of no faith,"--I think Obama might even have said that).
Also, the way religions tend to whitewash their histories so that it seems like they've always...more
Also, the way religions tend to whitewash their histories so that it seems like they've always...more
I learned so much and could not stop turning the pages. So much good done by reality based independent thinkers.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and coming from someone who sometimes finds reading nonfiction akin to going to the dentist, that is saying something.
As a Southern Baptist-turned-atheist, Jacoby explodes a lot of the myths about religion in America that I grew up with, and she weaves in great biographical pieces on the eminent freethinkers of American history that really come to life: Paine, Ingersoll, Whitman, and Stanton among them. My special favorite of these was Emma Goldman, who is found...more
As a Southern Baptist-turned-atheist, Jacoby explodes a lot of the myths about religion in America that I grew up with, and she weaves in great biographical pieces on the eminent freethinkers of American history that really come to life: Paine, Ingersoll, Whitman, and Stanton among them. My special favorite of these was Emma Goldman, who is found...more
This book is an essential read for anyone who cares about separation of church and state or the modern attack on science. The author explains the history of secularism in America from the Enlightenment ideas to the modern assault on rational thought. The reader will discover that secular thought has been a driving force in America, initiating the movements for Abolition and Women's Suffrage, while fundamentalist America has fought them tooth and nail. Progress in America comes when secularists c...more
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I cannot overstate how insightful, useful and dare I say, necessary ‘Freethinkers’ truly is. Not only does Jacoby lay out the best defense of secular values that has ever been written (with the possible exception of the Constitution itself), but she also offers an extremely thorough account of American history through the vision of some of America’s most important figures from the past and present.
It is strange to think, how even the late-nineteenth c...more
It is strange to think, how even the late-nineteenth c...more
4.5 stars
My main reaction to this book: "Why didn't we learn ANY OF THIS in history class?" And well, the answer's fairly obvious.
Jacoby did a superlative job presenting a portrait of American history, this time including the atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, humanists, and secular Jews who often played as large a role in the titanic struggles in our nation's history (abolition, womens' rights) and yet have been written out of the record in favor of a narrative that such social change came abou...more
My main reaction to this book: "Why didn't we learn ANY OF THIS in history class?" And well, the answer's fairly obvious.
Jacoby did a superlative job presenting a portrait of American history, this time including the atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, humanists, and secular Jews who often played as large a role in the titanic struggles in our nation's history (abolition, womens' rights) and yet have been written out of the record in favor of a narrative that such social change came abou...more
6 likes · like · see review
Sep 18, 2012
Jack
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in the history of secularism in the US
It's hard to be an atheist in the U.S. nowadays. Religion is given special status by the government (both officially and unofficially) and the non-believing community is almost universally ignored, except on the rare occasions where it's attacked as "unamerican". Recall George H. W. Bush saying atheists shouldn't be considered citizens and Newt Gingrich saying "how can you have judgement if you have no faith?" We're routinely told that the U.S. is a "Christian Nation" and was founded on "Judeo-C...more
Susan Jacoby has written Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism packed with information, too much information for me. The research that must have been involved to write this book is impressive. I found it best to set the book aside, going back to it in manageable helpings. But, regrettably, I didn’t figure that out until 2/3 of the way through the book.
In chronological order from the American Revolution to the time of the publication of the book in 2004, she follows the often forgotten...more
In chronological order from the American Revolution to the time of the publication of the book in 2004, she follows the often forgotten...more
This book makes a good follow up to Jennifer Michael Hecht's book Doubt: A History: The Great Doubters and Their Legacy of Innovation from Socrates and Jesus to Thomas Jefferson and Emily Dickinson. Freethinkers is both an engaging treatment of the influence of secularist thought through American history and an impassioned polemic against the dangers of mixing religious and political power. Despite her passion for secular government and her clearly evident lack of religious belief, Jacoby treats...more
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I just finished this book! Mindy - its back at the library now. I am amazed how many freethinkers there were that helped end slavery and get the women's movement started. You wouldn't know it from standard history books, which tend to ignore the non-religious, or ingnore the fact that many historical figures were non-religious. It is also evident that the struggle to keep America secular has been ongoing since the consitution was framed. Since the book was written in 2004, the last chapter is a...more
This is one of those books you read, enjoy, and are satisfied by and then when someone asks you what was the last good book you read your mind tries in vain to remember it.
Jacoby writes beautifully and with a satisfying amount of research on one of the topics that can never seem to generate enough steam in the public arena.
The only real beef I have is her treatment of Lincoln. I think she's right that he was indeed a secularist but I think she splits way too many hairs trying to make her point....more
I get so weary of hearing people say that the United States of America is a Christian nation. It is not.
Freethinkers explains this essential fact in an interesting fashion.
Susan Jacoby chronicles secularist thought from the revolutionary period until the present, bringing it to life by profiling Americans like Bob Ingersoll, "The Great Agnostic."
I strongly recommend this book to everyone. Those who believe that the USA is a Christian nation will learn that it is not; those who know the truth w...more
Freethinkers explains this essential fact in an interesting fashion.
Susan Jacoby chronicles secularist thought from the revolutionary period until the present, bringing it to life by profiling Americans like Bob Ingersoll, "The Great Agnostic."
I strongly recommend this book to everyone. Those who believe that the USA is a Christian nation will learn that it is not; those who know the truth w...more
1 like · like · see review
For anyone that ever questioned whether the Founding Fathers really meant it when they established the "Wall of Separation" between Church and State, READ THIS BOOK! For anyone that ever questioned whether the voices of authority have a vested interest in preserving the status quo, READ THIS BOOK! For anyone that ever felt like the voice of dissent is trampled and maligned by society, READ THIS BOOK! FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO BE INSPIRED TO DO THEIR OWN THINKING, READ THIS BOOK!
Of course, this i...more
Of course, this i...more
A mighty fine recitation of the "freethinkers" in American history. Although the writing style cost it a star this was an excellent book and worth the slog through parts. It was enlightening to see the dedication of the religious and their philopophy and the continual struggle to maintain even a sembelance of separation of church and state in our history. It is really a call-to-arms for freethinkers to stand up for the Constitution and quit letting the religious define all the arguments.
Bluntly, this book should be the coffin the Baby Boomer generation is laid to rest in. Values and supposed morality touted by America's Christian, or, more accurately, America's those of the last fifty years who have attempted to whitewash facts and truths for near-theocracy, are shown to be the antithesis of what my native country truly believes. "Freethinkers" is a book what is a joy to read. I'm grateful Susan Jacoby took the time for scholarly study rather than reactionary propaganda.
This was probably a 3.5. Sometimes the writing dragged on a bit but for the most part it was very enjoyable, mainly because it reminded you that freethinkers have been around for centuries in America, and were shunned and persecuted quite a bit in the early days of the republic. This book was also good at shining light on the separation of church and state in U.S. history. The chapters on the founding, Robert Ingersoll, and the 1960's were particularly good.
Jacoby describes the ebb and flow of freethinking in U.S. public discourse and its influence and significance throughout the country’s history. The entire book is definitely worth reading - it’s a bit dry, but also inspirational in parts throughout. Besides the major freethinkers and their significance, particular passion springs forth toward the end of the book where she criticizes the religious-based rationales of Bush II’s anti-stem cell research stance and Scalia’s pro-death penalty stance (...more
The book is a history of the secularists/humanists/atheists/agnostics/what-have-you in American history. As a necessary book, it's great - it's filled with a lot of useful information about important secularist types in American history, some of which were very involved in major political and social situations, some less so. The book is a success on that note.
It is more than a little dry, which hurts it considerably. The editorializing was problematic for me, at least - the author definitely, an...more
It is more than a little dry, which hurts it considerably. The editorializing was problematic for me, at least - the author definitely, an...more
Marvelous history of American Secularism. I was most interested in how disparate religious and political groups have worked together again and again to keep political and religious powers from having too much influence on each other. Anyone who believes that the US is a "Christian nation" or even a fundamentally religious nation should read this book. Supremacy is supremacy - white, Christian or otherwise.
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Susan Jacoby (born 1945) is an American author, most recently of the New York Times best seller The Age of American Unreason about American anti-intellectualism. She is director of the New York branch of the Center for Inquiry.
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“That so many manage to accommodate belief systems encompassing both the natural and the supernatural is a testament not to the compatibility of science and religion but to the flexibility, in both the physical and metaphysical senses, of the human brain.”
—
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Dec 03, 2011 10:56am