- Paperback: 392 pages
- Publisher: Rosetta Press Inc (29 Jan 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0970813716
- ISBN-13: 978-0970813718
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.4 x 2.5 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,048,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
Product Description
Scott Bidstrup, Truth and Reason Web site
This excellent, highly readable book discusses how neurobiology interacted with our belief systems to create the meme-plexes we call religion.
David L. Boccagna, Ph. D.
A treatise for discerning readers seeking an insight into the biological influences that have shaped them into what they are.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon U.K.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
43 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Biology of Belief, 10 April 2002
By Gary Thompson - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Biology of Belief (Paperback)
Throughout this book, Mr. Giovannoli has tried to stay close to the science while giving the reader an intuitive understatnding, often through analogy and metaphor of how scientists and philosophers have reached the current perception of beliefs. Even though he avoids burdensome technical language and equations, because of the radically new concepts invloved, the reader may need to pause now and then, to mull over a section here or ponder an explanation there, in order to follow the progression of ideas fully.Despite an acceptable "Western" perspective, "The Biology of Belief" does more than just augment the fragments of understanding we have about our belief system..It arranges biological and historical benchmarks into a sometimes thrilling intellectual jaunt that belies Mr. Giovannoli's belief that the whole is much greater than the sum of it's parts. A common evolutionary thread pierces the book and illustrates our dependence on our reptilian ancestors brain functions, and ties it to the world's current dealings with zealots and fundalmentalism. A quantum leap, presented with conviction and compassion.
Never in my years of associated reading, have I been so anxious to read a book for the third time.
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting but flawed, 30 Jan 2004
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Biology of Belief (Paperback)
The author is a gifted amateur who raises a wide range of ideas, but has difficulty in tying them all together in a coherent thesis. The central concept is a variation of Richard Dawkin's idea of the meme, and how our core beliefs are passed from generation to generation without much critical thought.There is not very much biology in this book, so I found the title rather misleading. Giovannoli does not lay a rigorous scientific foundation for his hypothesis, and he leaves the reader with many questions concerning the basis for his assertions.
That said, the book is often very entertaining with many tidbits of information from a wide range of disciplines. Anyone looking for a serious treatment of cognitive science and what it says about human capacity for belief is likely to be disappointed, as I was. If you are looking for a very personal discussion of mythology vs. science, you are likely to find this book most enjoyable.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An enlightening view of myself., 5 May 2003
By Catherine Forment - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Biology of Belief (Paperback)
There are very few books that can truly alter the way one views the world. The Biology of Belief is one of those very few. The author's comment, that the original motivation of the book was to see "why rational minds are capable of believing in myth" and "its capacity to alter our view of reality", took me on my own "journey". An understanding of the extent of brainwashing that exists in our culture was very enlightening. In fact, I can only describe my experience in the following manner: in borrowing the phase "I once was blind but now I see.." I think the book should be require reading at EVERY liberal arts university. The tough part would be supplying the professors to teach it!
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
