God No! has a range of stories--funny, tender, sad, and nearly all autobiographical--from a writer, who has been inside the showbiz whale for more than thirty years, travelled the globe performing magic, and lived for a decade in the dark heart of American greed, commercialism and filth: Las Vegas. Some of the essays illuminating Penn's First Commandment (The highest ideal is human intelligence, creativity, and love. Respect those above all.) include Siegfried, Roy, Montecore, Penn, and Leather Pants, and You Can Be Bruce Springsteen Too! As he says of Commandment #4 (Put aside some time to rest and think): "If you're religious, that might be the Sabbath; if you're a Vegas magician, that'll be the day with the lowest grosses." Commandment #5 (Be there for your family. Love your parents, your partner, and your children), includes an astoundingly funny and heartfelt essay about Penn's mother, a late-in-life Atheist herself, and Shirley, the local lesbian pastor. And of #8 (Don't steal): "This includes magic tricks and jokes--you know who you are!" Penn's hard-earned and worldly experience combined with self-taught wisdom and plain common sense make this absurdly funny collection a heartfelt and hysterical read.
God, No!
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By antialiasis
Format:Hardcover
Don't make the mistake of thinking this is actually a book about atheism, or you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. It is really a book about Penn Jillette just pouring his heart out about whatever crosses his mind, which sometimes has something vaguely to do with atheism (such as the story of how he became an atheist by reading the Bible in Sunday school and asking his pastor critical questions, and the story of the ex-Jew who asked him to eat his first non-Kosher meal with him) and sometimes really, really doesn't (such as the Penthouse letter about scuba sex, and the story of how he dropped his genitals into his ex-girlfriend's blowdryer).
This isn't to its detriment at all, just as long as you're willing to go with it. The stories vary in content from the merely amusing to the entertainingly lewd to the just generally crazy to the actually remarkably touching. Sometimes he explains his opinions on stuff, with thoughtful, unconventional reasoning that's interesting even if you disagree with it; sometimes he talks about emotions, especially his love for his family and what he's been willing to do because of it, which is again interesting and kind of moving even if you'd disapprove of what he did; other times he's just sharing something that happened to him once, or something his friend said once, or something that made him think. Most of the stories don't have a point, as such; they're just something he wanted to share with the world. He rambles incessantly, going off on tangents about incidental characters who appear for two seconds in one of the stories or his thoughts on what he just described, so that sometimes by the time he returns to the story he was telling you've completely forgotten what it was about.
But all that is what lends the book its primary charm, which is that it is delightfully, strikingly human. It's just a guy talking about his wacky life and opinions and thoughts, in an entertaining way, for 256 pages - and believe me when I say it's entertaining all the way through; I read it in the space of two days and could barely put it down. By the end you can't help kind of loving him, in all his wacky, rambly, unconventional, human glory. And that's why I sincerely recommend this book.
This isn't to its detriment at all, just as long as you're willing to go with it. The stories vary in content from the merely amusing to the entertainingly lewd to the just generally crazy to the actually remarkably touching. Sometimes he explains his opinions on stuff, with thoughtful, unconventional reasoning that's interesting even if you disagree with it; sometimes he talks about emotions, especially his love for his family and what he's been willing to do because of it, which is again interesting and kind of moving even if you'd disapprove of what he did; other times he's just sharing something that happened to him once, or something his friend said once, or something that made him think. Most of the stories don't have a point, as such; they're just something he wanted to share with the world. He rambles incessantly, going off on tangents about incidental characters who appear for two seconds in one of the stories or his thoughts on what he just described, so that sometimes by the time he returns to the story he was telling you've completely forgotten what it was about.
But all that is what lends the book its primary charm, which is that it is delightfully, strikingly human. It's just a guy talking about his wacky life and opinions and thoughts, in an entertaining way, for 256 pages - and believe me when I say it's entertaining all the way through; I read it in the space of two days and could barely put it down. By the end you can't help kind of loving him, in all his wacky, rambly, unconventional, human glory. And that's why I sincerely recommend this book.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Liz
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
As others have remarked, the title is perhaps a little misleading as this is not a book about atheism, so much as a collection of anecdotes from someone who happens to be a highly opinionated and outspoken atheist. As such, I found it thoroughly entertaining. In terms of it's rather rambling style it struck me as being somewhat similar to Derren Brown's Trick of the Mind - perhaps unsurprisingly since both authors share an occupation. It's an easy read but that doesn't mean it is light on content. Many of the anecdotes are very funny, some are moving, and whilst I don't agree completely with all Mr Jillette's views, his unique take on things certainly gave me pause for thought on more than one occasion. I was going to say if you're offended by swearing, blasphemy or homosexuality then this isn't the book for you, but on second thoughts, if you're offended by those things then perhaps this is exactly the book you need...
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I loved this book.
I have to be honest, I have really terrible attention span, and it normally takes me months, or even years to get through a book. But I just couldnt put this down. I read it over 3 nights. Thats a record for me. :)
The book is a series of short stories from Penn Jillette's life. I like the fact that he doesnt beat athiesm down your throat, but its somehow always tied up in the story. It more or less gives you an idea of how Penn became an athiest, and helped guide other people down the path they were already headed. Its also got some funny, and sad stories thrown in for good measure. A book has never made me laugh out loud, or shed a tear before. This book really touched me in a way that no book ever has before. It really made me think, and actually answered a few difficult questions for me.
If you are looking to learn from the experience of a seasoned Athiest, BUY THIS BOOK!
If you are looking for something that will make you laugh out loud, but at the same time, help you learn to value the people you love. BUY this book!
Do not but this book if:
You are looking for "A book about athiesm" its not that kind of book.
But seriously.... BUY THIS BOOK! You need it in your life. :)
I have to be honest, I have really terrible attention span, and it normally takes me months, or even years to get through a book. But I just couldnt put this down. I read it over 3 nights. Thats a record for me. :)
The book is a series of short stories from Penn Jillette's life. I like the fact that he doesnt beat athiesm down your throat, but its somehow always tied up in the story. It more or less gives you an idea of how Penn became an athiest, and helped guide other people down the path they were already headed. Its also got some funny, and sad stories thrown in for good measure. A book has never made me laugh out loud, or shed a tear before. This book really touched me in a way that no book ever has before. It really made me think, and actually answered a few difficult questions for me.
If you are looking to learn from the experience of a seasoned Athiest, BUY THIS BOOK!
If you are looking for something that will make you laugh out loud, but at the same time, help you learn to value the people you love. BUY this book!
Do not but this book if:
You are looking for "A book about athiesm" its not that kind of book.
But seriously.... BUY THIS BOOK! You need it in your life. :)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny
The book came really quickly. It is funny and charming, just like the author! I enjoyed reading it a lot.
Published 2 months ago by joanne bloomer
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Sparkling Collection of Stories
I was slightly misled by the title 'God, No!: Signs You May Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales'; I presumed that the majority of the book would be focused on atheism, with the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Will
5.0 out of 5 stars
A cracking read.
Some great insight into the life of Penn Jillette. I enjoyed every minute of this book. From thoughtful nods to crying with laughter, it was a brilliant read all round.
Published 5 months ago by Guy Woodward
5.0 out of 5 stars
God, I don't know!
If you are religious and are easily offended by anti-religious material then please read this book - it might turn you into an atheist. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Toxteth O'Grady
5.0 out of 5 stars
God No! Signs You May Already Be An Atheist And Other Magical Tales
This is a brilliant book by Penn Jillette. I ordered the hard back version for my daughter's birthday and was amazed when it arrived to find it was a signed copy.
Published 8 months ago by S. Connell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant and Thought provoking.
This book is all at once intelligent, witting, entertaining and enlightening. I am a huge fan of Mr Jillette and have only grown to admire and respect him with each piece of his... Read more
Published 13 months ago by H. Tatem-wyatt
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book!
This is an excellent book. Very well written. The mind of Penn Jillette is a very interesting one! I liked his interview on Piers Morgan so much that I decided to buy his book. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Brian Coulter
4.0 out of 5 stars
God, no!
As a strong atheist i thought this book would be enjoyable. To a certain extent i did enjoy it, but i would have preferred more chapters about god (or the lack of), and fewer about... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mr. Dee
3.0 out of 5 stars
Collection Of Odds and Sods
There is not a huge amount of argument against the existence of God or even evidence that can identify if indeed you may already be an atheist. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Darbyp
2.0 out of 5 stars
Dissapointed
The title is right, 'other magical tales' from Vegas is what you'll be mainly reading about. Not much good info on God at all. Poor book with bunch of swearing in it. Read more
Published 20 months ago by ales parez
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