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Product Description
Product Description
This title includes a treasure trove of quotes and aphorisms by philosophers, scientists, poets, writers, artists, entertainers, and political figures.Best-selling author Jack Huberman has amassed quotes and aphorisms that will delight and hearten, while also challenging nonbelievers - and perhaps even make believers think again.The colorful cast of atheist, agnostic, cynical, and spiritual characters includes: Woody Allen, Lance Armstrong, Buddha, George Carlin, Noam Chomsky, Larry Flynt, E.M. Forster, Benjamin Franklin, Sigmund Freud, Galileo, Matt Groening, Stephen Hawking, Christopher Hitchens, Thomas Jefferson, John Lennon, the Marquis de Sade, Carl Sagan, Sarah Silverman, Gertrude Stein, Howard Stern, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, and Frank Zappa.
About the Author
Jack Huberman is the author of the bestselling Bush Hater's Handbook and its sequel, Bushit!. More of his writing can be found at www.jackhuberman.com. and he lives in New York City.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
113 of 115 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Quotable Atheist begins with an unexpectedly incisive introduction in which Huberman proves he is more than just a humourist. Capable of prose easily as thoughtful and penetrating as that of some of the more well-known atheist writers, he gets straight into it - what is religion, how has it flourished, why does it continue, what do we mean by 'God' anyway, and come to think of it, what do we mean by 'atheist'? It's all done and dusted within a mere 10 pages, but it's a surprisingly impressive polemic and a worthy inclusion.
Then we get to the quotes. I've no idea how many there are, but with 333 pages, most containing several, I'd guess upward of 1,000. And what an eclectic mix of figures they come from! Although Huberman is Canadian-American, his choice doesn't immediately betray that: from Clarkson to Toynbee, from Pinter to Pratchett, from Spinoza to the Simpsons, they're all here, spanning the globe and the centuries. He even lets the likes of Reagan and Falwell do their own digging. (You quickly learn from his commentary that Huberman is unapologetically liberal, but the strength of the quotes and diversity of their sources certainly doesn't depend on your sharing any one political bent.) Finally, he is sure to include those oft-misconstrued figures, Albert Einstein - cited here claiming he did not believe in a personal God - and Adolf Hitler - claiming he did.
In measuring the success of the book, an obvious question to ask is, who is it aimed at? Perhaps unsurprisingly, I'd say its largest appeal will be to non-believers looking for insight, 'ammunition' or just recognition-value humour. No doubt some believers will end up having it bought for them by 'considerate friends', and for these readers - who might otherwise balk at the thought of taking on a 400-page atheist diatribe - the dip-in-dip-out nature of this book should pique their interest, as should some of the well-known names. To the question of whether this book will convert believers, Huberman's answer is realistic: "Yes. A few. Three, I estimate. Two for sure."
There are a few downsides - Huberman's commentary that accompanies each quote is for the most part funny and apt, but occasionally grates. Also the book suffers from so many typos and repeated words that you start to wonder if it was actually proof-read at all. None of this is enough to knock off a star though.
With argument, persuasion and a dose of good old fashioned ridicule, The Quotable Atheist is probably one of the most entertaining anti-religious books you will read. If your bookshelf already contains some Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris, treat yourself to this one, as it's a worthy addition to the 'classics'. Don't be put off by the fact that it's an easier read: it's lined with some laugh-out-loud humour, but believe me, there's no shortage of real insight from genuine thinkers.
Then we get to the quotes. I've no idea how many there are, but with 333 pages, most containing several, I'd guess upward of 1,000. And what an eclectic mix of figures they come from! Although Huberman is Canadian-American, his choice doesn't immediately betray that: from Clarkson to Toynbee, from Pinter to Pratchett, from Spinoza to the Simpsons, they're all here, spanning the globe and the centuries. He even lets the likes of Reagan and Falwell do their own digging. (You quickly learn from his commentary that Huberman is unapologetically liberal, but the strength of the quotes and diversity of their sources certainly doesn't depend on your sharing any one political bent.) Finally, he is sure to include those oft-misconstrued figures, Albert Einstein - cited here claiming he did not believe in a personal God - and Adolf Hitler - claiming he did.
In measuring the success of the book, an obvious question to ask is, who is it aimed at? Perhaps unsurprisingly, I'd say its largest appeal will be to non-believers looking for insight, 'ammunition' or just recognition-value humour. No doubt some believers will end up having it bought for them by 'considerate friends', and for these readers - who might otherwise balk at the thought of taking on a 400-page atheist diatribe - the dip-in-dip-out nature of this book should pique their interest, as should some of the well-known names. To the question of whether this book will convert believers, Huberman's answer is realistic: "Yes. A few. Three, I estimate. Two for sure."
There are a few downsides - Huberman's commentary that accompanies each quote is for the most part funny and apt, but occasionally grates. Also the book suffers from so many typos and repeated words that you start to wonder if it was actually proof-read at all. None of this is enough to knock off a star though.
With argument, persuasion and a dose of good old fashioned ridicule, The Quotable Atheist is probably one of the most entertaining anti-religious books you will read. If your bookshelf already contains some Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris, treat yourself to this one, as it's a worthy addition to the 'classics'. Don't be put off by the fact that it's an easier read: it's lined with some laugh-out-loud humour, but believe me, there's no shortage of real insight from genuine thinkers.
41 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Books of quotes are more likely to be used for randomly dipping than cover to cover reading. Certainly that's how I immediately began to use this book, opening pages at random and picking out quotes from recognisable names. And there are plenty of recognisable names, some of whom I knew were atheists and others who took me by surprise, for example Bob Geldof. The names you would expect are present and correct: Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, Rushdie et al. However some of the best - and most quotable - aphorisms come from more obscure sources, for example Stanislaw Lec (Polish-Jewish Holocaust survivor): "I am against using death as a punishment. I am also against using it as a reward."
It's worthwhile resisting the temptation to dive straight in and instead read the introduction by Jack Huberman, because the religious will defend their faith as harmless and personal to them. Here in the U.K. that may be true, at least as far as the Church of England is concerned, but before they bury their heads back in the sand it's worth reminding them of the danger and factual history of religious fundamentalism, whether based in Afghanistan or America. Huberman makes all of that perfectly clear.
The problem with books like these though (and the reason for not giving 5 stars) is that only atheists, sceptics and the braver agnostics are ever likely to read it. Most of the quotes are perfectly true but use reason to make their arguments. There's little point in quoting them to a believer because "you can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into". Ridiculing religion is all too easy but the depressing reality is that the majority of the world's population is either willfully ignorant, uneducated, indoctrinated or just plain stupid.
To quote Jack Huberman, "Do I really believe this book will convert believers...? Yes. A few. Three, I estimate. Two for sure."
It's worthwhile resisting the temptation to dive straight in and instead read the introduction by Jack Huberman, because the religious will defend their faith as harmless and personal to them. Here in the U.K. that may be true, at least as far as the Church of England is concerned, but before they bury their heads back in the sand it's worth reminding them of the danger and factual history of religious fundamentalism, whether based in Afghanistan or America. Huberman makes all of that perfectly clear.
The problem with books like these though (and the reason for not giving 5 stars) is that only atheists, sceptics and the braver agnostics are ever likely to read it. Most of the quotes are perfectly true but use reason to make their arguments. There's little point in quoting them to a believer because "you can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into". Ridiculing religion is all too easy but the depressing reality is that the majority of the world's population is either willfully ignorant, uneducated, indoctrinated or just plain stupid.
To quote Jack Huberman, "Do I really believe this book will convert believers...? Yes. A few. Three, I estimate. Two for sure."
29 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Quotable Atheist was a good companion on my recent two week holiday. I started underlining the parts with which I agreed, I
gave up at page 212 because I had underlined nearly everything.
It was reassuring to find that so many thinking people shared my
prejudices as a full time atheist.
gave up at page 212 because I had underlined nearly everything.
It was reassuring to find that so many thinking people shared my
prejudices as a full time atheist.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Reinforce your common sense!
So many quotes, so much intelligence and coupled with not an insignificant amount of humor. The essence of common sense, destroying charlatans, clerics, theologians and priests by... Read more
Published 3 months ago by cmbhappy
Entertaining for Atheist's
This had some very entertaining and interesting quotes and general info for Atheist's. I bought for my husband but have flicked through this myself. He is throughly suited with it. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Yonmon
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If you don't believe in God, for God's sake say so!
Plenty of thought-provoking and profound ideas contained in this book. I found the biopics slightly irritating but otherwise a wonderful collection of the great and not so great.
Published 19 months ago by Jonathan
AWESOME!! packed with Sense and Sensibility
I was a bit dubious as to whether the content would be substantial in quantity and quality.
WOW! its packed with awesome quotes and gives proper references and context. Read more
WOW! its packed with awesome quotes and gives proper references and context. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Fern
Quotable Atheist
I looked forward to reading this on holiday. It started off well but by the time I was half way through the book I had lost interest. It took an effort to finish reading it.
Published 20 months ago by Rosalyn White
A bible for the non-believer
The book is simple in form, well constructed and lighthearted however this does not in anyway diminish the powerful messages contained within. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Sionnachfionn
A great little book
If you are tired of listening to religious fanatics from any religion, this is the book to cure your sanity. Highly recommended!.
Published 20 months ago by Elaluf Calderwood
Brilliant
An addition to my library that I will keep forever, here is a book that is both accessible and stimulating, that can either be read in a few [long] sittings or dipped into when you... Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2009 by Charles
Wind up the God folk
A great book to dip into (I personally keep it next to the toilet) and then visit your local church/mosque/synagogue/temple to try and convert the congregation. Read more
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