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Product Description
Product Description
In 2007 A.C. Grayling published Against All Gods: Six Polemics Against Religion and an Essay on Kindness, which has sold nearly 10,000 copies in hardback. Professor Grayling deliberately kept the essays in that book short and to the point as they were polemical contributions to the debate. Grayling stands by what he wrote in that book and still encourages blunt speaking and writing when it comes to the debate about the need for more secularism in society, because quieter methods have failed to abate the negative influence of religion. However, whilst the brevity of the essays served its purpose many correspondents have asked for a fuller statement of the case against religion, which Professor Grayling provides in To Set Prometheus Free with the essays collected here. Contents: Preface-Where are we in history? -Why I do not subscribe to religious beliefs-Why Bertrand Russell was not religious-Scientists Confront Intelligent Design and Creationism-The War of the Books-The Good Life
About the Author
A.C. Grayling is Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is also a writer and broadcaster and the author of many books on philosophy.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I picked up this book - as I imagine many will - knowing the previous works and essays of Grayling (including his contributions to Prospect magazine). It is certainly a quick read but covers a lot of ground. Even though the price did catch my eye for what is a fairly short book (although it is in hardback which adds a few pennies), I feel such a book - that you are likely to return and refer to - is certainly worth it.
Grayling is one our greatest contemporary philosophers - and this book adds detail to his views on religion and the current debates about it. The chapters are individually very interesting (particularly the one regarding Bertrand Russell) and flow well together. For those who are not familiar with Grayling, he does fall into the Harris, Dennett, Dawkins and Hitchens side of the debates regarding religion; I actually think this book supplements the God Delusion (Richard Dawkins) and God Is Not Great (Christopher Hitchens) very well - it is almost a summary of their main points, but, importantly, it adds Grayling's own ideas, knowledge and commentary. The discussions, arguments and indeed the writing style read clearly, intelligently and have huge relevance in the world.
I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in philosophy or even politics and current affairs - particularly where religion is concerned (such as the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, Creationism and Intelligent Design). Grayling's excellence as a writer and thinker shine throughout, as it does in many of his other works (which I also highly recommend!)
Grayling is one our greatest contemporary philosophers - and this book adds detail to his views on religion and the current debates about it. The chapters are individually very interesting (particularly the one regarding Bertrand Russell) and flow well together. For those who are not familiar with Grayling, he does fall into the Harris, Dennett, Dawkins and Hitchens side of the debates regarding religion; I actually think this book supplements the God Delusion (Richard Dawkins) and God Is Not Great (Christopher Hitchens) very well - it is almost a summary of their main points, but, importantly, it adds Grayling's own ideas, knowledge and commentary. The discussions, arguments and indeed the writing style read clearly, intelligently and have huge relevance in the world.
I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in philosophy or even politics and current affairs - particularly where religion is concerned (such as the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, Creationism and Intelligent Design). Grayling's excellence as a writer and thinker shine throughout, as it does in many of his other works (which I also highly recommend!)
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A delightful little gem of a book at around 100 very short pages, beautifully bound, a casket packed tight with essential ideas and information on the perennial theism/atheism debate. It is elegantly and clearly written and though its author is a professional philosopher you need no technical knowledge to understand it. If you have children you should buy it for them when they are 16+ as an essential part of their education. It contains a brief historical overview of the arguments against theism (and necessarily the arguments for) as well as a review of the more recent literature (the new atheism as it is called). It never ceases to amaze me how ignorant religious people often are of the arguments against their (or any) faith - arguments that have been around hundreds (and in some cases thousands) of years. Most of them have never heared of Hume or Kant. Every time you enter a debate its like starting again from scratch. Earlier proponents of religion would laugh at them - they made it their job to know the enemy - if you are are going to believe at least get informed - don't do so in ignorance. For the uncommitted it's a great introduction to the debate - you will not find a clearer explanation of the issues anywhere. Yes the author is an atheist and the book is all the better for being a passionate advocacy of atheism. A neutral exposition of the arguments would be anaemic. ( If you want balance follow it up by reading Anthony Flew "There is a God" - you won't find any new arguments here but at least you can view them from the other side). If I have any quibbles at all with Grayling its with his occasional expression of an over simplified view of the history of science - if you want to know why you will have to write and ask!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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2 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Brief, provocative wisdom.
13 Sep 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Two things I like about Grayling: First, he provokes thought. Yes, he makes cogent cases for his views, but seldom ends his essays with "my way or the highway" ultimatums but instead invites the reader to enter profoundly into thinking about whatever topic is at hand. For him, it's all about shaking ideas sufficiently loose so they can be taken in hand, held up to the light, and rotated to view all facets.
And second, he is brief, he is pithy, he leave you wanting more rather than less. Which isn't to exhonerate his occasionally interiminable sentences cluttered to overflowing with pollysyllabic and often Latin words and terms--but at least he doesn't so wear out topics so completely that they are ground into dust.
"Prometheus" is sort of a companion piece to his earlier mini-book, Against All Gods: Six Polemics on Religion and an Essay on Kindness (Oberon Masters), picking up the thread where that one left off. The book is so short that a review of it risks giving away the whole game, so suffice to say that it contains an interesting look at Bertrand Russell and makes a salient case for freeing minds from superstition to pursue reason. He does so with wit and style, as usual. I would suggest, however, that if you consider value to be best obtained on a cents-per-word basis, you might find the work too slight to justify its expense and would perhaps be happier with one of Grayling's longer works...of which I would especially recommend, on similar themes as this one, The Choice of Hercules: Pleasure, Duty and the Good Life in the 21st Century.
And second, he is brief, he is pithy, he leave you wanting more rather than less. Which isn't to exhonerate his occasionally interiminable sentences cluttered to overflowing with pollysyllabic and often Latin words and terms--but at least he doesn't so wear out topics so completely that they are ground into dust.
"Prometheus" is sort of a companion piece to his earlier mini-book, Against All Gods: Six Polemics on Religion and an Essay on Kindness (Oberon Masters), picking up the thread where that one left off. The book is so short that a review of it risks giving away the whole game, so suffice to say that it contains an interesting look at Bertrand Russell and makes a salient case for freeing minds from superstition to pursue reason. He does so with wit and style, as usual. I would suggest, however, that if you consider value to be best obtained on a cents-per-word basis, you might find the work too slight to justify its expense and would perhaps be happier with one of Grayling's longer works...of which I would especially recommend, on similar themes as this one, The Choice of Hercules: Pleasure, Duty and the Good Life in the 21st Century.
Wonderfully written critique
20 Nov 2011
Format:Hardcover
Grayling is known for his elegance and being able to get a point across over a short span of time. In "To Set Prometheus Free," Grayling is writing an extension of his earlier book, "Against All God." Grayling gives the reader insight into why he thinks religion is holding humanity back from achieving greatness.
My favorite chapter had to be the one on Bertrand Russell. Grayling details what Russell thought on religion and how he wanted to create an alternative to religious thought. Not only was I able to read some good critiques of religion, but I was able to get some insight into what Russell thought on the matter.
The book is easily read in one sitting and gives the reader a lot of think about.
My favorite chapter had to be the one on Bertrand Russell. Grayling details what Russell thought on religion and how he wanted to create an alternative to religious thought. Not only was I able to read some good critiques of religion, but I was able to get some insight into what Russell thought on the matter.
The book is easily read in one sitting and gives the reader a lot of think about.
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