Science in the Soul

by Richard Dawkins

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERRichard Dawkins - author of The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, and The God Delusion - is one of science's greatest communicators. This anthology of more than forty pieces is a kaleidoscopic argument for the power and the glory of science.Breathtaking, brilliant and passionate, these essays, journalism, lectures and letters make an unanswerable case for the wonder of scientific discovery and its power to stir the imagination; for the practical necessity of scientific endeavour to society; and for the importance of the scientific way of thinking – particularly in today’s ‘post-truth’ world.With an introduction and new commentary by the author, subjects range from evolution and Darwinian natural selection to the role of scientist as prophet, whether science is itself a religion, the probability of alien life in other worlds, and the beauties, cruelties and oddities of earthly life in this one. Alongside the explications, the celebrations and the controversies are wonderfully funny ventures into satire and parody, and moving personal reflections in memory and honour of others.Science in the Soul is a sparkling showcase for Professor Dawkins' rapier wit, the clarity, precision and vigour he brings to an argument, the beauty of his prose, the depth of his feeling and his capacity for joy.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Essays, Atheism, Biology, Audiobook

448 pages, Paperback

First published August 8, 2017

Reviews

[Jenna ❤ ❀ ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading can be an escape. Many people pick up a work of easy fiction when they want a break from the real world. It helps to find something to consume without thinking, to turn off their brain and absorb the world spelled out before them.

For me, that doesn't work. If I don't have to think while I'm reading, part of my brain stays stuck in my world. It continues to ruminate and churn out all kinds of bizarre and erratic scenarios that have .000001 percent chance of happening - but which I need to obsess about anyway.



I blame this on being ambidextrous. Neither side of my brain is dominant. I have a wonderfully logical, analytical side -- and a batshit crazy creative side. Sometimes they work equally and sometimes one or the other takes precedence. I prefer the analytical side though sometimes the creative side can be fun.

The creative side is terrific when it's doing something constructive like writing stories to explain the real meaning behind the book of Revelation.

Unfortunately, my creative brain is better at coming up with every possible negative thing that probably will never happen than it is at doing anything productive. 

Here's an example:

Jenna's Left Brain: "My tooth aches from this sinus infection."

Jenna's Right Brain: "Oh that's no fun! In fact, it's dreadfully dull!"

When the two are balanced and life is good, Leftie is able to cut Rightie off right there with a firm, "But it's the facts and facts don't have to be fun. They just are. Life is better when looked at factually."

Sometimes though, Rightie speaks so fast that Leftie isn't able to reply at all. 

Instead, we get, "Oh that's no fun! In fact, it's dreadfully dull! You know what would make it fun? Adding imagination!  My tooth is hurting not because of some boring ol' sinus infection --- it's because there was mold growing in the Britta filter and I drank some water and swished it about and mold spores went right through to the root of my tooth through some microscopic cavity that the dentist missed and now there is mold growing in that root making my tooth hurt and it's going to spread spread spread to all of the teeth and not just the teeth but mold will fill up my sinus cavity and then start covering my eyes, I'll get up in the morning and look in the mirror and my blurry vision will just be able to make out green or pink fur creeping over the surface of my eyeballs and pretty soon I won't be able to see at all and then the mold will spread in my brain and.....

Out of breath? Yeh, me too. Rightie doesn't know when to pause to breathe or to make a sentence sound more coherent. If she did, Leftie might get a chance to interject some common sense, but she's not going to have any of that boring stuff!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When my anxiety gets too high because Insane/Creative Side is loud enough to drown out Nice Logical Rational Side, I need a book that will force me to think reasonably. I need something scientific or something philosophical - anything that puts Nice Logical Rational Side in the dominant position.

That's what I was needing now. Thankfully I neglected to put Science in the Soul on my to-read list when it first came out. I was certain I would remember... we all know how it goes when we don't write something down because we're 100% certain we could never, ever forget it. 

We promptly forget it.

So the other night I was searching for psych drugs something scientific or otherwise rational to read, and I came across this book and knew it was exactly what I needed. 

Richard Dawkins is one of the most eloquent and passionate writers I've read. He is best known for his discourses on evolution and religion, and there is plenty of both in this book.

Science in the Soul is a collection of essays and speeches Dawkins wrote/delivered between 1979 and 2017. I loved the chapters on evolutionionary biology (Dawkins never dumbs down science yet at the same time makes it attainable for the layperson) and religion (or rather, against religion) and I was also delighted by the other selections in the book.

Mr. Dawkins' brilliance shines on every page. His passion for science and against irrationality is ever prominent. His compassion for both humanity and all other sentient species is admirable and I appreciate his thoughts on speciesism, such as:

"'Pro-lifers' assert, without question, that life is infinitely precious, while cheerfully tucking into a large steak......Now, this is not necessarily wrong, but the evolutionary scientist will, at the very least, warn us of inconsistency. It is not self-evident that abortion of a one-month human foetus is murder, while shooting a fully sentient adult elephant or mountain gorilla is not."

I wholeheartedly agree with his essay on fireworks and why he is against them. I loved his essay on why science is not a religion, as some faith people like to assert.

"There’s all the difference in the world between a belief that one is prepared to defend by quoting evidence and logic and a belief that is supported by nothing more than tradition, authority or revelation. Science is founded on rational belief. Science is no religion."

Amusingly, he also suggests that "perhaps the right tactic is to accept the charge gratefully and demand equal time for science in religious education classes".

Mr. Dawkins also demonstrates his intellectual wit in the satirical essay "Gerin Oil" and the parody of Jeeves and Wooster in "The Great Bus Mystery". 

Anyone who enjoys science, biology, or just plain old rational discourse will find much to appreciate in this book. For me it was the panacea I needed to get my anxiety back down to a manageable level where Nice Logical Rational side can stand up to Insane/Creative side. Just about every single page was medicine for my brain. 

It was science for my soul.

[Mohamed al-Jamri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Dawkins is not a regular writer, for in all of his writings you feel his excitement and passion for the subjects he's talking about, more so when you listen to him speak about it as I did with the audiobook version. He delivers that with rare astonishing clarity that makes you understand what he meant exactly, and sometimes he goes out of his way to clarify what he meant precisely just to prevent misunderstanding.

Unlike in the heated debates many people know him from, Dawkins in his books strikes me as a calm mind, ideal scientist and truth seeker. He doesn't dismiss arguments out of hand, but discusses them and points out to their flaws, if any.

In this book, compromised of 41 different essays, the author among other trivia argues passionately for the values of science, defends and explains evolution, and holds the flame of rationality against all sorts of superstition and ignorance. Through it, you can begin to see the real soul of science.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dawkins Sampler

Full spectrum Richard D. with essays, articles, speeches and letters. Dawkins as evolutionary biologist, political activist, advocate for reason, purveyor of knowledge, and slayer of superfluous hogwash and evangelical claptrap.

If you are unfamiliar with Dawkins as a writer, this might be a great place to start. If you are a fan, as I am, this is a front row seat in his proverbial choir. Covering a time span from 1979 (Dawkins at age 38) to 2017 (Dawkins at age 76), there is an admirable consistency of ethical intellectualism and grace at play here - I know of no other author, other than the late, great Christopher Hitchens, that even comes close.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic to listen to. I interspersed it with other books since a couple of essays gave me plenty to think about. I'd typically listen to him on the way to work & then something else the rest of the day while mulling over what he had said. He's truly a great scientist & man. A few of the highlights for me were his recognition of Terry Pratchett, the values of science, & open letter to Prince Charles.

In the Author's Introduction, Dawkins writes, "But there are poetic usages of ‘soul’ and related words that I am unashamed to embrace." Words like 'soul' have multiple definitions & uses. He means the personal consciousness which develops & dies with the physical body. He uses other words like this occasionally, yet never in a religious sense.

In the Editor's Introduction, Gillian Somerscales points out that Dawkins is ...a maker of connections, tirelessly throwing word-bridges across the chasm between scientific discourse and the broadest range of public debates... & has had to ...divert much of that energy and skill to persuading people to accept the truth of evolution at all... IMO, he does a great job of it. He makes complex subjects accessible & yet never dumbs the science down.

This collection of essays is wide ranging & thought provoking. I think the Table of Contents: is enough explanation of the book. It's also important to note that it was written shortly after Carl Sagan's death, a man that Dawkins admired a lot.

Part I: The Value(s) of Science
The Values of Science and the Science of Values
Speaking Up for Science: An Open Letter to Prince Charles
Science and Sensibility
Dolittle and Darwin

Part II: All Its Merciless Glory
‘More Darwinian Than Darwin’: The Darwin–Wallace Papers
Universal Darwinism
An Ecology of Replicators
Twelve Misunderstandings of Kin Selection

Part III: Future Conditional
Net Gain
Intelligent Aliens
Searching Under the Lamp-Post
Fifty Years on: Killing the Soul?

Part IV: Mind Control, Mischief and Muddle
The ‘Alabama Insert’
The Guided Missiles of 9/11
The Theology of the Tsunami
Merry Christmas, Prime Minister!
The Science of Religion
Is Science a Religion?
Atheists for Jesus

Part V: Living in the Real World
The Dead Hand of Plato
‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’?
But Can They Suffer?
I Love Fireworks, But…
Who Would Rally Against Reason?
In Praise of Subtitles; or, a Drubbing for Dubbing
If I Ruled the World…

Part VI: The Sacred Truth of Nature
About Time
The Giant Tortoise’s Tale: Islands Within Islands
The Sea Turtle’s Tale: There and Back Again (and Again?)
Farewell to a Digerati Dreamer

Part VII: Laughing at Live Dragons
Fundraising for Faith
The Great Bus Mystery
Jarvis and the Family Tree
Gerin Oil
Sage Elder Statesman of the Dinosaur Fancy
Athorism: Let’s Hope It’s a Lasting Vogue
Dawkins’ Laws

Part VIII: No Man Is an Island
Memories of a Maestro
O My Beloved Father: John Dawkins, 1915–2010
More Than My Uncle: A. F. ‘Bill’ Dawkins, 1916–2009
Honouring Hitch

[Stephie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This could be seen as Richard Dawkins at his best. It is a collection of shorter works from journal, magazine, and newspaper articles, speeches, lectures, and online posts. The topics run the gamut of topics: the values of science, Darwinism, looking towards the future, religion (or anti-religion), current issues (at the time they were written), truth in science, humor, and tributes. These pieces really show off his skill as a writer, not just his expertise as an evolutionist.

The following are some of the comments I wrote on specific pieces of text. Page numbers are in brackets []. It follows the Kindle pagination.

[49] “Similar artificial selection [to non-human animals] would work with humans. Not only could you breed for tastes, you could breed for callousness, sympathy, loyalty, slothfulness, piety, meanness or the Protestant work ethic.” But, nobody today would see the results.

[49] “Evidence is good that the brain contains a language ‘module’, a computational mechanism that actively seeks to learn language and actively uses grammatical rules to structure it.” Sure it seems obvious, but I would still like to know about any study that confirms this.

[106] “IT IS IN the nature of scientific truths that they are waiting to be discovered, by whoever has the ability to do so.” Humans create truth. But a truth needs match reality to be correctly labeled as so. This smacks of platonic realism; nature does not come with labels saying “true.” Despite this scientific truths are discovered and not invented as some postmodernist would have it.

[279] ‘Atheists for Jesus’ might be just what is needed to kick-start the meme of superniceness in a post-Christian society.” Jesus wasn’t the greatest character to emulate. And could be childish at that. I used character because I believe he is a work of fiction, and most likely never existed as a historical person.

[303] “Isn’t it plausible that a clever species such as our own might need less pain, precisely because we are capable of learning faster, or intelligently working out what is good for us and what damaging events we should avoid? Isn’t it plausible that an unintelligent species might need a massive wallop of pain, to drive home a lesson that we can learn with less powerful inducement?” I found this a fascinating notion.

Just as I think I know everything Richard Dawkins has to say, I read another one of his books. This collection of short works is no exception and exemplifies it. From learning something new to support for liberal issues to pure enjoy at his use of words to his humor the book was a very good read. I don’t often give a book a 5 star rating, but this one deserves it.

If your a fan of Dawkins or have never read him before I can recommend this book to all but the person with a closed mind, and even then it would do them a world of good to read it.

[Христо Блажев · Rating 5 out of 5]

Наука в душата – сборник вдъхновени текстове на Ричард Докинс: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/n...

Важна част от книгата е посветена на дарвинизма, доказателствата, които го издигнаха като основната парадигма за разбирането на еволюционните процеси в живота на Земята, борбата срещу креационизма и религиозните измишльотини, които вече няколко века отстъпват бавно територия през научните открития, но се реорганизират бързо и продължават да промиват умовете на милиарди на планетата. Много интересен е въвеждащият текст, посветен на причината Докинс да използва точно думата “душа” в името на книгата си – той прави ясна разлика между въображаемото понятие, в което са се вкопчили монотеистичните религии, и чиято недоказуемост води до основателно съмнение в съществуването му, и душата и духовното като метафора за дълбокото преклонение, което човек може да изпитва пред чудесата на вселената и тяхното постепенно разкриване пред нас, като спомена, който витае след смъртта на някой човек, като нетленното наследство, което неговите действия са оставили като отпечатък и върху близките му, и върху света.

CIELA Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/n...

[Юра Мельник · Rating 5 out of 5]

Дуже приємно усвідомлювати що такі чудові люди як Бертран Рассел, Стівен Гокінг, Дуглас Адамс, Крістофер Гітченс, Карл Саган і Енн Друян, Ганс Рослінг та багато інших мали можливість змінювати цей світ на краще. Я безумовно захоплений принциповістю, відважністю і всіма найкращими прагненнями сучасних раціоналістів - Річарда Докінза, Сема Гарріса, Стівена Пінкера, Лоуренса Крауса, Майкла Шермера, Франса де Вааля, Діка Свааба і тих гарних видавництв, які роблять все, щоб ми могли читати їхні книги.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've now read all of Dawkins books (again!). This is his second essay collection, and for most people I think 4 or 5 stars would be appropriate because of what an original and witty writer he is, effortlessly explaining science. That said, a lot of this is (naturally) repetitive for someone fluent in his viewpoints, so while there were some excellent new ways of looking at biology there was also a lot that felt overly familiar.

[Stefan Mitev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Колекция от есета на най-известния съвременен учен и противник на религията. Темите обхващат - еволюционна биология, етология, популяризиране на науката, сатира срещу религиозния фанатизъм. Силно препоръчвам на хора, които вярват в свръхестествени сили.

[Fred Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a bit of a rationalist myself, maybe not as passionate as Dawkins put I still enjoy seeing him take it to the establishment. Enjoyed the analysis of the "Alabama Insert" which is required to be placed in science texts to attempt to cloud the debate on evolution. Naturally, most people don't think of the age of the earth in terms of how many begats are listed in the bible, or when confronted with evidence of material billions rather than thousands of years old claim that they were put there by God to test our faith, but there are enough out there to give one pause.

One interesting thought related to why religion exists for so many in the first place is related to one of the ideas of evolutionists that only those behaviors and attributes that contribute to survival will be incorporated and passed on. Religion seems to defy explanation. Dawkins brings up one possibility that humans which survived fully embraced the idea that you listen to, accept and act according to what your parents and elders tell you. So "Keep out of the river with the crocodiles in it!", probably equates to longer life. The one that says "Kill a goat and plant the body near the Nerdle tree and your crops will be successful this year.", probably not so much. Since the instructions being followed do not come with a "this is true, this is crap" notation it is all accepted and passed on with great sincerity and enthusiasm.

Since this is a compendium of his talks, articles, correspondence, etc. The book can get quite repetitive. And it is abundant with dreaded footnotes that easily could have been incorporated into the text but cause one to stop, read and return to the prior place. Still, an interesting bit of work and some intriguing ideas so good way to get the year going with your thinking cap on.

[Tanja Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawkins can be both irrititating and inspiring. Irritating because of his arrogance and almost militant atheism, inspiring in showing how science and awe and wonder at the natural world is enough in itself. We don't need to have imaginary friends to experience wonder.

This books is a collection of essays and speeches. They vary in content and points, but most are fascinating and fun. I enjoyed this a great deal more than I thought I would. Dawkins tackles his usual topics of magical thinking, religion, misunderstandings. Definitely recommended.

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 2 out of 5]

Съгласна съм с Докинс. За науката, критичната мисъл и т.н. Но книгата ми дойде разхвърляна, тъй като не е посветена на една тема. И безинтересна - Докинс е като някой надъхан пастор, който иска да набие някои истини в главите на енориашите. Но първо, няма нужда чак така да ми се кара, и второ, този начин на поднасяне би раздразнил точно тези дебели глави, заровени в пясъка на средновековието, за които е предназначена всъщност книгата. И в двата случая удря греда.

[Kiril Valchev · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Science in the Soul" е най-новата книга на Ричард Докинс. Тя е и втората, след "A Devil's Chaplain", която събира есета (тук са 41), обхващащи последните няколко десетилетия. Разделен на осем части (с няколко думи от редактора преди всяка), сборникът съдържа лекции и статии засягащи широк набор от теми, всички пречупени през призмата на науката и рационализма. Както и в "Капелан на дявола", присъстват и предговори към книги (този към "Last Chance to See" на Дъглас Адамс е прекрасен; Докинс и тук не пропуска да засвидетелства силното уважение, което изпитва към Адамс), посвещения към учители, близки и приятели (написаното за Хичънс е много силно). Впечатление правят и седем кратки произведения, разкриващи една (сравнително) непозната страна от характера на автора: брилянтното му чувство за хумор. Две от разказчетата сякаш са излезли изпод перото на Удхаус (един от любимите писатели на Докинс). Чудесна, чудесна книга!

[Hamid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Dawkins, arguably one of the the greatest and most prolific scientists of our time, touches upon various topics in this fantastic book. He elegantly describes the poetic aspect of science and the significance of looking for the objective truth. I doubt any other scientist can expound better how natural selection works and how it's not a random process as opposed to mutations. He passionately explains why it is more likely for a scientist to lie to his/her spouse or a tax inspector than a scientific journal. This book added a wealth of information to my knowledge and the following is a number quotes you may find interesting too:

- a scientists who is found fiddling research data will be shunned by his colleagues and without mercy drummed out of the profession for ever.

- there is mystery but never magic, and mysteries are all the more beautiful for being eventually explained.

- a Darwinian society is not the sort of society any friend of mine would wish to live.

- the fundamental logic of Darwinism: everybody has ancestors but not everybody has descendants.

- natural selection will tend to uphold an equillibration rule: Rob from strong bones to pay weak ones, until all are of equal strength.

- we know that fire was tamed by Homo Erectus more than a million years ago, the species that was probably our immediate predecessor in evolution.

- if nerves carry information about the world as it is now, genes are a coded description of the distant past. this insight follows from the selfish gene view of evolution.

[Scott Holstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good -- and necessary, these days -- read. I wish we could A) get this into the hands of the people who need to read it most and B) convince them to fucking read it, because -- as has been the case in my family my entire life -- they refuse to read anything "secular" because it'll definitely be an attack on their god and thus on them and it's from the devil. I'm not talking Dawkins. I'm talking Charlotte's Web! Fucking ANYTHING that's not religious, er, fundie. Everything else is dangerous, so while relatives have always felt just fine in sending me a billion evangelical brain washing propaganda books for the braindead, will they ever consider reading anything I send them? No matter if it's economics, literature, philosophy, biographies, political science, history, and of course science. It's a one way street with the closed minded theists. So "A" could be accomplished, but I doubt "B" could ever be accomplished, even with a metaphorical gun to their heads. And BTW, yes, I have read a million of their damn books they've sent me over the years. Because I'm willing to. How many have they read? That would be zero. Not even inspirational Masala's autobiography. Because she's a "godless Muslim." Pathetic. These damn religionists have never emerged from the Dark Ages and want to take us back there. That's one reason why this book *should* help any who have an open mind. Sadly, very few ever do. Nonetheless, recommended for those brave enough to read it.

[Simon Fletcher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well I've finally finished this and it couldn't end soon enough. Such a disappointment.
I've been reading Dawkins' work for many years now, both his scientific work and his more atheist writings and they have always been a bit of a mixed bag. His scientific writing is really good. The Selfish Gene and The Greatest Show on Earth, are great books, clear, concise and engaging. His atheist writings are however less good and his tendency to knock down straw men far too evident.
This book though sits squarely in the middle, being an anthology of his writings and fails to really engage on any level. In fact some of these pieces are so bad they are almost self parody.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a collection of essays spanning many years and topics. I skimmed the ones that were less interesting to me. I don't need to be convinced of the truth of evolution, and I'm already an atheist. So that seemed to make a lot of these uninteresting to me. He also had a chapter of humorous writings? Only, they weren't. I know his friend Hitchens got in trouble for saying that women aren't funny (i.e. professional comedians), but Dawkins is definitely less funny that the worst female comedian. If you're not familiar with Dawkins, you might get more out of this than I did.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first section is very heavy on the science, and I have to admit my English major brain struggled with some of the information. But after that we get into more of what I expect from Dawkins -- a humorous, graceful, and bitingly clever dissection of humanity why religion is so terrible. I loved the parody of Wodehouse almost as much as the essay that describes religion as an addictive drug. Dawkins is a gem.

[Sergey Antopolskiy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I adore Dawkins and probably read all of his major works. And for this reason I must say, I think this book is just for fans and people very well familiar with Dawkins' life work. It is a good collection, but if you haven't read all of his books, anything else probably would be a better investment of time.

[muthuvel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of my special books not because of the content but for the point of time it reached my life. This is one of the two books I ever bought from the payslip of my first job a couple years back. Somehow the book slipped out of my reach and this September served a good alibi to explore the work again. The work primarily comprises of 41 essays of Dawkins, the guy your religious parents told you not to read about. Essays of various dimensions from Social aspects of Darwinisms, Ethical behavior of Humans upon Non-Human creatures and Environment, Some Homage over his personal influencers including Hitchens, Various explanations and misconceptions on Evolutionary theories and the concept of Kin Selection in the gene pool. Some of the essays had to be skimmed as well but about seventy percent were worth reading for me, personally.

There are many things I could agree with him and there are many things I could do disagree with certainty (depicting false accounts and analogies with questionable veracity) and interestingly, there were certain portions where I could only listen and fathom the opinions of the writer, which he himself acknowledge it so, and remain neutral and yet to be decisive about it. Maybe I have to ask myself in a couple years time again.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eine bunt gemischte Anthologie von Werken Richard Dawkins' (incl div. Vor- und Nachworte, die ich persönlich etwas überflüssig fand).

Erschreckend war hierbei für mich die Erkenntnis, dass man einem Großteil meiner Mitmenschen heutzutage tatsächlich noch sagen muss, dass die Welt keine Scheibe ist, Naturwissenschaften nichts mit Wünschelruten zu tun haben und in keinem wie auch immer gearteten Paralleluniversum 72 jungfräulich Bräute auf durchgeknallte Fanatiker warten.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small raft is drifting in the middle of the ocean. On it a disheveled figure is thirsty and hungry under the unforgiving heat of the sun. Four equally disheveled chickens, cramped together at the opposing end of the raft are gawking at him suspiciously with bloodshot eyes.
A horse comes up from the basement of the raft with a bottle of wine tucked under his arm.
"Do you guys..." But then he notices the static tension in the air, the accusing looks of the chickens and slowly, quietly, backs away back in the basement.
"So... have you heard about the four horsemen of apocalypse?" He starts with a high pitched voice. Startled, the chickens jump and try to group even more in an amorphous mass.
He was a creationist and believed in the nobility of the soul; the chickens were pragmatic, turned from fearsome dinosaurs to defenseless flightless birds, if the horse was going to tempt Him long enough with that bottle of wine He might fall for a meal too.
"You fed thousands of people with a few fishes, why would you want to eat us?"
"Blame my Dad. He made you that delicious."
"Your Dad tried to roast us all with a big arse meteorite."
"He was just playing golf, it was an honest mistake."
"There is nothing honest about you" they quacked. "We are chickens, not ducks, we do no quack! What kind of clueless narrator are you?" Then addressing to Him "Why don't you walk on water now?"
"I can't, I forgot my Nikes at home. Don't worry, I called Lucy, he's on the way up here in a submarine, it's just going to take a while. Until then enjoy the view. Here, use this bottle of tan oil spray on your legs, you don't want to get burnt."
The horse opened the bottle with a satisfying pop and started humming "As we live a life of ease...A life of ease... Everyone of us has all we need...Sky of blue and sea of green...Sea of green."

[Maryna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Як на мене, потрібно добре вчити біологію хоча б у школі, щоб повноцінно розуміти деякі есеї. В більшості випадків повна критичність релігії, що непогано, але б таки хотілося менше критики (особисто важко сприймати поток негативу), а більше читати про науку і ту ж теорію еволюції, яку так возвеличує автор і про яку треба більше дізнаватися людям. Непогані факти наведені у книзі, але чесно, не захопила б мене наука, якби я починала дізнаватися про неї з цієї книги.
P.S. Дивне відчуття самозакоханості науковця, коли читаєш.

[Mariela Stancheva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Книгата е сборник от текстове на Ричард Докинс и съставителя на сборника Джилиъд Съмърскейлс. Текстовете нямат общ фокус, въпреки напъна на съставителя да им придаде такъв. Текстовете засягат най-вече темата за ролята и мястото в обществото на еволюционната биология и (по-скоро срещу) креационизма. Мнението на Ричард Докинс по този въпрос е широко известно. Не е случаен прякора му - булдога на Дарвин. Но е много по-добре представено и защитено в другите му книги - например в "Най-великото шоу на Земята".
Приятно впечатление правят двата текста имитиращи стила на П.Г.Уудхаус, които са се получили много добре и са общо взето единствените, които придават някакъв нов привкус в тази книга.
Не е тайна и мнението на Докинс относно наболелите теми от съвремения политически живот - Brexit и избора на Доналд Тръмп. И двете сериозно разклащат доверието на Ричард Докинс в демокрацията:).
Тъй като книгата е посветена на Кристофър Хичънс, има няколко интересни цитата от него. Този който лично ме впечатли е: "Онова, което се твърди без доказателства, може и да се отхвърли без доказателства."
Като цяло - нищо особено. Изобщо не може да се сравнява със "Себичния ген" или с "Най-великото шоу на Земята", двете според мен най-добри книги на Ричард Докинс.

[Jeff Koeppen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second such collection of Richard's essays and speeches, some of them going back a couple decades. I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Richard and his ex-wife Lalla Ward. The content is grouped by subject matter in to eight different sections in the book with each section introduced by editor Gillian Somerscales. Each chapter contains a separate essay / speech. Richard provides an afterword to a number of the chapters with updated information or a comment about how he could've written the essay / speech better originally.

I'm a Dawkins fan so this book spoke to me and I loved most of it. It is typical Dawkins: promoting science and rationalism through subjects such as evolution and biology, and taking down religion and supernaturalism. He is preaching to his atheist and science enthusiast choir.

One section didn't quite work for me: the humor section called "Laughing at live dragons". Dawkins is a witty chap and uses humor effectively within essays but when his humor didn't work so much for me when the whole essay is supposed to be comedy.

The sections I enjoyed the most included the following subjects: anti-religion, Galapagos Islands, animal rights, and the tributes to his father and Christopher Hitchens. The animal rights essays surprised me as I've never heard Richard talk about this subject. He used his knowledge of biology to illustrate how humans underestimate the intelligence, ability to feel pain, and ability to express emotions of animals. He predicted that 100 years from now humans will look back in shame at the way animals are currently treated, just as we now look back 100 years and are embarrassed at the way certain segments of the human population were treated.

I think this is a good introductory collection of essays / speeches for someone wanting to dip their toe in to Richard Dawkins' pool of work. He is often portrayed as a divisive character due to his unabashed criticism of religion but his knowledge of biological science is hard to top and his standing as a science communicator is matched by very few today. This is an excellent collection.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Книгата е хубава, но доста далеч от вдъхновяваща. Есетата са писани по различни поводи, но са сходни по тематика. Основна свързваща линия между тях е атеизмът на Докинс, ненавистта му към религиите, популяризирането на науката като цяло и дарвинизма в частност. Споделям идеите, Докинс е напълно прав в почти всички, което казва, но има още много да пише докато стигне влиянието на книгите на Сейгън, например.
Относно темата за религиит�� – трудно ми е да повярвам, че учен с ума и потенциала на Ричард Докинс не може да схване еволюционната ползите от религиите. По-вероятно ми се струва да отказва да ги признае. Наистина изглежда необяснимо как и днес е възможно възрастни разумни хора да вярват в божественото начало на света ни и всички подобни небивалици. Но прочетох книгите на Ювал Ноа Харари за историята на човеците и за евентуалното ни бъдеще и определени части от пъзела в главата ми се напаснаха. Харари използва понятието „въобразени реалности”, за да обясни огромния еволюционен успех на човешкия вид. Без такива реалности непознати хора, които не са от едно семейство или племе не биха могли да се обединят за постигане на цели, подпомагащи оцеляването на вида ни. А едва ли има по-успешна въобразена реалност от религията. Именно способността на хората да вярват в несъществуващи неща, било то богове, човешки права, дялов капитал, акционерни дружества и др. подобни обяснява защо сме толкова успешни от гледна точка на оцеляването. И ако това не е дарвинстко, не знам кое би било – все пак от гледна точка на еволюцията оцеляването и продължаването на рода е приоритет. А Докинс толкова се е вторачил в громенето на религиите, че като че ли нарочно не признава ползите. Идва ми малко пресилено, а аз съм агностик (почти сто процентов атеист). Но като се има предвид накъде е тръгнал светът, Докинс има сериозни основания да е остър и критичен.

[Dan Graser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest collection of essays is just a pleasure to read and contains some favorites that you will know along with several speeches and articles that have not been made available in the US until now. Dawkins is always a very engaging and passionate writer with the scientific credentials to back up his claims. In this collection the focus is more on the poetry and beauty of scientific thought and the need for rationalism pertaining to numerous areas of inquiry. The most heartfelt are the closing contributions which contain eulogies and remembrances of his father as well as Hitch. A fine collection covering a wide range of topics, if you read Dawkins then I would certainly recommend picking it up!

[Aurelius · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess if you already read some of Dawkins work this book won't provide as much of new insights as you expect it to.
It is a compilation of different essays which mostly addresses topics he already wrote about in his previous books.
I would recommend this book to everyone who never really got in touch with Dawkins books before. It's a decent start into his work.

[Lena Nechet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was a joy.

[Nancy Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audio version and enjoyed this very much!