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cbayer

(146,218 posts)
Thu Jun 19, 2014, 09:24 AM Jun 2014

12 atheist books you may have overlooked: Part 2

http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2014/06/18/12-atheist-books-may-overlooked-part-2/

Chris Stedman | Jun 18, 2014

A critical look at race and atheism. An answer to the question, “Why was I born?” An atheist response to “day-to-day unhappiness.” Are these perspectives on your bookshelf?

Yesterday, six atheist and Humanist activists, authors, and scholars offered their picks for atheist books beyond the “new atheist” bestsellers that you should add to your summer reading list. Today, six more share their favorite nontheistic book you may have overlooked:

7. Godless Americana by Sikivu Hutchinson

Author Sikivu Hutchinson is at the forefront of exploring the intersections of race and atheism in America and building communities for African-American nonbelievers. Her 2013 essay collection Godless Americana: Race and Religious Rebels calls on us all to critically examine how our Humanism can be both our inspiration to resist structural racism and colorism, and can also limit our ability to look across lines of racial and religious difference. Her unique vision for social justice is imminently necessary not only for atheists in African-American communities, but for all of us seeking communities that reinforce a cultural heritage and spiritual fellowship. It inspires the sort of reflection we could all stand to engage more often. —Walker Bristol, Values in Action intern at the Humanist Community at Harvard and first year Master of Divinity candidate | @WalkerBristol

8. The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt

The Righteous Mind draws together the best scientific research about how human beings make moral decisions. Surprise: We usually decide intuitively, then search for reasons to back up our conclusions, which led me to re-think the way I discuss religion with believers. You’ll learn why some Americans routinely vote against their self-interest, as well as several bases for atheistic morality. Haidt’s exploration of evolutionary processes and cross-cultural influences helped me better understand why people behave differently, a valuable skill especially for atheists who live among others who often instinctively devalue our contributions. —Mary Johnson, author, former nun, and Humanist activist | @_MaryJohnson

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12 atheist books you may have overlooked: Part 2 (Original Post) cbayer Jun 2014 OP
I hadn't heard of "Conquest of Happiness" by Russell. Jim__ Jun 2014 #1
I'm bookmarking this guy's blog. Htom Sirveaux Jun 2014 #2
He is consistently good, imo. cbayer Jun 2014 #3

Jim__

(14,045 posts)
1. I hadn't heard of "Conquest of Happiness" by Russell.
Thu Jun 19, 2014, 11:28 AM
Jun 2014

From Amazon:

In The Conquest of Happiness, first published by Liveright in 1930, iconoclastic philosopher Bertrand Russell attempted to diagnose the myriad causes of unhappiness in modern life and chart a path out of the seemingly inescapable malaise so prevalent even in safe and prosperous Western societies. More than eighty years later, Russell’s wisdom remains as true as it was on its initial release. Eschewing guilt-based morality, Russell lays out a rationalist prescription for living a happy life, including the importance of cultivating interests outside oneself and the dangers of passive pleasure. In this new edition, best-selling philosopher Daniel C. Dennett reintroduces Russell to a new generation, stating that Conquest is both “a fascinating time capsule” and “a prototype of the flood of self-help books that have more recently been published, few of them as well worth reading today as Russell’s little book.”


I put it on my list.
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