Book description
The God Delusion caused a sensation when it was published in
2006. Within weeks it became the most hotly debated topic, with
Dawkins himself branded as either saint or sinner for presenting his
hard-hitting, impassioned rebuttal of religion of all types.
His argument could hardly be more topical. While Europe is becoming
increasingly secularized, the rise of religious fundamentalism,
whether in the Middle East or Middle America, is dramatically and
dangerously dividing opinion around the world. In America, and
elsewhere, a vigorous dispute between 'intelligent design' and
Darwinism is seriously undermining and restricting the teaching of
science. In many countries religious dogma from medieval times still
serves to abuse basic human rights such as women's and gay rights. And
all from a belief in a God whose existence lacks evidence of any kind.
Dawkins attacks God in all his forms. He eviscerates the major
arguments for religion and demonstrates the supreme improbability of a
supreme being. He shows how religion fuels war, foments bigotry and
abuses children.
The God Delusion is a brilliantly argued, fascinating polemic
that will be required reading for anyone interested in this most
emotional and important subject.
Richard Dawkins is the Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public
Understanding of Science at Oxford University and a fellow of New
College.
The Selfish Gene catapulted Richard Dawkins to fame, and
remains his most famous and widely read work. It was followed by a
string of bestselling books: The Extended Phenotype, The
Blind Watchmaker, River Out of Eden, Climbing Mount
Improbable, Unweaving the Rainbow, The Ancestor's
Tale and a collection of his shorter writings A Devil's
Chaplain. Dawkins is a Fellow of both the Royal Society and the
Royal Society of Literature. He is the
recipient of numerous honours and awards, including the 1987 Royal
Society of Literature Award, the 1990 Michael Faraday Award of the
Royal Society, the 1997 International Cosmos Prize for Achievement in
Human Science, the Kistler Prize in 2001, and the Shakespeare Prize in 2005.
The God Delusion was originally published in 2006 and has
since become a worldwide bestseller.
