Book description
Growing up in a strict Muslim community in south-east London, Alom
Shaha learnt that religion was not to be questioned. Reciting the
Qur'an without understanding what it meant was simply a part of life;
so, too, was obeying the imam and enduring beatings when he failed to
attend the local mosque. But Alom was more drawn to science and its
power to illuminate. As a teen, he lived between two worlds: the home
controlled by his authoritarian father, and a school alive with books
and ideas. In a charming blend of memoir, philosophy and science, Alom
explores the questions about faith and the afterlife that we all
ponder. This is a book for anyone who wonders what they should believe
and how they should live. It's for those who may need the facts and
the ideas, as well as the courage, to break free from inherited
beliefs. In this powerful narrative, Alom shows that it is possible to
live a compassionate, fulfilling and meaningful life without God.
Alom Shaha was born in Bangladesh but grew up in London. A teacher,
science writer, and filmmaker, he has spent most of his professional
life trying to share his passion for science and education with the
public. He teaches at a comprehensive school in London and writes for a
number of print and online publications, including the Guardian.
