Entertaining and Enlightening

It is a curiosity that a book written by an atheist, or at least an agnostic, who is a mathematician, could hold me in such wrapt attention. I have one regret only; that this book had an ending.

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Masterful Argument in Masterful Prose

Berlinski makes easy work of the pretense of knowledge exuded by atheist intellectuals. Along the way, the reader is exposed to a staggering breadth of scientific knowledge and a penetrating wit. Berlinski has a way of formulating subtle but devastating jokes at his opponents' expense, all while remaining a gentleman.

Unfortunately, the narrator used some... creative pronunciations, even for very obvious words such as "Jupiter" when reading a passage about Elijah and the JUNIPER tree. Overall, though, he did a splendid job of capturing the sarcastic spirit of the author's many jests.

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A Logical and Concise Criticism of Modern Atheism

What made the experience of listening to The Devil's Delusion the most enjoyable?

Berlinski's prose is second-to-none. I could read his writings all day long and never tire.

What did you like best about this story?

Berlinski's ability to see "behind the curtain", as it were, and expose the nonsensical nature of modern, militant atheism and cosmology.

Which character – as performed by Dennis Holland – was your favorite?

Not really applicable for this book...

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"Atheism and its Scientific Pretensions"
The official subtitle works great.

Any additional comments?

(Taken from my Amazon review)
After [listening] this book for the [third] time, I have to say that it comprises one of the most logical and well developed criticisms of atheism in the modern day. Berlinski is clear in stating that he himself is not a believer, but an agnostic Jew. Only, he can see the glaring holes in conventional cosmology and atheism clearly enough to feel the need to defend the often derided alternative world view of a higher power. And this is something he does extremely well.
For a topic so ensnared by controversy and ad-hominem debate, Berlinski remains level headed and admits when his points are less than certain. This is not to say that his arguments lack evidence or efficacy, just that he's willing to admit when something is simply unprovable when so many others will not.
If you're open enough to critically challenge your world view, I can't recommend this book enough. It is superlative among its peers and remains one if the best works in this ever fiery category.

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interesting view

I'm a firm believer in reading different viewpoints especially on important matters. this is a well written book with a secular view.

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Smug collection of nonsequitur strawmen

I make no claims about the existence or not of a creator, but just as an argument what a pile of disconnected and claims with just enough use of scientific jargon to give ppl the impression that's he said something smart.
6+ hrs of "I know you are but what am I" rejoinders.
Is there fallacy in the idea that if science can't prove there's a God that means there is no God? Absolutely.
Is the argument that if science can't explain all things then there must be a God just as stupid? Absolutely.
Don't waste your time.

4 people found this helpful

Great perspective!

David created a way to look into the mind of the sceptic and divulge their worries and questions.

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Only serves to reinforce your beliefs

This book functions best as comedy. The "burns" are indeed sick in a formal sense, but the fact still remains that no matter how hard you fight against science's "pretensions", it makes little difference. Science "won" when the religious stance stopped being the default one. The rate of conversion from the "religion" of religion to the "religion" of science is quite healthy, while the opposite does not hold. This is because to most people who are not born into a religious tradition, to adopt its premises as a fully rational adult is quite absurd. Meanwhile, many religious people can discern the appeal and rationality of fields such as physics or biology even (or rather, especially) in the later stages of their intellectual development. This is why atheists are often prone to think of religion as "parasitic". If you've never been exposed to it, you are unlikely to feel its absence, whereas people who have always been religious find it difficult to discard it even if they want to. An inordinate amount of time is spent in this book speaking of how this or that field or theory of science is "shaky" and "suspiciously convenient" and "absurd at face value". That is not an argument against atheism. It's not even an argument in favor of religion. It makes little difference whether those specific theories or even if those entire fields are bogus, because why the hell would our default starting point be theism? The most reasonable default starting point is to make no assumptions about the state of the universe. And from this most reasonable starting point, "debunking" any number of scientific theories makes no difference, because science is not a prerequisite to believing nothing. To borrow an argument from the author, I sure hope everyone has the common sense necessary to realise that it doesn't take anything to believe in nothing, and science is part of that group of "anythings". Ultimately, this book did not go in the direction I expected it to go. I had hoped that this book would make the argument that even if the literal interpretation of religious doctrines is quite unlikely, it still promotes good values and that therefore the harsh atheist criticism of it is unreasonably tough. Because it occurs on God's home turf, thought, this argument is much more persuasive in favor of religion than throwing tantrums over how science is unintuitive to the lay man.

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Listen with an open mind

Listen with an open mind to see the clarity of Mr Berlinsk’s statements that plainly repudiate the paucity of any real proof that science explains everything. His grasp of the sciences and their inability to explain the origin of life, its purpose and the human mind is remarkable.

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It is a delight!

I have listened to this book three times and also bought the Kindle version. It has a lot to teach. It can serve as an updated introduction to the history of science. Written in an entertaining way. The author indulges in elegant jokes. The narrator is well chosen.

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Every Atheist Needs to Read This.

This book is for everyone who thinks that science has proven that God does not exist. it is especially aimed at those anti-theists who c lo aim that only stupid people beieve in a God.

Berlinski does not believe in God. However, this book is not meant to address Berlinski's personal beliefs. it is to address the imperical facts and data. Excellent book.

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