Welcome to Litsy!

I've had Sarah Bakewell's At the Existentialist Cafe on my TBR for some time but got to this one first. I have to agree with the words of one GR review in that it reads like a "standard issue Western civilization college textbook"; the scope of humanism is broad, & Bakewell just goes through the eras & the familiar thinkers of liberalism. There are some great anecdotes, quotes, & nuggets of information, but it felt like a mere recounting of facts.

Fascinating information about the relationship between rise of farming, group size and big gods.

"The more unnatural anything is, the more it is capable of becoming the object of dismal admiration."

"My own mind is my own church. All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit."

#QuotsyOct21 @TK-421
#Disbelief

Goodreads says I only read three books last month. Well, finished as one of the books took two months to read - the epic, fantastic War and Peace. Had to knock off a star for Tolstoy‘s rambling second epilogue but it was so worth the time invested. #bookstagram #novemberwrapup

Guy Harrison takes fifty reasons people believe in a god (are there more? I can't think of any!) and in a calm, rational, and conversational manner debunks them using evidence-based reasoning and common sense. Oh, how I wish I would've had access to a book like this in my younger years when we believed in a god.

If only I had access to a book like this as a young believer.

#FallFinds @Eggs
#Freethinker

#freethinker #fallfinds @Eggs