by Sam Harris
First published 2005
Sam Harris confronts the tension between religious faith and rational thinking in contemporary society. He traces humanity's pattern of abandoning logic when religious conviction takes hold, even when such beliefs lead to violence and cruelty. Harris warns that organized religion increasingly shapes global politics in dangerous ways. He builds his case using findings from brain science, philosophical reasoning, and mystical traditions from the East. The book argues for new ethical and spiritual foundations that reject supernatural claims while embracing human values. Harris won the 2005 PEN/Martha Albrand Award for this work, which calls readers toward a secular approach to morality and meaning.
Genres: atheism, non-fiction, 21st-century, academia
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, philosophical
Period: 21st Century
336 pages · Hardcover · Free