qwertyuiop

Evolution accounts for the diversity of life.

Reviewed: 04-06-15

If you could sum up The Blind Watchmaker in three words, what would they be?

Darwin's explanation succeeds.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Blind Watchmaker?

I liked the chapter on sexual selection and the Peacock's tail. (I think it was this book. I get Dawkins's books confused, because I have read so many of them!)

Any additional comments?

Dawkins sets up by taking about William Paley's metaphor for life as a watch, requiring a watchmaker. Dawkins then talks about many seemingly unrelated subjects, all related to the complexity of life. Sexual selection, abiogenesis, the green beard effect, ect. These all culminate with Dawkins's conclusion that evolution is a blind watchmaker, working through the mechanisms he describes in the book, and capable of making complexity which appears designed. Although the title talks about revealing a "universe without design", Dawkins doesn't talk much about God.
While I was listening to this book, I was reading a book for Honors Philosophy of God at school (I go to a catholic school and took an honors religion class, however I am an atheist). The book for the class was God: The Oldest Question, by William O'Malley. O'Malley is a catholic who believes in evolution, but also has room for intelligent design. O'Malley criticizes Carl Sagan's explanation of the evolution of eyes in Sagan's book, and mentions The Blind Watchmaker in a criticism of Dawkins. Reading O'Malley's book, I got the idea that he had not read Dawkins's book. The Blind Watchmaker eloquently explains the powerful explanatory process of evolution, and how inelegant a god who uses evolution with a few miracles interspersed is. I did read Dawkins's book, and I came away with a great reverence for the power of blind process of evolution to explain the staggering complexity of life on earth.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Thorough, with a focus on scripture.

Reviewed: 04-06-15

Any additional comments?

It is a good overview of answers given for the problem of evil, giving most time to those found in the bible. You learn about the Old Testament and the prophets, the apoctalyptycists (sic) of the New Testament, and popular contemporary answers. It has a focus on the bible, and I learned a lot about many of the books of the bible and their history.
The book does not have strong anti-religion feel, and Bart Ehrman is not one of the "New Atheists", who write most of the modern books criticizing religion. However, this book is a needed addition to the nonreligious literature.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Directly addresses issues brought up in "Infidel"

Reviewed: 02-22-15

What did you love best about Nomad?

Her magnum opus, Infidel, was a biography which brought up many issues. These are expanded upon in Nomad. She also updates us on her life (She wrote her autobiography when she was 37, after all) and her family. For example, her father has died since she published Infidel. Hirsi Ali talks about double standards regarding how people see religion, and outlines a plan for how we should deal with the rising threat of radical islam. She controversially recommends working with moderate christians to fight radical islam, claiming that it just isn't practical to expect muslims to become atheists en masse, but they could possibly become moderate christians en masse.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Ayaan Hirsi Ali?

No, I WILL listen to another book by Hirsi Ali. Her next book, Heretic, is coming out in Spring 2015, and I plan to listen to it. Hirsi Ali has given me a new perspective on the muslim world and the issue of radical islam, which I have no firsthand experience with. (I don't think I have ever knowingly talked to a muslim, apart from saying hi as I pass them on the bike trail.) Hirsi Ali is pretty fiery, however, and it is important to form opinions for yourself and remember that although it is good to oppose ideas, like islam, it is never okay to oppose people. I see people make that mistake sometimes, and I think it is scary. If I disliked everybody who held a bad belief, I would be a very hateful person. That said, I don't think there is any logical path between Hirsi Ali's writing and prejudice. She has been accused of this, but I do not see it.

Any additional comments?

The atheist movement in the USA mainly deals with christianity. The fact that Hirsi Ali deals with islam instead makes her books important and interesting.
I must say, Infidel read like a novel. There were times when I could not stop listening. Nomad is different, as it is not a story, but an analysis issues brought up in the story.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Very good, but not for the faint of heart

Reviewed: 02-22-15

Would you consider the audio edition of Consciousness Explained to be better than the print version?

No. This is a very hard, complicated book. And, yes, it can get boring. I tend to love Dan Dennett's books after I read them because they are super interesting, insightful, and relevant. But while I read them, I hate them because they are complicated and hard to pay attention to. If you are looking for a page turner, go somewhere else. If you want a good understanding of consciousness and are willing to put in some effort, this book is great.

Any additional comments?

Daniel Dennett is a philosopher, not a scientist. He won't touch anatomy with a 39.5 foot pole, and he also avoids neurology. His sketch of consciousness is hypothetical, explaining how consciousness might appear when scientists start to look, as they have done by now. This book was written a quarter century ago, and this quarter century has been crazy productive for neuroscience. Luckily, Consciousness Explained has aged well. It is still as relevant today as in 1991, mostly because it is more philosophical than scientific, and we still still don't understand exactly what consciousness is.
That said, I hope Dennett revises it in a second edition. He is almost 73, and he hasn't done so yet. I love his more recent writings on religion, but it would be a shame if he never revises his magnum opus.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

41 people found this helpful

Inside view of Jobs's business strategies

Reviewed: 02-22-15

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If they care about Steve Jobs, yes. This is not a biography. If you are looking for a biography, look somewhere else. Additionally, the author stopped working with Steve Jobs in the 1980s, so most of the book is about Jobs's early career. The author admires Steve Jobs, but perhaps a bit too much. I am skeptical of whether the strategy Apple has used would be successful is most circumstances, but the author almost never has anything negative to say about Steve Jobs. This seemed a bit weird to me, as nobody is perfect. Anyway, this book provides a great view into how Jobs worked.

Also, the author thinks iPhones are better than androids. I beg to differ. Apple may have a more interesting co-founder, but their mobile OS is just not as good.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

The most introspective and the saddest Green book

Reviewed: 02-22-15

What did you like best about this story?

The story is very symbolic, and the underlying themes of suffering and purpose in life are present throughout. John Green doesn't sugar coat anything, and this realism peaks at an awkward sex scene. Having watched John Green on the internet a lot, I was surprised. He is very different as an author than as a vlogbrother and crash course host.
One thing that confused me was that the whole first half of the book is setting the stage for what the book is really about, and the second half was much better than the first. Throughout the first half, it is counting down days to an event, and I didn't know what was going to happen until it happened. I'm not sure why the first half needed to be a whole half of the book.
Overall, this is a great book by a great author.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Thorough and interesting, never boring

Reviewed: 02-22-15

Would you listen to A. Lincoln again? Why?

Yes, except for the fact that it is so long. The book explains all of the factors which lead Lincoln towards his career as a lawyer, and through all of his failings, struggles, and depression. As he becomes a politician, Lincoln's speeches are analyzed and his presidency is recounted with great detail. It was hard to listen to the end because I knew how it ended. After he dies (spoiler) the book kind of just ends.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Abraham Lincoln, of course!

Any additional comments?

Everybody should know Lincoln's story, because he rose from a poor family to being a successful lawyer and the most successful president, accomplishing more in four years than others accomplish in eight. It also gave me a good understanding of the political situation at the time.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Buy this if you care about Penn's sex life.

Reviewed: 01-18-15

What would have made God, No! better?

Less talking about his sex life, more good insights regarding religion.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not the sequel to this.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Yes. He speaks very persuasively on the importance of admitting not knowing things if you don't know. And he makes a good point when he asks religious people to pray for us atheists. If they are good people who actually believe we are going to hell, Jillette says we should hope they would pray for us. Otherwise, it means they don't care about us. I agree. And he does a good job of explaining why atheism is not only for genius professors.

Any additional comments?

He takes the idea that you shouldn't pretend to know things you don't know too far. He says that we can't know whether humans are warming the climate. Well Mr. Jillette, it is not very hard to find out. Instead of going on about the virtues of admitting when you don't know something, how about spend half and hour on Wikipedia. Then, you can gain the knowledge you previously lacked. Although I admit when I don't know something, I try to learn it as soon as I can.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Complicated, but worth it.

Reviewed: 01-18-15

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes. I think free will is an interesting topic. It is also third on my list of questions which are hard to answer, after the existence of God and abortion. Prior to reading this book, I had concluded that free will did not exist, but I eventually came to doubt this conclusion. To make sure that I was correct about free will's nonexistence, I read this book. After I read it, I continued disbelieving in free will, but I had stronger and stronger doubts as I came to better understand the compatibilist arguments. Ten weeks after reading this book, I concluded that the ability we have to make choices warrants the name "free will". I'm glad I ironed out the truth on this complicated issue.

Any additional comments?

This book is a bit dry in spots, so prepare yourself. It is one of those books that is hard to get through, but awesome after you finish it. Just like all of the books by Dennett. I always hate his books while I am listening to them, but after I finish I love his books and buy more.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Persuasive case against lying.

Reviewed: 01-18-15

Would you listen to Lying again? Why?

Yes. It is short, and it makes good points.

My favorite quote from the book:
"One of the worst things about breaking the law is that it puts you at odds with an indeterminate number of other people. This is one of the many corrosive effects of unjust laws. They temp peaceful and otherwise honest people to lie so as to avoid being punished for behavior that is ethically blameless."

If you could give Lying a new subtitle, what would it be?

How seemingly trivial lies hurt people and relationships

Any additional comments?

I listened to this book the day before my Eagle Scout board of review. I was asked many questions at the review, and I knew that some of the questions might be about religion. I am an atheist, which would prevent me from becoming an eagle scout. If I was asked about religion and claimed to be religious, I would have caved into an immoral rule and bullied into conformity instead of speaking unabashedly for the truth. I thought of how I would look back at that decision in the future, and I decided that I would rather not lie. However, if I had told them that I did not believe in their religion, I would have been kicked out of scouts. My parents would have been furious, and I would have had to explain the situation to my grandparents. I resolved that I would not lie at my board of review before I read this book, but this book helped convince me further. Religion never came up at my board of review. Kind of anticlimactic, considering I got butterflies in my stomach every time I thought of the board of review for the three months preceding it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful