Irreligion
A Mathematician Explains Why The Arguments For God Just Don't Add Up- Basic Books, 2008
- Italian, Spanish
Are there any logical reasons to believe in God? The mathematician and bestselling author John Allen Paulos thinks not. In Irreligion he presents the case for his own worldview, organizing his book into twelve chapters that refute the twelve arguments most often put forward for believing in God's existence. Interspersed among these counterarguments are remarks on a variety of irreligious themes, ranging from the nature of miracles and creationist probability to cognitive illusions and prudential wagers. Despite the strong influence of his day job, Paulos says, there isn't a single mathematical formula in the book.
Reviews
"He is as sure-footed as a tiger as he prowls through the theocratic landscape pouncing on sloppy thinking. To a large extent he succeeds in demolishing the arguments of believers."
"Paulos's latest offering is a slim but explosive volume whose title is self-explanatory."
"Few of the recent books on atheism have been worth reading just for wit and style, but this is one of them: Paulos is truly funny."
"Irreligion will, I'm confident, take a distinguished place in what one might call the canonical literature of the New Atheism."
"John Allen Paulos has done us all a great service. Irreligion is an elegant and timely response to the manifold ignorance that still goes by the name of 'faith' in the 21st century."
"He's done it again. John Allen Paulos has written a charming book that takes you on a sojourn of flawless logic, with simple and clear examples drawn from math, science, and pop culture. At journey's end, Paulos has left you with plenty to think about, whether you are religious, irreligious, or anything in between."
