Book Description
"Adam Lee's writing has made him one of the most widely-read atheist bloggers - and rightfully so. This effort should secure him a place amongst atheism's most informative and relatable authors." --J.T. Eberhard, blogger at Freethought Blogs, campus organizing coordinator for the Secular Student Alliance To a believer, atheism can seem dark, cold, and frightening. Adam Lee opens the shutters and lets the sunlight in. Daylight Atheism speaks clearly and passionately of the joy of living a reality-based existence guided by respect for each human person. Highly recommended. --Mary Johnson, author of An Unquenchable Thirst: A Memoir Daylight Atheism sums up the freethinking beliefs held by Adam Lee, known for his popular blog of the same name. Says Adam Lee: "Even without gods, existence is overflowing with possibility. This life offers so much transcendent beauty, so many deep and beckoning mysteries, and so many opportunities for happiness that there's no reason to ever be a nihilist. . . atheism is nothing less than a resounding affirmation of this life."
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Jack Wathey
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Daylight Atheism shines the bright, disinfecting sunlight of reason onto dark and moldy religious stereotypes about atheists and atheism. It's a pleasure to read Lee's fluid prose as he methodically tears down centuries-old castles of religious obfuscation. But Daylight Atheism is not just another rant about how much religion sucks and why it is mistaken. It is mainly a passionately argued case for atheism -- broadly defined as encompassing a skeptical, empirical and humanist worldview -- as a positive and uplifting way of life. For me this aspect of the book reaches its zenith in chapter 9, Stardust, which is nearly poetical. Another personal favorite for me is chapter 3, All Possible Worlds, which is possibly the most lucid discussion of the Problem of Evil I have ever read. Chapters 2 and 8 attack from opposite directions that most vicious of stereotypes about atheists: that they can have no morality.
Although atheists will love this book, it's clear from the final chapter, Into the Clear Air, that Lee is really trying to reach believers who struggle with doubt. If you are one of those folks, this book will show you an alternative based in reality. You owe it to yourself to read this book.
Although atheists will love this book, it's clear from the final chapter, Into the Clear Air, that Lee is really trying to reach believers who struggle with doubt. If you are one of those folks, this book will show you an alternative based in reality. You owe it to yourself to read this book.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Many times you read a book of 300 pages and end up with a feeling that the author could have said what he said in less than 30 pages. But Adam's book is not like that. It has the length which it needs. The logic of his arguments is simply superb. He tries to cogently carry the readers with him and never tries to flaunt his erudition on them.
I am an Ex-Management consultant from India, am running 75 and for the past 60 years I am an atheist. Reading this book reinforced some of my earlier convictions and also has given me enough reasons to be proud of my non-theistic leaning.
While all the ten chapters are written beautifully, My favorites were ch.1 on 'Fossil Fuels', ch.5 on 'The cosmic shell Game', Ch.6 on 'Life w/o superstition', & ch.9 on 'Stardust'. I am expecting a sequel to this from this author.
I am an Ex-Management consultant from India, am running 75 and for the past 60 years I am an atheist. Reading this book reinforced some of my earlier convictions and also has given me enough reasons to be proud of my non-theistic leaning.
While all the ten chapters are written beautifully, My favorites were ch.1 on 'Fossil Fuels', ch.5 on 'The cosmic shell Game', Ch.6 on 'Life w/o superstition', & ch.9 on 'Stardust'. I am expecting a sequel to this from this author.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars As clear a description of the Atheist/Humanist position as you'll find anywhere July 2, 2012
By Andrew Reid
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an excellent collection of writing on various topics in atheism and religion: How to construct a coherent secular morality, why atheism needn't be nihilistic, why the problem of evil and divine hiddenness make the existence of God unlikely, the dubious morality of the Bible and the dangers of theocracy.
This book appears to be based on many of the online essays previously published on the author's Ebon Musings pages, though obviously expanded for this edition.
I've always admired the clarity of Adam's writing on these topics. He shares Sam Harris' knack for making points effectively without descending into the rabbit-hole of too much philosophical terminology.
To the theist considering reading this book I would offer the following advice: Adam's tone can be quite angry and, while I believe he is justified, I can also appreciate that this might make it more of a struggle to get through the early chapters. Try not to take this personally as there are important points to be made and they are being made here as well as anywhere. Perhaps start with the last Chapter and then go back and read the rest.
Knocking off a star for some technical issues: Though the book has a table of contents, the Kindle doesn't recognise it as such. Also, the footnotes are not hyperlinks, which is very annoying.
This book appears to be based on many of the online essays previously published on the author's Ebon Musings pages, though obviously expanded for this edition.
I've always admired the clarity of Adam's writing on these topics. He shares Sam Harris' knack for making points effectively without descending into the rabbit-hole of too much philosophical terminology.
To the theist considering reading this book I would offer the following advice: Adam's tone can be quite angry and, while I believe he is justified, I can also appreciate that this might make it more of a struggle to get through the early chapters. Try not to take this personally as there are important points to be made and they are being made here as well as anywhere. Perhaps start with the last Chapter and then go back and read the rest.
Knocking off a star for some technical issues: Though the book has a table of contents, the Kindle doesn't recognise it as such. Also, the footnotes are not hyperlinks, which is very annoying.
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