The Portable Atheist

Elind · 10th March 2008, 05:37 PM

I was looking for what used to be a section to list a book recommendation. Can't find it now, but as this one is religion related I might as well do it here.

The Portable Atheist is a compilation, by Hitchens, of writers through the ages who were by all accounts Atheists (some would argue Agnostic), some long before we knew of galaxies and the like. The prose is most interesting to someone like me, more used to the one liner quips of today and, I might add, makes me wish somewhat for earlier time; but then again perhaps I am not well read enough.

In any case, it is refreshing to find oneself in the company of the likes of Omar Khayyam, Hobbes, Hume, Shelley, Conrad, Freud, and of course Twain, just to mention a few.

Strange how such writers can condense so much meaning into single sentences without running on; or perhaps they do, but with reason.

Anyone else read these essays?

X · 10th March 2008, 05:55 PM

It's not very portable.

Elind · 10th March 2008, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by [X]

It's not very portable.

True, if you are shy about what you are reading.

X · 10th March 2008, 06:42 PM

Not shy.
It's low on my list at the moment, due to university.

But aside from that, the thing is bloody huge!
I have smaller textbooks!
(Gas Turbine Theory by Saravanamutto, et al.; Systems Engineering by Kossiakoff and Sweet; Fundamentals of Vibrations by Meirovitch; People and Nature by Moran...)

However, it does seem to have some interesting pieces. I look forward to having more time for it over summer.

Elind · 10th March 2008, 08:25 PM

It's essays. Most can be read in 30 minutes or less, depending on how much one contemplates. I am less than half through, on perhaps two a week, but one does want a quiet 30 minutes..

10th March 2008, 05:37 PM	#1
Elind Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 6,622	The Portable Atheist I was looking for what used to be a section to list a book recommendation. Can't find it now, but as this one is religion related I might as well do it here. The Portable Atheist is a compilation, by Hitchens, of writers through the ages who were by all accounts Atheists (some would argue Agnostic), some long before we knew of galaxies and the like. The prose is most interesting to someone like me, more used to the one liner quips of today and, I might add, makes me wish somewhat for earlier time; but then again perhaps I am not well read enough. In any case, it is refreshing to find oneself in the company of the likes of Omar Khayyam, Hobbes, Hume, Shelley, Conrad, Freud, and of course Twain, just to mention a few. Strange how such writers can condense so much meaning into single sentences without running on; or perhaps they do, but with reason. Anyone else read these essays?

10th March 2008, 05:55 PM	#2
X Slide Rulez 4 Life Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Launching the army, waiting for Hok to commit her forces (then the moles strike...) Posts: 4,082	It's not very portable.
	__________________ It is sad that this is necessary: Argumentum Ad Hominem: "You are wrong because you are ugly." Not Ad-Hom: "You are wrong and you are ugly." [X's posts are] ...as good as having 24 hours of Justin Bieber piped into your ears! - kmortis

10th March 2008, 06:14 PM	#3
Elind Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 6,622	Originally Posted by [X] It's not very portable. True, if you are shy about what you are reading.
	Last edited by Elind; 10th March 2008 at 06:16 PM.

10th March 2008, 06:42 PM	#4
X Slide Rulez 4 Life Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Launching the army, waiting for Hok to commit her forces (then the moles strike...) Posts: 4,082	Not shy. It's low on my list at the moment, due to university. But aside from that, the thing is bloody huge! I have smaller textbooks! (Gas Turbine Theory by Saravanamutto, et al.; Systems Engineering by Kossiakoff and Sweet; Fundamentals of Vibrations by Meirovitch; People and Nature by Moran...) However, it does seem to have some interesting pieces. I look forward to having more time for it over summer.
	__________________ It is sad that this is necessary: Argumentum Ad Hominem: "You are wrong because you are ugly." Not Ad-Hom: "You are wrong and you are ugly." [X's posts are] ...as good as having 24 hours of Justin Bieber piped into your ears! - kmortis Last edited by X; 10th March 2008 at 06:42 PM.

10th March 2008, 08:25 PM	#5
Elind Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 6,622	It's essays. Most can be read in 30 minutes or less, depending on how much one contemplates. I am less than half through, on perhaps two a week, but one does want a quiet 30 minutes..
	Last edited by Elind; 10th March 2008 at 08:26 PM.