The God Delusion

By: Richard Dawkins

Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward

Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Richard Dawkins was recently voted one of the world's top three intellectuals (alongside Umberto Eco and Noam Chomsky) by Prospect magazine. As the author of many classic works on science and philosophy, he has always asserted the irrationality of belief in God and the grievous harm it has inflicted on society. He now focuses his fierce intellect exclusively on this subject, denouncing its faulty logic and the suffering it causes.

While Europe is becoming increasingly secularized, the rise of religious fundamentalism, whether in the Middle East or Middle America, is dramatically and dangerously dividing opinion around the world. In America and elsewhere, a vigorous dispute between "intelligent design" and Darwinism is seriously undermining and restricting the teaching of science. In many countries religious dogma from medieval times still serves to abuse basic human rights, such as those of women and gay people � and all from a belief in a God whose existence lacks evidence of any kind.

Dawkins attacks God in all his forms, from the sex-obsessed, cruel tyrant of the Old Testament to the more benign, but still illogical, Celestial Watchmaker favoured by some Enlightenment thinkers. He eviscerates the major arguments for religion and demonstrates the ultimate improbability of a supreme being. He shows how religion fuels war, foments bigotry and abuses children. In The God Delusion, Dawkins presents a hard-hitting, impassioned rebuttal of religion of all types and does so in the lucid, witty and powerful language for which he is renowned. It is a brilliantly argued, fascinating polemic that will be required listening for anyone interested in this most emotional and important subject.

©2006 Richard Dawkins (P)2006 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A spirited and exhilarating read...Dawkins comes roaring forth in the full vigour of his powerful arguments...." ( Guardian)
"Everyone should read it. Aethists will love Mr Dawkins's incisive logic and rapier wit...." ( The Economist)

An incredibly intriguing conception of human mind

The narrator was excellent. I will be listening to it again precisely to put things in a firmer perspective. Excellent book for those in search of arguments to invalidate their belief in modern day religion. Fanatical theists may want to think twice before reading or listening to this devilish rendition of the music of nature.

Common sense

Coildnot put the book down as it realises more and more reality,and the opens your eyes to that reality

I signed up for Audible for this!

I signed up for Audible because of this book and it's better than expected! I'm always trapped in my religion that I grew up with and I know something isn't right. This book will definitely answer those questions. Chapter 1 is now done and I'm so excited for the upcoming chapters...

A compilation of arguments against not thinking

Richard Dawkins in The God Delusion makes us wonder about a world without God, Religion or Irrational thinking. With extreme patience, Dawkins makes us question the basis of fundamental ideas while explaining the alternatives.

life changing.

picked this book up after Church one day. Read it and realised Id been wasting my sundays and some of my pay. haha. Nicely read and good quality audio.

Dawkin's slays the Dragon

If you could sum up The God Delusion in three words, what would they be?

Science lights the Dark

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I like the last chapter on how special life is and why you don't need any super natural being to explain why it is. Trillions of beings could have been here instead of you, yet you are here. With those odds who needs the lottery.

Any additional comments?

Dawkin's does not shy away from stating facts that others would shy away from. His arguement, as usual, is well thought out and convincing. He lays out the make believe of religon. To see the world through his world is far more beautiful than one described by the religous.

Brilliant

Brilliant that's all, just brilliant. Witty, engaging and makes so much sense to my line of thinking. Well and enjoyably narrated. Thank you. Everyone should have a chance to read or hear this and then make a balanced decision on their belief system that they wish to follow...or atleast be able to discuss this openly without people feeling so aggrieved and on the defence (which tells alot in itself). Perhaps the world would then be a better place. If you enjoyed this, then another great book to listen to is Homo Sapiens (by Yuval Noah Harari). Also on audible and is wonderfully written and narrated (and witty).

Everyone Should Read/Listen

A must! Incredibly interesting and thought provoking! Can't recommend highly enough! Loved it, will be listening again to take it all in again though!

Thought provoking... provocative

Well developed logic and well narrated.
while confrontational at times, the passion for provoking a seeking for understanding and evidence is clear and I cannot fault it.
Believers and aethiests can benefit from listening to this book with an open mind... and formulating your own beliefs or otherwise.

An Agreeably Disagreeable Book

I have read a lot Dawkins and Hitchens and the difference between the two, telling the same tale about gods, is usually quite stark. On this occasion however Dawkins delves down into the arena, get his hands dirty with invective and (particularly at the start and the finish) resorts to rhetoric. Of course, in his inimatable way, he acknowledges he's doing just this and he even has the good grace to sound apologetic about that. However, the method is not as persuasive as I have come to expect from him, although the key (middle) Chapters return to the well learned practices of his past writing, full of sound reasoning, inferences and evidence.
I have some sympathy for the lack of evidence, but then I am already a "convert", to borrow from the iconology of the religiously minded. It is hard to prove a negative, as every lawyer will confirm. Still, I would have been happier with the central Chapters without the soapbox start and finish. That said, the starkness of the language and the boldness of the frontal attack have the consequence of making even a convert think about the extent of their conversion; has it gone far enough? To paraphrase a former PM, this is a book for the true disbelievers. It will probably not persuade anyone else, which is a pity.
Again, the combination of Lalla Ward and Dawkins works well for the listener.