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Outgrowing God  By  cover art

Outgrowing God

By: Richard Dawkins
Narrated by: Richard Dawkins
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Publisher's summary

Should we believe in God? In this brisk introduction to modern atheism, one of the world’s greatest science writers tells us why we shouldn’t.

Richard Dawkins was 15 when he stopped believing in God.

Deeply impressed by the beauty and complexity of living things, he’d felt certain they must have had a designer. Learning about evolution changed his mind. Now one of the world’s best and best-selling science communicators, Dawkins has given listeners, young and old, the same opportunity to rethink the big questions.

In 12 fiercely funny, mind-expanding chapters, Dawkins explains how the natural world arose without a designer - the improbability and beauty of the "bottom-up programming" that engineers an embryo or a flock of starlings - and challenges head-on some of the most basic assumptions made by the world’s religions: Do you believe in God? Which one? Is the Bible a "Good Book"? Is adhering to a religion necessary, or even likely, to make people good to one another? Dissecting everything from Abraham’s abuse of Isaac to the construction of a snowflake, Outgrowing God is a concise, provocative guide to thinking for yourself.

Includes a bonus PDF of photographs and charts.

Advance praise for Outgrowing God

"My son came home from his first day in the sixth grade with arms outstretched plaintively demanding to know: 'Have you ever heard of Jesus?' We burst out laughing. Maybe not our finest parenting moment, given that he was genuinely distraught. He felt that he had woken up one day to a world in which his peers were expressing beliefs he found frighteningly unreasonable. He began devouring books like The God Delusion, books that helped him formulate his own arguments and helped him stand his ground. Dawkins’s new book is special in the terrain of atheists’ pleas for humanism and rationalism precisely since it speaks to those most vulnerable to the coercive tactics of religion. As Dawkins himself says in the dedication, this book is for ‘all young people when they’re old enough to decide for themselves.’ It is also, I must add, for their parents." (Janna Levin, author of Black Hole Blues)

"When someone is considering atheism I tell them to read the Bible first and then Dawkins. Outgrowing God - second only to the Bible!" (Penn Jillette, author of God, No!)

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Richard Dawkins (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"With wit, logic, and his characteristic flair for expressing complex ideas with uncanny clarity, Richard Dawkins separates myth from reality in Outgrowing God. His book is more than a beginners’ guide to atheism: it is a primer that liberates us to see and explore the beauty of the Universe free of fables and fantasies." (Neil Shubin, paleontologist and author of Your Inner Fish)

What listeners say about Outgrowing God

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Great book

The book is good, it’s like a summary for many of Richard book, the accompanying file however is missing many pictures and links. Please fix this issue.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Another compelling work

This is yet another of Richard Dawkins' well thought out and mind expanding books that are sure to make anyone question what they believe. His careful outline seems almost desperate at times when in his voice you can feel his passion towards the topic, the listener, and the future generations who will encounter it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Superbly Done!

If you are still wondering about the existence of God after listening to this, then you are willfully being ignorant. Well written, well presented, well argued.

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Exceptionally Perfect

The whole book is memorable a true mental page turner. I love this book.

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Great story

When I listen to the author explain why there is no supernatural, it seems so obvious. I only wish I could remember all the details when the need arises.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A reminder

A reminder that the burden of maintaining religious beliefs is on the believer and not on the society at large. While individuals may maintain any belief they want, cultural and societal beliefs need to be governed by reason and science.

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11 people found this helpful

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A must read/listen

I loved it. Have an open mind with this one. I will revisit this material again, soon.

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1 person found this helpful

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Dawkins delivers

it's no surprise that Dawkins delivers his promise of hard hitting writing backed by science. A good sequel to the god delusion.

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fantastic

very good read, I will likely listen to this audio book many more times.

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If your going to read one of his books, this is it

When hearing it, at different moments I couldn't help but think how it reminds me of one of his other books. He does a good job in bringing most of the points in his other works concisely yet superbly descriptive and detailed. If you're going to only read one of his books this is it.

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