• Free Will

  • By: Sam Harris
  • Narrated by: Sam Harris
  • Length: 1 hr and 14 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (5,210 ratings)

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Free Will  By  cover art

Free Will

By: Sam Harris
Narrated by: Sam Harris
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Publisher's summary

A belief in free will touches nearly everything that human beings value. It is difficult to think about law, politics, religion, public policy, intimate relationships, morality—as well as feelings of remorse or personal achievement—without first imagining that every person is the true source of his or her thoughts and actions. And yet the facts tell us that free will is an illusion.

In this enlightening book, Sam Harris argues that this truth about the human mind does not undermine morality or diminish the importance of social and political freedom, but it can and should change the way we think about some of the most important questions in life.

©2012 Sam Harris (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Free will is an illusion so convincing that people simply refuse to believe that we don’t have it. In Free Will, Sam Harris combines neuroscience and psychology to lay this illusion to rest at last. Like all of Harris’s books, this one will not only unsettle you but make you think deeply. Read it: you have no choice." (Jerry A. Coyne, Professor of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, and author of Why Evolution Is True)
"In this elegant and provocative book, Sam Harris demonstrates—with great intellectual ferocity and panache—that free will is an inherently flawed and incoherent concept, even in subjective terms. If he is right, the book will radically change the way we view ourselves as human beings." (V. S. Ramachandran, Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition, UCSD, and author of The Tell-Tale Brain)
"Brilliant and witty—and never less than incisive— Free Will shows that Sam Harris can say more in 13,000 words than most people do in 100,000." (Oliver Sacks)

What listeners say about Free Will

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Deeply Beautiful and Spiritual

Some of the stories Sam gives in this are little too dark, but, everybody should think about this topic at least once in their life, and he covers it beautifully.

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Free Will is an Illusion

This short yet mighty book delivers the basic concepts that Free Will, as generally, and formerly,”experienced” and understood on individual and social levels is but an illusion, given what has been discovered to date in the realms of psychology, biology and neuroscience. Yet, that is not a case for fatalism or suspension of personal agency or responsibility. This has important implications for our understanding of law and order as well as the human condition of living in and creating a civilized society.
Thank you Sam Harris! As always you inspire us to think.
PS. I read this book many years ago. And hearing the audio version today was a nice reminder of where and how to gain wisdom.

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I don’t agree with writers opinions.

I purchased this book being curious but after reading I feel that writer Sam tried to proof a point and he failed.

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Brilliant

Sometimes one deserves some food for thoughts like this . Not too long , keeps it very interesting at every corner ... will listen to this again in a month or so , no doubt !

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An excellent listen

I have watched Sam Harris debate, and I enjoy it immensely, so getting to hear him narrate his novel was absolutely wonderful. He is concise in his points, he brings up pertinent information to the topic, and explains it in a way that I think many people benefit from.

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Utter nonsense

Really, a ridiculous premise. Sam Harris would have us believe that all of life’s decisions are preordained and free will is an illusion. The fact that he was apparently able to write and read such utter hogwash is evidence that Sam Harris is a nitwit of hopefully unparalleled dimensions so this book is noteworthy in that regard perhaps. Does Sam Harris not think human beings are able to rise above their humble beginnings, to rise above their circumstances, to do better than has been done to them? I guess Sam Harris doesn’t understand what is meant by “character” or “moral fiber” and that is really too bad. Sad for the world that Sam Harris is considered a noted thinker these days. Epictetus said that “Circumstances don’t make the man, they only reveal him to himself.”

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Great

Just great.
powerfull
mindchanging
precise
thought-provoking
Harris at his best. Big, big fan.
Just buy it and listen to one of the best minds of our time.

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I wrote this too somehow…

A fabulous narration of what it exists constantly bouncing through my mind. It was wonderful to hear it from someone else, for I am criticized often for the vantage point of my views. Thank you for this beautiful work of nature, even though you had no free will in the act of riding it. Love Aaron!

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Phenomenal and life-altering concept

I so appreciated the articulate and thoughtful delivery of this book and it’s concept. Perhaps one of the most interesting and important questions I will ever ask myself in this world. Highly recommend!

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Free will to listen to this?

This book was suggested to me and while I thought the content was good I have no idea what to do with the information. In conclusion I was supposed to listen to this, now I’m hungry and will go on with the illusion of thinking I had a choice to write this or any other choice.

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