“Human decency is not derived from religion. It precedes it.”
God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything is one of the most famous books by Christopher Hitchens and one of the most significant works on atheism in literature. Through a series of acute and scathing readings of all major religious texts, Hitchens illuminates the ways in which religion is man-made, is dangerously repressive and distorts the origins of the cosmos. Hitchens also uses his arguments to argue how the concept of an omniscient God has profoundly damaged humanity, making the case that the world would be better off without him. Delivered with all the uncompromising commentary and Hitchens’ trademark wit, if you love thought-provoking and insightful looks at religion and spirituality, join us today at What We Reading for the best books like God Is Not Great!
The God Delusion – Richard Dawkins
First up on our list of books like God Is Not Great is another one of the most famous books against theism, The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. Told with rigour and wit, Dawkins uses The God Delusion to tackle the many forms God has been portrayed across history. He demonstrates the sheer improbability of a supreme being, dismantles the major arguments for religion and explores how religion fuels wars and encourages bigotry through historical and present-day evidence.
The God Delusion serves as a compelling and convincing argument that belief in God isn’t just morally wrong, but also potentially deadly. It provides tantalising insights into the advantages of atheism on both an individual and society-wide level.
Breaking The Spell: Religion As A Natural Phenomenon – Daniel C. Dennett
Breaking the Spell is a daring deep-dive into why we believe in God and how religion shapes our lives by acclaimed philosopher, Daniel C. Dennett. Across his work, Dennett argues that the time has come to shine the spotlight of science on the most fundamental questions of faith. Similar to God Is Not Great, Breaking the Spell is an energetic narrative that encompasses history, psychology and philosophy.
Dennett guides readers through how organised religion evolved from classic folklore stories and beliefs, and why it is still an exceptionally powerful force even in today’s world. Breaking the Spell remains one of the best atheist books for understanding the role that belief plays in our lives, our interactions and our countries.
The End Of Faith: Religion, Terror And The Future Of Reason – Sam Harris
Long-lauded as one of the best books like God Is Not Great, Sam Harris’ The End of Faith is a provocative analysis of how religion and reason collide in the modern world. In it, he presents readers with a fascinating historical tour of human’s willingness to suspend reason in favour of religious beliefs, even when those religious beliefs inspire the worst atrocities.
Warning against allowing religion to encroach into world politics, Harris leans on insights from neuroscience, philosophy and Eastern mysticism to present a call to arms for a truly modern foundation for ethics and spirituality that is grounded in secularism and humanity.
The Demon-Haunted World: Science As A Candle In The Dark – Carl Sagan
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and distinguished astronomer Carl Sagan argues that scientific thinking is fundamental for not only searching for the truth but also preserving the well-being of our democratic principles in his acclaimed book, The Demon-Haunted World.
Through an extensive lens spread across history and culture, Sagan deftly breaks down misbeliefs ranging from witchcraft, faith healing, and demons to UFOs. Yet, he shows how, even in today’s information age, pseudoscience continues to blossom through tales of alien abduction and channelling past lives. One of the best books like God Is Not Great, The Demon-Haunted World is a cautionary tale about how abandoning science and reason is not just a cultural wrong turn, but also a dangerous plunge into the unknown that threatens to upend even our most basic freedoms.
Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed The Bible And Why – Bart D. Ehrman
For almost 1,500 years, the New Testament manuscripts were copied by hand. In his fascinating book Misquoting Jesus, religious and biblical scholar Bart Ehrman makes a provocating case that many of the most widely-held beliefs about the divinity of Jesus, the Holy Trinity and the divine origins of the Bible itself are the result of both accidental and intentional alterations made by these scribes.
Throughout the book, Ehrman shows where and why changes were made to our earliest known manuscripts, explaining how the many variations of the most famous stories in the Bible came about. Crucially of all, he explains why only some versions of these stories are fit for publication in the Good Book today. Drawing on his own reflections about how his studies led to him abandoning his once-ultra-conservative views of the Bible, Misquoting Jesus is a fascinating read that fans of God Is Not Great are sure to enjoy.
Godless: How An Evangelical Preacher Became One Of America’s Leading Atheists – Dan Barker
After almost two decades of evangelical preaching, missionising and Christian songwriting, Dan Baker made a decision that completely upended his life and how he viewed the world around him. In Godless, Barker the intellectual and psychological path he followed navigating from fundamentalism to freethought.
One of the most personal books on atheism, Godless includes sections on biblical morality, the history of Jesus, contradictions in the texts, and so much more. Similar to God Is Not Great, it serves as an arsenal for all sceptics and a direct challenge to theists. What’s more, it is an uplifting and positive reaffirmation of the benefits of learning to trust in reason and human kindness, as opposed to living in the fear of false judgement and moral condemnation.
God: The Failed Hypothesis: How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist – Victor J. Stenger
Across history, arguments for and against the existence of God have largely been shelved within the fields of philosophy and theology. Meanwhile, science has had to take a seat on the sidelines. This is despite the fact that science has revolutionised every facet of our daily lives and reshaped our understanding of the world.
In God: The Failed Hypothesis, physicist Victor J. Stenger explores the role science has in explaining whether a supreme being such as God could ever be possible, and the likelihood of it ever existing. His work treats the traditional concept of a God as any other scientific hypothesis, taking on board all the arguments and claims ranging from its influence in biology to human behaviour. What follows is one of the most convincing and comprehensive arguments against the existence of God grounded in hard scientific realities, perfect for any fans of Christopher Hitchens and God Is Not Great.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
