Off Topic Books (off topic)

I would definitely suggest Dark Matter by Michelle Paver. Brilliantly written, not so much scary as chilling, brilliant setting and an protagonist who might be a closet homosexual...

 

I've read the Greatest show on Earth which was a good read. It seemed to veer away from the usual 'Creationist vs Evolutionist' debate and actually presented an accessible argument (especially for those of us who aren't scientists) on the topic of evolution.

A much as reading for work has its downsides, sometimes it makes you remember just how good a novel is. 1984 by George Orwell is dystopian fiction at its best.

 

Totally agree, I prefer Dawkins when he is inspiring wonder about science and not when he is arguing with straw men. He's a good writer but in my opinion he shouldn't have veered into religious territory and especially not in such a confrontational manner because it just made him look a bit silly to me. There are plenty of great writers who have convincingly dismissed religion on fundamental grounds and from an objective perspective, and I don't think Dawkins' anti religious books have done them any favours.

 

Spot on. Even as a staunch atheist I had to balk at some of his claims, which often bordered on the preposterous. Add this to the fact that some of his arguments contradicted themselves and you have a very poorly thought out book; it appeared to me an aggressive rant as opposed to a thought out piece of negative rhetoric.

As an aside, for a totally bizarre (but in places brilliant) read, check out 'At the Molehills of Madness' by Rhys Hughes. Some superb short tales.