The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

Audiobook narrated by Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward

Genre- non fiction

Rating- 4/5 for the conviction and for the matter 3/5 for the narration (will elaborate)

This is a review of the book and not any personal opinion since that will be controversial. This is a book on atheism, the title itself indicates that belief in god is a type of delusion or mental disorder according to the author.

Anyone having any crisis of faith can either read this book and convert or stay away and keep the faith! This book is the final bible (ironic!) of atheism and agnosticism though the author has gone on to elaborate the different types of atheists and so many classification including one involving Einstein and he goes to great length to try and prove that great scientists like Einstein was an atheist while the author gives lots of points in favour to prove that Hitler was religious!

The Hitler issue is a constant prick in the atheist balloon so it had to be taken out and how!

Every single point of a discussion between a believer and non believer is taken and the point of view of the atheist is elaborated with scientific acumen and points!

The flying tea pot to the Schrödinger’s cat; all the famous notes and points which athiests use all over can be traced to this book. Every single point and counter point has been discussed and in detail.

Since the author is primary born as a Christian, his chief point of contention is Bible and related scriptures and religions relation to the Abrahamic religion. He takes many different books and starts to pick them apart one by one.

In his scientific spirit he talks about the Big Bang or the multiverse or the quantum theory every time putting the view that no scientific evidence can point out to the evidence of God.
He talks about how even if the formation of life on earth is a once in a billion chance, it is still ok since there are a billion billion planets and once the first step is done then it is just progress from then on.

Like most of his books, this is an ode to the evolution by Darwin. It is the basis of most of his views and this is the driving force which made the author an Atheist.

Coming to the narration; in the previous book called the selfish gene, the author explained that there are two narrators to differentiate between old and new edition and end notes and so on. In this book the couple make a combined talk! Many times it is alright but in between the constant change in the tone and voice makes it confusing to say the least and occasionally irksome especially in one section akin to the irritating monologue of Atlas Shrugged, both the narrators go into an alternate uttering of the sayings and quotes from the Bible and that five to ten minutes gave me a severe headache!

Once you get used to the two voice which was unnecessary to begin with, it is smooth sailing in most places!

He also talks about famous atheists and also opines how many famous people would have been closet atheists which may be the deal even in modern times.

He talks about a similar novel to this one, the Da Vince code by Dan Brown but is not impressed with another fiction even if it treads similar lines as his book.
He talks about the abuses received by Atheists all over the world and how religion is actually violent. He talks about extremism bought by blind belief and the problems of not questioning the faith or for that matter questioning the faith.

He states how teaching kids about religion when they are actually having no opinion of their own is akin to harassment and must be stopped.
He talks about how many famous religious people holding positions of science is a big hypocrisy especially since many do not believe in evolution and think that the earth is only a few thousand years old. These descriptions are decorated by quotes in voice of Lala and that’s sometimes funny or irritating depending on your mood!
He also states and tries to prove that religion does not make you good or bad, it is not the only comfort and it is not the only choice in many words and chapter after chapter.

All in all it is a life changing book and something which will definitely make you think if nothing else!
All opinions and controversies aside, the author has made an earnest attempt and it shows. Whether it would make you hug your faith more or give it up altogether is entirely your choice!

Read it to either test your faith or keep your faith!