The God DelusionThe God Delusion
Score Modern
What it's about
Richard Dawkins, the evolutionary biologist, argues that belief in God is almost certainly mistaken, and that religion does more harm than good. He takes on the classic arguments for God's existence, explains how religion may have evolved, argues that morality doesn't need religion, and describes what he sees as the damage done by faith, from wars to the indoctrination of children.
Why it's worth reading
The Guardian named it one of the best books of the 21st century. It was a worldwide bestseller and the defining book of the 'New Atheism'.
You'll love it if you liked
God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
The Selfish Gene
The Varieties of Religious ExperienceGood to know
It's polemical and combative, and believers often find it dismissive. Philosophers have criticized some of its arguments.
By the numbers
- Readers25 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller33 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #10 of the 11 faith books we rank
- #1049 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1939 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, True story
More by Richard Dawkins
If you like this, read next
Small Gods
The Yiddish Policemen's Union
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Galileo's Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and Love
Servant of the Bones
A Canticle for LeibowitzExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The God Delusion worth reading?
Yes. The Guardian named it one of the best books of the 21st century. It ranks #1,939 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The God Delusion about?
Richard Dawkins, the evolutionary biologist, argues that belief in God is almost certainly mistaken, and that religion does more harm than good. He takes on the classic arguments for God's existence, explains how religion may have evolved, argues that morality doesn't need religion, and describes what he sees as the damage done by faith, from wars to the indoctrination of children.
How long does it take to read The God Delusion?
About 12 hours (463 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The God Delusion?
If you liked it, try God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens, The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins or The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James.