An Atheist's History of Belief: Understanding Our Most Extraordinary Invention Hardcover – February 11, 2014

My Review.I found it worth while. Very well researched and written. It does chronicle the histories of religion quite well and I did learn a good deal from it. One thing I did learn, aside from the more popular prophets, Jesus, Mohammad, Moses, Buddha and others there were numerous obscure prophets that offered the same message. “Follow me, exclusively, and I will lead you to paradise.” I can’t agree so much with his premise that most religions stem from fear of the unknown. My idea is that religions are an invention of a vastly over inflated human ego. Life in the present just can’t be all there is. There has to be an after life of paradise or some such figment of the imagination and these religions are a means to that end.I also have to argue with his notion that Jesus was well educated. In all my readings of Jesus, there is no mention of this and just how would a son of a carpenter obtain an education in those times. Also, if he was so educated why did he not leave us some writings of his preachings. This is left to some anonymous authors and that after a time of 2 generations or 70 some years.I did give it a 5 star rating.R. Lovell

Found it very interesting and hypothetic to the author's views.

Matthew Kneale is true to his title: he gives a history of belief, not religion. A lighter read than the title may suggest, Kneale does not preach Atheism but dissects, like a historian, the pillar of society called belief. Starting with prehistoric man, the journey follows how belief became a part of our being, and why. The text is soul food for Atheists and an anti-theological thought experiment for agnostics and the liberally faithful. Regardless of your faith (or lack thereof), if you want a book to help you see/challenge your beliefs from various angles, this is the one.

Mr. Kneale's book is quite well researched, even though it was difficult to read at times because it had several disjointed portions. But overall, it is quite an interesting and informative book.

Nice historical irrespective of how religions have developed.

Kneale's book is an exceptional guide to the origins of belief. The author incorporates a wide range of historical and anthropologic detail yet does so not in dry, academic prose but in the gripping style of a novelist that makes for a great read -- and Kneale is a first-rate novelist, the author of English Passengers, winner of the Whitbread Book Award. I highly recommend this book.

History that reads like a novel - a very good thing! As always with this author, humour can be found throughout and facts are presented in a way that keeps you informed and interested. Read this over three long nights and expect to return to this again and again.Can't wait for his next fiction release!

interesting. got kind of complicated at the end with more modern religions.

Creo que faltó un poco analizar las razones de las creencias, no solo enumerarlas y contar su historia, lo que estuvo muy interesante. Aunque quizas el autor deja eso para que el lector lo haga. Al final sentí como que terminó muy abruptamente.

Good book

Per capire e agire bene durante questi tempi -molto schizofrenici in ogni campo di vita- questo libro puo essere una buona guida.Suggerisco a tutti, sopratutto ai politici per divorarlo.

Een aardig boek dat prettig leest. De auteur geeft meer een geschiedenis van religie dan van geloof. De nadruk ligt sterk op het Christelijk geloof, maar ook de andere grote en minder grote religies komen aan bod. De toon van het boek is objectief en er wordt niet, zoals je dat tegenwoordig juist vaak hebt in atheistische literatuur, gepreekt.

Matthew Kneale wears his learning lightly in this survey of religious belief, covering a huge range of history and some theology for the general reader in an entertaining way. He has produced a very informative survey which pulls out key themes and gives the reader much to think about. It might be challenging at times for some believers, but a faith afraid of challenge is a poor one, and the author makes it clear that he is considering the history of belief as a phenomenon, from the outside. To my knowledge it is the first attempt to carry out such a complex task, and Kneale's easy and lively style ensures that the book presents complex concepts in a very clear way. I enjoyed this, and learnt a lot from it - although I remain a believer!