Kirkus Reviews is one of the review sites that evaluates books before they’re published, with the aim of giving bookstores and book lovers some guidance about what to buy. They just published a pre-review of the Albatross based on the galley proofs they received, and I’m pleased to see that it’s positive. Kirkus is known for being the most critical of the vetting services, and of course my book is controversial and not exactly kind toward religion, so I was doubly chuffed to read this (especially the last sentence):
KIRKUS REVIEW
A scientist assails superstition and irrationality.
After evolutionary biologist Coyne (Ecology and Evolution/Univ. of Chicago; Why Evolution Is True, 2009, etc.) published a widely read book presenting evidence for evolution, he was astonished to find that “the proportion of creationists in America didn’t budge,” hovering between 40 and 46 percent. Faith, he concluded, “led them to discount and reject the facts right before their noses.” In his latest book, the author takes on the problem of faith directly, arguing that “understanding reality…is best achieved using the tools of science, and is never achieved using the methods of faith.” Although he makes a clear and cogent argument, he may find that, once again, he is preaching to his own choir. Coyne defines science “as a collection of methods” yielding knowledge that can be rejected or confirmed through testing. Religion derives its authority from belief in “a god, gods, or similar superhuman power.” Coyne focuses on religions “that make empirical claims about the existence of a deity, the nature of that deity, and how it interacts with the world,” in particular Judaism, Islam, and especially Christianity. Discounting the efforts of accommodationists, who strive to find common ground between science and religion, Coyne asserts that the two are incompatible “because they have different methods of getting knowledge about reality, different ways of assessing the reliability of that knowledge, and, in the end, arrive at conflicting conclusions about the universe.” He notes that evolutionary biology is a special focus of incredulity or outright attack by the faithful, but he sees that other areas as well—e.g., stem cell research, vaccination, euthanasia, homosexuality, and global warming—have been undermined by religious claims. Coyne celebrates a world without faith, claiming that there would be no loss of compassion and morality, only of pseudoscientific thought that can “do real damage to our species and our planet.”
Deeply religious readers may not even pick it up, but this is an important book that deserves an open-minded readership.
As Farmer Hoggett said to Babe: “That’ll do, pig; that’ll do.”
If you haven’t pre-ordered it, and want to make Professor Ceiling Cat very happy on a dolorous day, you can buy it in advance (and not be charged till it’s out in May) by clicking the links at the upper right of the site.
Excellent!
Until the last line, I felt there was a ‘but…’ coming, but the reviewer is positive. Well done, PCC!
How about: “…but it needs more cat pictures?”
I guess the “but” lies in the earlier, “he may find that, once again, he is preaching to his own choir.”
How many of those who should read this will?
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Congratulations!
Your amazon.ca link for Faith vs Fact goes to WEIT. Not sure it matters much as its easy to find of course, but thought I’d mention it anyway.
I ordered and am looking forward to it!
Thanks. I just clicked the link for the Canadian site, and it works for me.
I see I took a round about way to get to the link I mentioned. I hadn’t noticed the ‘amazon.ca’ link on the main page which works for me.
If I 1) click on the book cover (right-hand side of the page) it takes me to the “Books by Jerry A Coyne Page”; 2) then click “pre-order Faith vs Fact” (on the left-hand side of page); 3) then click “amazon.ca” it still takes me to WEIT on amazon.ca.
Or way easier, here is the link to the page I talking about
http://jerrycoyne.uchicago.edu/order.html
Any word on the possibility of audible carrying the book? (Thanks)
That was a very informative review. Pretty good at getting to the heart of it. I suspect many of us can almost see it but there is nothing like being there.
Great to read. As you note, Kirkus is the most rigorous site of its kind, so this bodes very well for the quondam Albatross.
If you’ll forgive some off-topic news, a member of Charlie Hebdo appeared in Chicago last week to give a talk at the University of Chicago French Club. Her name is Zineb El Rhazoui, and the Tribune has posted an interview with her:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-nw-hebdo-journalist-qanda-20150302-story.html#page=1
Zineb was out of Paris during the massacre, but she has received several serious death threats from extremist groups. I hope she will continue upsetting them for many more decades.
She got death threats here, too, so her talk at the law school had several armed guards, and students had to show ID and go through metal detectors.
Events like this one demonstrate the dire need for books such as FvF. The macroscope employed by Pinker and Shermer shows an optimism based on long-term trends toward peace and rationality. But right now, right here in this world, the human situation looks pretty grim. May FvF become a heavy-firepower weapon in the arsenal of reason. Congratulations, Prof. Coyne.
I noticed the same thing a couple of weeks ago, I was one click away from getting a second copy of WEIT.
Meant as a reply to Col?
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Oh, yes. Sorry.
Very cool indeed! Congratulations!
Since it’s obviously as good as all of us already assumed, I think your publisher should give permission to put a sample here for your 10,000th post – it’ll surely increase sales! 🙂
This a good reason to be chuffed and doubly chuffed. Congrats!
A fair review, and I share the fear that the ones who most need to read it will not do so.
As soon as they see ‘Also wrote: WEIT’, I suspect it will be put on the ‘too controversial’ pile.
A very good review. Looking forward to receiving the book.
It would be interesting to read a review of Faith Vs Fact by Michael Ruse. Jerry, perhaps you could send him a copy?
I already know what he’d write, and so do you. He’d say I was wrong, and then give all the reasons he finds them compatible (adumbrated in “Can a Darwinian be a Christian”?)
Yeah, Ruse is a dishonest hack. He claims to be a philosopher of science. He doesn’t even understand science.
He’s gotten worse, too – _Taking Darwin Seriously_ has good bits, but the subjectivism is already there. I also remember enjoying (but not why) his stuff on human sociobiology. But those were both early in his career.
I should have said “fun” instead of “interesting.”
Congrats! I’m looking forward to reading it.
Love it! Kudos. [Awaiting delivery of my amazon pre-order. After I’ve read it I will review it as well on Amazon.]
The anticipation grows.
Little by little, we are seeing small samples of FvsF. I am looking forward to the whole thing.
It’s a torture to have to wait till june to get it in Switzerland…
Great news!
Really looking forward to picking up my copy – even more so (if that were possible) after that very positive review.
I am a complete ignoramus regarding Kirkus: who is likely to be influenced by their reviews? Are they writing for an informed readership or for the wider public? Are subsequent reviewers likely to be influenced by them?
Congratulations! That’s totes amazeballs!
Congratulations! I look forward to receiving mine from Amazon.
That augers well, PCC. Congrats. I’m eagerly awaiting a very good read this Spring.
There’s so much cheer and, yes, love on this thread. It’s angry cheer, needless to say. And angry love from a bunch of angry, angry atheists.
Why are we all so angry?
The first of many, I expect. You da man, dawg.
Hi Dr. Coyne,
I prefer to read books on my kindle, but I’m wondering if there are any graphics or images in FvF that you think would translate poorly in e-ink? Thanks!
I did pre-order it, and Oliver Sacks’ new one as well, but I have to say I find it irritating that the payment doesn’t get deducted from my account until it comes out. I wish it were optional, because while I have $$ now, with my work and life being as it is, poverty following me more closely than my shadow, I can’t be sure I’ll have the dosh when the time comes! Incidentally, if anyone is in need of a 30=-something with a B.S. in history, background working with people with disabilities…
I pre-ordered 3 copies of it. As a long-time reader of this blog I know this is going to be a very good book.
So why not PRE-order more than 1 copy, to give as a gift to a friend, person in need, etc. ?
Reminder:
It is important to rack up sales immediately upon release:
The Economist: Authorpreneurship. To succeed these days, authors must be more businesslike than ever. Feb 14th 2015
http://www.economist.com/news/business/21643124-succeed-these-days-authors-must-be-more-businesslike-ever-authorpreneurship
Well done!