Yes, I am finally writing another review, and I'm really coming back with a bang this time! I recently finished "36 Arguments for the Existence of God" by Rebecca Goldstein and was that an interesting read or what.
First, to give a little background of the author-- Rebecca Goldstein got her Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton University and is married to Steven Pinker, the well-known experimental psychologist/cognitive scientist/author of popular science. If you'd like to watch a video of Pinker interviewing his wife on her book, Amazon has it posted here under "Check Out Related Media."
Now, to talk about the book itself-- "36 Arguments" is a work of fiction, not a non-fictional work trying to argue for or against the existence of God as the title may suggest. Goldstein's atheistic beliefs and Jewish upbringing clearly influenced the themes in the novel. "36 Arguments" contains many satirical elements referring to religion, science, and how people wrestle within these arenas. Since this is the sort of book I'm more interested in sharing my opinion about than summarizing the plot for, here is a snippet from the book's jacket just to give you an idea of what it's all about:
"At the center: Cass Seltzer, a professor of psychology whose book, The Varieties of Religious Illusion, has become a surprise best seller. He’s been dubbed 'the atheist with a soul,' and his sudden celebrity has upended his life. He wins over the stunning Lucinda Mandelbaum–'the goddess of game theory'–and loses himself in a spiritually expansive infatuation. A former girlfriend appears: an anthropologist who invites him to join in her quest for immortality through biochemistry. But he is haunted by reminders of the two people who ignited his passion to understand religion: his teacher Jonas Elijah Klapper, a renowned literary scholar with a suspicious obsession with messianism, and an angelic six-year-old mathematical genius, heir to the leadership of an exotic Hasidic sect. The rush of events in a single dramatic week plays out Cass’s conviction that the religious impulse spills out into life at large."
I felt empty after finishing "36 Arguments." It was well-written and had wonderfully developed characters, but the content was disappointing to me. The middle of the book lagged and there was a major inconsistency with the main character towards the end (who just forgets they're going to debate a Nobel Laureate at Harvard?!).
Even though I am not an atheist, I was intrigued to read a book from the perspective of a fictional character called "the atheist with a soul." Cass is a somewhat relatable guy to read about, but I didn't find him as likable as he may portrayed to be. To me, he came off as a man still searching for the answers in the wrong places (case in point: his infatuation with the self-obsessed Lucinda). And when towards the end of the book he debates someone on the existence of God, he uses an argument against Christianity that really irks me. From my perspective, it portrayed his own selfishness in a whole new light.
But I would love to hear what you think! This book invites reflection and spurs discussion on realms central to human existence. Read the book and it's appendix, and you'll see why.
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