as much as i support evolution and hate creationists (and intelligent design supporters), i cannot support reading "on the origin of species". it is VERY BORING.
i love to read about science, but man, that thing is a clunker.
same thing with the bible, make me some cliff notes with the good parts, then i'll read it.
i would say, instead read "the blind watchmaker"
and....
i have no replacement for the bible. just don't read it. most of it's contradiction anyway.

Thanks for this ongoing interest in my book suggestions. From some of your reflections, it looks like the intent of the list was not as clear as I thought. The one-line comment after each book is not a review but a statement about how the book's content influenced the behavior of people who shaped the western world. So, for example, it does no good to say what the Bible "really" meant, if its actual influence on human behavior is something else. Again, thanks for your collective interest. -NDTyson

oops, just saw this in the comments.
well, whatever. i got my preferred book name out there.

The Bible should be read in schools. In Lit classes alongside other myths. It's a huge part of our culture, idioms, etc. and merits study and understanding.

Why you readin' for?

That list outside of Origins is really depressing. It is a list of the all that is wrong with mankind and the motivations behind why the world is so farked up. The only thing missing would be Freud to bring in sex and we'd have all 7 deadly sins.

Dear Mr. Tyson,

Pluto is my favrite planet and you are mean for no longer sayin it is a planet. Pleeze call it a planet again.

Sincerely,

The_Sponge

Mrs. Boyd's Second Grade Class

"Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived." ― Isaac Asimov

Mmmm,,,,The Organ of Species.

I've never been religious. Was raised Catholic, but left as soon as I was old enough to make that decision.

But The Bible is a great book. I used to read passages at night all the time as a young adult. Not in a worship/prayer way... but just to get insight on a pretty important book.

downstairs: Not in a worship/prayer way... but just to get insight on a pretty important book.

Or even just a fun book. Read that bit in first Samuel where the ark gets stolen and the people who stole it start to get sick and die, so their priests have them make golden hemorrhoids and golden rats and then send it back on an un-piloted donkey...

The most trenchant retrospective of
the human condition ever created.

The_Sponge: ...

Pluto isn't a planet, sorry - you can not has. it is the first (and not largest in its area) of smaller objects - large enough to be pulled spherical by their own gravity, but not large enough to be the bully on the block [clear other objects from their orbital zone]

that doesn't make it less interesting. did you know that for part of its orbit the entire atmosphere freezes to the surface as a thin rime of frost? then when it moves back close enough to het up just enough the atmosphere sublimates and reforms.

Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Ceres (Dwarf, in the asteroid belt)

Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune

Pluto (Dwarf - KBO in resonance with Neptune)
Haumea (Dwarf - KBO)
Makemake (Dwarf - KBO)
Eris (Dwarf - Scattered Disk, largest dwarf, cause the reclassification of Pluto, appropriately named after the goddess of strife)


the solar system is a busy place. 8 major planets, 5 dwarves

Kazan: Pluto isn't a planet, sorry - you can not has.


I was just parroting those kids who had send him hate mail:

Hate Mail From Third Graders (new window)

Amazingly, I approve of the list. He gives good reasons for each and chose them to illuminate a theme.

The_Sponge: Kazan: Pluto isn't a planet, sorry - you can not has.


I was just parroting those kids who had send him hate mail:

Hate Mail From Third Graders (new window)

i know, i was playing along, and using it as an excuse to post an interesting factoid about pluto's atmosphere

The bible can be fairly tolerable in spots. The problems only start to come in when people file it under "History" instead of in "Fiction" where it belongs.

MaxxLarge: The bible can be fairly tolerable in spots

Sure, the parts where Jesus teaches how to act like a Christian which are the exact parts the loudest Christians ignore the most.

All that book-learnin' must be why they named that Junior High after him.

Quasar: The Bible should be read in schools. In Lit classes alongside other myths. It's a huge part of our culture, idioms, etc. and merits study and understanding.

My school, a private school, did that. We read the major Old Testament stories in English class. (It's traditionally called English even when it's really Literature.) It's about cultural literacy.

In the 1950s my mother in attended a public school that had a Bible class with a religious rather than literary focus. Her father was an atheist. She lacked the proper reverential attitude. I don't mean she hated religion or deliberately insulted it. Her offense was lèse majesté, speaking lightly of Jesus among deeply religious people.

Kazan: i know, i was playing along, and using it as an excuse to post an interesting factoid about pluto's atmosphere


And thanks for posting that, BTW.

Also, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I felt slightly bummed out when Pluto lost its planet status. Probably because I loved using this mnemonic device back in early elementary school:

My
Very
Earnest
Mother
Just
Saved
Us
Nine
Pies

So if I ever have kids, I'll have to chance "Nine" to "Nachos" when I tell them how they can remember the order of the planets.

The_Sponge: ....


nice.. now we gotta come up with something for the Dwarves

C
P
H
M
E

Kazan: The_Sponge: ....


nice.. now we gotta come up with something for the Dwarves

Children
Playing
House
Mortifies
Elders

ZAZ: My school, a private school, did that. We read the major Old Testament stories in English class. (It's traditionally called English even when it's really Literature.) It's about cultural literacy.

I kinda regret not taking Bible Lit like my friend did. I would have been such a better atheist.

talulahgosh: i have no replacement for the bible. just don't read it. most of it's contradiction anyway.

Asimov's Guide to the Bible, really good stuff.

RexTalionis: Kazan: The_Sponge: ....


nice.. now we gotta come up with something for the Dwarves

Children
Playing
House
Mortifies
Elders

win

Kazan: The_Sponge: ....


nice.. now we gotta come up with something for the Dwarves

CP Helps Mike Ejaculate

There you go!

Kazan: The_Sponge: ....


nice.. now we gotta come up with something for the Dwarves

C
P
H
M
E

clown porn has me erect

BKITU: Kazan: The_Sponge: ....


nice.. now we gotta come up with something for the Dwarves

CP Helps Mike Ejaculate

There you go!

thomps: Kazan: The_Sponge: ....


nice.. now we gotta come up with something for the Dwarves

C
P
H
M
E

clown porn has me erect

worst simulpost ever.

NuttierThanEver: That list outside of Origins is really depressing. It is a list of the all that is wrong with mankind and the motivations behind why the world is so farked up. The only thing missing would be Freud to bring in sex and we'd have all 7 deadly sins.

Understanding our faults is the first step in overcoming them.

thomps: BKITU: Kazan: The_Sponge: ....


nice.. now we gotta come up with something for the Dwarves

CP Helps Mike Ejaculate

There you go!

thomps: Kazan: The_Sponge: ....


nice.. now we gotta come up with something for the Dwarves

C
P
H
M
E

clown porn has me erect

worst simulpost ever.

Oy....

oldebayer: Kazan: the solar system is a busy place. 8 major planets, 5 dwarves

There should be two more dwarves lurking about, because Sauron forged seven rings for them.

Unless one is hoarding, which is entirely possible with dwarves.



...that's racist.

NuttierThanEver: That list outside of Origins is really depressing. It is a list of the all that is wrong with mankind and the motivations behind why the world is so farked up. The only thing missing would be Freud to bring in sex and we'd have all 7 deadly sins.

Perhaps, the study of what we collectively have done wrong read as group will inspire someone to develop a different, better idea. To dismiss what what we don't like, simply for not liking it is easy. To try to gain meaning and perspective from it is not.

Kazan: nice.. now we gotta come up with something for the Dwarves

C
P
H
M
E


Chimpanzees
Pegging
Hippos
=
Marvelous
Entertainment

The_Sponge: Kazan: nice.. now we gotta come up with something for the Dwarves

C
P
H
M
E


Chimpanzees
Pegging
HipposHobos
=
Marvelous
Entertainment

FTFY

timujin: NuttierThanEver: That list outside of Origins is really depressing. It is a list of the all that is wrong with mankind and the motivations behind why the world is so farked up. The only thing missing would be Freud to bring in sex and we'd have all 7 deadly sins.

Understanding our faults is the first step in overcoming them.

sorry to kinda cover the same ground there, I only got as far as NTE's and had to reply...

nothing shocking there. the bible is the most important piece of literature in western civilization. i am an atheist, but i have a bible app on my iPhone, and i use it fairly often (mainly to correct bible thumpers).

sigdiamond2000: Why you readin' for?

So I won't end up a waitress in a Waffle House

/read them all

I'd like to add:

The Tao of Pooh

Actually no, that's a book every moron should read.

Wasn't killing Pluto enough for this guy?

He thinks he knows whats best for our children too now.

His comment on Wealth of Nations is spot on.

thomps: worst simulpost ever.

Au contraire, mon frere! That was lolleriffic!

Anyway, of course people should read the Bible. And the Koran. And the Dao De Ching. And the Upanishads. The more sacred texts the merrier.