Some Highly Recommended Books: These books can be borrowed from any public library or bought at any bookstore.

3 Specially Important Books:

Religion is prevalent and very influential in the world.  It effects all of us in various ways, so it is important to understand it and its alternates, so this year the topic is religion.
 
Following is a list of three books I would recommend that gives some understanding of this topic. 
They avoid certain aspects of this topic: Not much time is spent discussing the thoughts of particular thinkers of the past, not time discussing some of the more sophisticated defences of theistic belief, not discussing in detail the specific nature of threats science makes to religious belief, and avoiding critical analysis of the Bible, Koran, Bhagavad-Gita, Books of Mormonism, Veda, or other Holy Books. 
 
These books would be good ones for a book club to debate and criticize.
As a result I would welcome any item by item rational criticism of any or all parts of these books.
 
(1) “50 reasons people give for believing in a god” by Guy P. Harrison, 354 pages, 2008, ISBN 978-1-59102-567-2
This book was written by an American journalist who has travelled the world and interviewed religious people of many faiths, asking them why they believe in a God(s).   He has degrees  in History and Anthropology from the University of South Florida.
Chapter headings given in the PS below.
 
(2) "The God Virus" by Darrel W. Ray, 241 pages, 2009, ISBN - 13:978-0-9709505-1-2
The author is an organizational psychologist.  Again, has specialized in the psychology, anthropology, and Sociology of religion.  He has an evangelical background.  His book deals with all kinds of belief systems including Marxism.
The book gives an unusual and new perspective of these systems.
One chapter is on the American Civil Religion.
 
(3) "Atheism, a very short introduction" by Julian Baggini, 119 pages, 2003, ISBN 978-0-19-280424-2
The author is a British Philosopher. This is an honest attempt to philosophically rationalize atheism.
People often wonder what intellectual justifications an atheist may use to support his stance.
To truly appreciate religion, you must also know what atheism is all about.
The chapters of this book are:
    (1) What is atheism?
    (2) The Case for Atheism
    (3) Atheist Ethics
    (4) Meaning and Purpose
    (5) Atheism in History
    (6) Final Words

Science:

You may be interested in a science fiction book that is entertaining, yet very factual on evolution entitled "Evolution" by Stephen Baxter.  ISBN 0-345-45783-8 ~650 pages pocketbook.  Would appeal to non-scientists.
"Rare Earth" by Peter D. Ward and Donald Brownlee -- life is likely common throughout
        the universe, but complex animal and plant life is probably almost non-existent.
"Our Inner Ape, A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We Are" by Frans De Waal, 
ISBN:  1-57322-312-3
"Where is Everybody? Fifty Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problems of ExtraTerrestrial Life"  by Stephen Webb 
ISBN: 0-387-95501-1
" the Map that Changed the World" by Simon Winchester -- the life of William Smith the father of Geology (1769 - 1839) - first mapped the layered strata (used fossils) of Great Britian.

 
"Seven Ideas That Shook the Universe" by Nathan Spielberg and Bryon D. Anderson  Excellent in explaining the revolutionary ideas of Physics ISBN 0-471-848-16-6(Pbk)
"Acid Tongues and Tranquil Dreamers, Eight Scientific Rivalries that Changed the World" by Michael White ISBN 0-380-97754-0
A must read -- "Life Itself, Exploring the Realm of the Living Cell" by Boyce Rensberger.  ISBN\0-19-512500-2(Pbk)
"Paraite Rex"  by Carl Zimmer -- as many as 80% of the species of all organisms on earth may be parasites -- a major factor influencing the evolution of life.
Also his excellent book on evolution "Evolution, the Triumph of an Idea". ISBN 0-06-019906-7.  Companion book to the PBS series on Evolution.  
 For Layman and Physicist: "A Physicist's Guide to Skepticism"
        by Milton A. Rothman ISBN 0-87975-440-0.
        I would highly recommend it.
 "Isaac Newton, The Last Sorcerer" by Michael White ISBN 0-201-48301-7, 1997
The best book showing there is no evidence for supporting beliefs in New Age
thinking, read: Carl Sagan's "The Demon-Haunted World, Science as a
Candle in the Dark" ISBN: 0-345-40946-9.
Another book by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan that I would recommend
          is entitled "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" ISBN: 0-345-38472-5.
An author that does an excellent job of explaining the underlying reality of life check books by Richard Dawkins,
        especially his books: "River Out of Eden",  ISBN 0-465-01606-5.  
        Also "Climbing Mount Improbable" ISBN 0--393-31682-3 pbk.
       and "The Blind Watchmaker" 
Also "The Selfish Gene" ISBN 0-19-286092-5 pbk
"The Cooperative Gene -- How Mendel's Demon Explains the Evolution of Complex Beings" by Mark Ridley.  ISBN 0-7432-0161-2
Explains a lot about how complexity of life arose -- most interesting! 2001
"The Seven Daughters of Eve", 'the Science that Reveals our Genetic Ancestory' by Bryan Sykes -- many examples of genetic sleuthing -- most educational and interesting.  ISBN 0-393-02018-5 
Check
http://www.oxfordancestors.com
For a sum of money you can have your mitochondrial DNA read to find where you stand in the world's genealogy -- interesting.
Of course the book of the millennium "The Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin
 A Year 2000 update on Darwin with all the new supporting evidence for Darwinian evolution in
                        Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geology since Darwin: "Darwin's Ghost" by Steve Jones 
                        ISBN 0-375-50103-7
Y  The Descent of Men by Steve Jones  ISBN 0-316-85615-0  The Y chromosome and it's genetic effects on Men
Highly recommend:  "The Triumph of Evolution and the Failure of Creationism" by Niles Eldredge ISBN 0-7167-3638-1
-- an important book for anyone interested in education, especially science education in elementary, or secondary school and college/university. Also for anyone intending to make a career in science.
"Sperm Wars" by Robin Baker ISBN 0-00-255438-0 Why women and men are the way they are.
The Book "The Ascent of Man" by Jacob Bronowski is also very much recommended
Dr. Tatiana's SEX ADVICE for Creation by Olivia Judson ISBN 0-8050-6332-3
A compilation of sex advice for lovelorn beetles, hyenas, stickleback fish, etc. based on over 500 scientific research studies
Fascinating book
The Meme Machine by Susan Blackmore ISBN 0-19-286212-X
Memes in culture as genes in Biology.
Two superb books, which deal with the subject of humanism (or "evolutionary
        naturalism") by Pat Duffy Hutcheon: 
        (1) LEAVING THE CAVE: EVOLUTIONARY NATURALISM IN
             SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT,  ISBN 0-88920-258-3 (Waterloo, ON:
             Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1996)
        (2) BUILDING CHARACTER AND CULTURE (Westport, CT: Praeger
               Publishers, 1999)
"Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science" ISBN 486-20394-8 and "Did Adam and Eve Have Navels" ISBN 0-393-32238-6 pkb by Martin Gardner
"Why People Believe Weird Things --- Pseudoscience, Superstition, and other Confusions of our Time" by Michael Shermer, 1997, ISNB 0-7167-3090-1
Another excellent book: "Can We Be Good Without God? Behaviour, Belonging and the Need to Believe." by Dr. Robert Buckman, 2000, Penguin Books of Canada Ltd., ISBN 0-670-89222-X
Don't be fooled!  There are other books by the same title -- by other authors!
  -- interesting for everyone, theist and non-theist
  -- Dr. Buckman is a cancer specialist and professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He has written a number of other books including "I Don't Know What to Say -- How to Help and Support Someone Who is Dying"
False Testament by Daniel Lazare (Harper's Magazine) -- an article from "The Best American Science and Nature Writing, 2003"  Also found at:
An article on Middle East Archeology of the last 25 years.

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1111/1822_304/83553507/p1/article.jhtml
 Also, see next item below:

"The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts" by  Israel Finkelstein, Neil Asher Silberman  
 A must read -- describes the last 25 years of new detailed archeological data of the middle east.  
A highly recommended book on Mormon Fundamentalism by Jon Krakauer called "Under the Banner of Heaven, A story of Violent Faith", 
ISBN 1-4000-3280-6

Neuroscience:
The December, 1999 issue of the Scientific American was exceptional. 
One article written by Antonio Damasio (a Neurosurgeon) was really interesting. 
I borrowed 2 of the books written by Mr. Damasio from the Public Library.  In these books he presents brain research on emotions, feelings, reason, consciousness, mind, and the self. Neuroscience is making great strides in 
understanding these. Well worth reading whenever you find time. I plan to
purchase the second book -- well worth having.

 (1) "Descartes' Error - Emotion, Reason and the Human Brain" (153.43 Dam in the library) ISBN 0-399-13894-3. 1994 book - quite technical
 (2) "The Feeling of What Happens" (153 Dam) ISBN 0-15-100369-6. 1999 book

Other:

"50 reasons people give for believing in a god" by Guy P.  Harrison.  A must read for everyone.   I would consider this book the best of the decade.  ISBN 978-1-59102-567-2
Click here for table of Contents
You will find the following author very interesting -- Karen Armstrong. You can borrow her books from the library. An example is her book "Holy War,The Crusades and their impact on today's world" ISBN 0-333-44544-9. She is an X-Nun from Britain, who presently does not believe or practice her former Catholicism. She is a respected scholar on Judaism, Islam and Christianity. You would find her detailed and comprehensive survey of Judaism as related to other religions interesting.

Karen Armstrong has done a lot of research and has written a number of books including "Jerusalem" ISBN 0-679-43596-4 and "The Battle for God." ISBN 0-345-39169-1
Most recent book "The Spiral Staircase, My Climb out of Darkness" ISBN 0-676-97467-8

"Leaving the Fold, A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion" by Marlene Winell. An excellent book I would recommend for anyone in the process of walking away or have walked away in the past -- the effects of their former religion often linger. She spends most of the book on helping in the very important issues of emotional and psychological aspects of walking away.
Anything on Robert Green Ingersoll (All free on the Internet) -- The great 19th century orator (1833 - 1899) that has much to say that applies even now.
"The Book Your Church Doesn't want You to Read" by Tim C. Leedom  ISBN 0-8403-8908-6
"The Trouble with Islam, Wake-up Call for Honesty and Change" by Irshad Manji.  Irshad is young Muslim lady from Richmond, B.C. -- born in Uganda.  A must read if you want to know the motivations, history, religious beliefs, practices of Muslims and how they fit in with Western thought and practices.
Review of "Why I Am Not a Muslim"
"Why People Believe Weird Things --- Pseudoscience, Superstition, and other Confusions of our Time" by Michael Shermer, 1997, ISNB 0-7167-3090-1
 "The Ghost in the Universe, God in the Light of Modern Science" by Taner Edis  ISBN 1-57392-977-8, 2002
An excellent book showing the Bible, Book of Mormon
        and the Koran are not inerrant books is:
        "The Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancy" by C. Dennis McKinsey
        ISBN 0-87975-926-7 from Prometheus Books
"Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit" by Garry Wills     ISBN 0385494106
Published in June 2000 by Doubleday
An incisive, challenging and often harrowing account of the subject, and a grim reminder of the adjacency of church and torture-chamber in so many periods of history.  "The Inquisition" by Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh
"The Tower of Babel, The Evidence against the New Creationism" by Robert T. Pennock -- a must read
ISBN 0-262-16180-X
What Science has to say about morality -- good and evil.  The best book on Ethics and morality I have read.
"The Science of Good and Evil, Why People Cheat, Gossip, Care, Share and Follow the Golden Rule" by Michael Shermer.
ISBN 0-8050-7520-8
Welcome to Church - very well done!

Fiction:

"A Rhinestone Button" by Gail Anderson-Dargatz.   About a man with Synaesthesia -- sees changing colored shapes and feels various textures when hearing sounds.  A most interesting novel of this phenomenon and about the loss of faith.  Also Gail's other books.
 Very good Science Fiction Books on New Age and Realism:
        "Code of the Lifemaker" by James P. Hogan ISBN 0-345-30549-3
        "The Immortality Option" by James P. Hogan ISBN 0-345-39787-8
Another fun and relaxing science fiction fantasy author I enjoy is Clifford Simak.
-- Not too far out, expresses human values, and has very little violence.

http://canada.humanists.net

Humanist in Canada magazine

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