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The Good Book

A Humanist Bible

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The Good Book

Written by: A. C. Grayling
Narrated by: Michael Page
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About this listen

Few, if any, thinkers and writers today would have the imagination, the breadth of knowledge, and the literary skill to conceive of a powerful secular alternative to the Bible. But that is exactly what A. C. Grayling has done, creating a nonreligious bible drawn from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both Western and Eastern traditions, using the same techniques of editing, redaction, and adaptation that produced the holy books of the Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions.

The Good Book consciously takes its design and presentation from the Bible, in the beauty of its language and its arrangement into short chapters and verses, offering to the nonreligious seeker all the wisdom, insight, solace, inspiration, and perspective of various secular humanist traditions.

Organized in 12 main sections, The Good Book opens with meditations on the origin and progress of the world and human life in it, then devotes attention to the question of how life should be lived, how we relate to one another, and how vicissitudes are to be faced and joys appreciated. Inspired by the work of Herodotus and Lucretius, Confucius and Mencius, Seneca and Cicero, Montaigne, Bacon, and so many others, The Good Book will fulfill its audacious purpose in every way.

©2011 A.C. Grayling (P)2011 Tantor
Atheism Bibles & Bible Study Philosophy Spirituality Greek Mythology Ancient Greece Ancient History
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Do not read this book, meditate on it

First time I tried to listen to this book I had to stop. It seemed to ramble all over the place and use flowery language unnecessarily. I wanted a cohesive narrative or linear exposition I could focus on while driving or running, and I did not find it.

I came back to this book a couple years later and was able to appreciate it for what it was. I put on ambient meditation music from Youtube as a background and then listened while doing work on my computer. Instead of trying to follow all the words, I just let them soak into my brain. And with the new approach, I really enjoyed it.

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Wonderful and poetic

Of course this book does not begin to encompass all of human learning and accomplishments. It is primarily focused on greek/western philosophy which some may find inappropriate or lacking. The author included what he new and I cannot blame him for leaving out what isn't in his wheelhouse.

That being said, I very much enjoyed the biblical layout of the book and the great multitude of wise people included within its pages. The poetic language I felt was very moving and the stories and histories have a lot of value in learning from others and giving a reference point to reflect upon yourself. I also found that there is likely something within that could pertain to those in need of guidance. The poetic nature unfortunately does allow people to misconstrue the intention or meaning, which very much like the Bible itself can leads to division amongst readers of the same book.

Still a wonderful compendium to have a starting point into what humans can accomplish without requiring a deity to fill in gaps of knowledge.

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