Author:John Gray
SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE CATHOLIC HERALD BOOK AWARD FOR RELIGION AND THEOLOGY
A NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019
'Wonderful ... one of the few books that I started to reread a couple of minutes after I'd finished it.' - Melvyn Bragg
A meditation on the importance of atheism in the modern world - and its inadequacies and contradictions - by one of Britain's leading philosophers
'When you explore older atheisms, you will find some of your firmest convictions - secular or religious - are highly questionable. If this prospect disturbs you, what you are looking for may be freedom from thought.'
For a generation now, public debate has been corroded by a narrow derision of religion in the name of an often very vaguely understood 'science'. John Gray's stimulating and extremely enjoyable new book describes the rich, complex world of the atheist tradition, a tradition which he sees as in many ways as rich as that of religion itself, as well as being deeply intertwined with what is so often crudely viewed as its 'opposite'.
The result is a book that sheds an extraordinary and varied light on what it is to be human and on the thinkers who have, at different times and places, battled to understand this issue.
A highly readable, fascinating book that jerks the debate on religion versus atheism right out of its crusted rut into the light of serious intellectual scrutiny
—— ObserverPithy and revelatory
—— Christopher Bellaigue , Financial TimesWonderful ... the range, thoughtfulness and trenchant sense of Gray's sweep across the centuries of thought is wholly exhilarating ... one of the few books that I started to reread a couple of minutes after I'd finished it.
—— Melvyn Bragg , New StatesmanThe very best book about Hindu mythology that anyone has ever written ... A magnificent reading of Hindu texts. Its power arises in part through strong, vivid writing and in part through stunning, unexpected metaphors
—— Wendy Doniger , The New RepublicMagnificent ... A moving, exhilarating, extraordinary book ... An astonishing synthesis of myths and legends, philosophical inquiry, and speculative narrative
—— Shashi Tharoor , Washington Post Book WorldA scintillatingly challenging book ... Its opening sentences are as startling as any in all of literature
—— Thomas McGonigle , Los Angeles TimesAll is spectacle and delight, and tiny mirrors reflecting human foibles are set into the weave, turning this retelling into the stuff of literature ... Calasso's erudition and his capacity for invention appear to be limitless
—— The New YorkerAlways entertaining ... much to be recommended
—— Philip Hensher , The SpectatorThis gallop through the pink past [...] tells a torrid tale of persecution and pleasure, of blackmail and blue murder
—— Mark Sanderson , Evening StandardBy shining a light in dark places, Ackroyd has created a triumphantly queer picture of a city he loves – as city as queer as any other
—— Philip Hoare , New StatesmanA timely reminder that gay lives have always been tightly woven into London's rich social brocade
—— ProspectIf you've never read anything by Peter Ackroyd, imagine settling down in a pub… There you are, ensconced in that pub… and you're stuck by the realization that your companion is so knowledgeable, so erudite, so simply brilliant that you don't care you've not got a word in edgeways since the first few foamy quaffs a couple of hours back. That's what reading Peter Ackroyd is like… Ackroyd possesses a lightness of touch which means the reader never feels overwhelmed by the accumulation of facts, figures, and salacious anecdotes they're presented with… Endlessly fascinating... This book teaches us the importance that queer life in London has, and always will have, to all of us
—— Josh Baines , THUMP UKThis is a very worthy book that charts queer experience onto the map of London from which it has been omitted for so many centuries
—— Sam Ford , Totally DublinA rambunctious chronicle of “gay London from pre-Roman times to the present day”
—— GuardianAckroyd delivers an excellent queer read about London, this time ‘our’ London… Endless facts delight and amuse in this celebration and investigation of queer life from Celtic times to the present day… Validating, interesting and endlessly fascinating
—— GsceneTeeming with incredible stories, amazing characters and extraordinary detail, Queer City is the fascinating story of LGBT+ London from the Romans to the present day and reveals the incredibly rich history of London’s LGBT+ past
—— Pride LifeThe comedian and polymath retells age-old Greek myths in dramatic, modernised style
—— iOne of the nation's favourite intellectuals retells the epic myths of the Greek heroes in his own unique and very enjoyable way
—— Cambridge IndependentThis fascinating book prompts us to question how we think about the world, and challenges those in West and East who peddle the dangerous myth of civilisational conflict
—— Christopher Kissane , The Irish TimesThis is an interesting, well-written and thoughtful book… He deserves credit for engaging with a highly complex and equally pertinent subject at a time when Islam is always in the news especially in the Western world
—— Muhammad Khan , Muslim NewsHighly readable… The Islamic Enlightenment has a bone to pick with those who argue that Islam needs to become more civilised.
—— Nabeelah Jaffer , Daily TelegraphA refreshingly optimistic counterpoint to the idea that Muslim and Western world-views are doomed to clash.
—— The EconomistA tremendous combination of deep learning, forceful argument and arresting prose, The Islamic Enlightenment is bold, bracing and important
—— Jessie Childs, author of GOD'S TRAITORSThat there has been an Islamic Enlightenment at all will come as news to many. De Bellaigue’s account of the “very broad church” of Islam in the modern world is splendid and timely.
—— Anthony Gottlieb, author of THE DREAM OF ENLIGHTENMENTNuanced and rich in detail
—— Dmitri Levitin , London Review of BooksShe offers insights into everyone from Donald Trump to Simon Cowell, showing them not just as what they represent, but as individuals with flaws and charm
—— The Press and JournalOne of the best we've read this year . . . This insightful, hilarious and engrossing memoir from one of our most well-liked TV broadcasters takes you behind the scenes of the biggest news stories in recent years
—— SheerLuxe, 15 Best Beach Reads of 2019Recounts, one guest per chapter, a number of her interviews with the boldest of boldface figures . . . Entertaining
—— Strong WordsA quick, absorbing read . . . my overriding impression is of rather breathless thoughtfulness . . . her formidable intelligence and self-deprecating awareness shine brightly
—— Times Higher EducationWe love the Maitlis
—— StylistWe're obsessed with Emily Maitlis in this house
—— Nick GrimshawEmily Maitlis is a particular hero of mine . . . I know I'm in for a treat with Airhead
—— Gaby Huddart, Editor-in-chief, Good HousekeepingEmily Maitlis is one of my favourite interviewers and I want to read her tales of interviewing people such as Donald Trump, Theresa May and Simon Cowell
—— Catriona Shearer, Sunday MailA fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into modern television news
—— Time & Leisure MagazineIt's a brilliant, often funny, behind-the-scenes account of her working life, written by one of Britain's best television broadcasters. It proves she's far from an airhead!
—— John CravenShe gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most engaging interviews she's conducted in recent years - with all the wrangling, arguing, pleading and last-minute script writing they involved. Insightful, funny and engrossing, we love it.
—— SheerLuxe