Author:Lord Robert Winston
From the tiniest microchip to the information superhighway, the modern world is dominated by and dependent upon science. Yet whether we realize it or not, we live in an age where faith is still an important influence in our lives. The majority of Americans profess a belief in a Christian God and Islam acts as a unifying, energizing force for many of the world's most dispossessed people. In the UK congregations may be shrinking, but popular belief in the supernatural - ghosts and spirits, fortune-telling, faith healing - is stronger than ever.
In The Story of God Robert Winston examines the relationship between science and religion across time, beginning with the primitive worship of early ancestors and concluding with a vivid portrait of faith in the modern world.
Grand in scope, adventurous in tone - and written from the perspective of a respected scientist who is also committed to Judaism - this groundbreaking work traces a line across continents, cultures and eras.
Intelligent and readable
—— TLSA lively and accessible guide to its subject. Simply and clearly written, illustrating its points with examples from popular culture, Winston's book is an enthusiastic starting point for the study of a fascinating area of human philosophy and psychology
—— BOOKS QUARTERLY'A great present for anyone contemplating a cat on the basis that they're less trouble than a dog'
—— the MAIL ON SUNDAYA lovely mixture of bizarre facts, nice arguments, clever insights into the workings of evolution and a quality of writing that can make your skin prickle... Gould has given us a feast
—— NatureRather than serving up his science cold, Gould invariably puts a spin on it, taking his readers down the innumerable byways of history, literature and personal anecdote along the route to his theoretical conclusions
—— Independent on SundayReading Gould is not merely a pleasure but an education and a chronicle of the times
—— ObserverThe most readable of scientists
—— Financial TimesOne of the best essayists in the business. He uses his wide background knowledge as a bridge to entice non-scientists into sharing the excitement of scientific discovery and the curious, convoluted path of new ideas through history
—— ScotsmanFew writers of popular science have given more pelasure to more readers than Stephen Jay Gould...He packs a clout few science writers can match
—— New York Times Book ReviewWho could resist a title like that - and knowing the author, who wouldn't surmise that Gould...demonstrat{es} that five fingers and five toes are not the primordial/canonical mammalian standard...Essays that reveal Gould in midlife, as passionate and articulate as ever, but older and wiser
—— Kirkus ReviewsLike the master, Darwin, [Gould] has a gift for metaphor
—— NewsdayAn engaging and, at times, moving read.
—— www.the-void.co.ukA terrific book . . . once you start it you'll be hooked.
—— www.motorbar.co.ukBrimming with excitement . . . This is a rewarding tale of courage, determination, and the possibilities of science.
—— The Star