Just a bunch of random, fairly topical, blog posts. Not for me.

I enjoyed this book very much. I found Meyer's humor to be refreshing and his observations to be right on point. This book was great since it is a re-hash of blog posts that I would not have otherwise read due to lack of time to spend on the internet. Recommended for anyone who wants a heartfelt and humorous take on the evils and nonsense of religion. ( )

This book reads more like a blog than a book. Made up of small chapters, many of them very familiar to readers of the author's blog, make for easy reading but no really detailed analysis. This is definitely not a scholarly work; it is more a personal manifesto of the author. It is rather light fare, and while it includes some interesting arguments, they are not well developed enough to be much more than mildly interesting. ( )

I'm torn on a review for this. First, I liked PZ Meyer's blog, Pharyngula. I read it mostly for the evolution parts, but he had some interesting stuff about religious issues in the country. His book, however, takes some of the more venting posts and made them chapters. It didn't seem so much like a Happy Atheist, but a Gloating Atheist for most of the book. That means that it's a great book for an atheist who's dealing with lots of people criticizing his decision or nosing in way too much. It's good comic relief and gives pretty good catharsis, especially for those in the Bible Belt. However, it's not exactly a good book for explaining to believers why atheists aren't and it certainly wouldn't come off as happy to anyone who didn't already agree. In short, if you're already and atheist (and possibly already familiar with PZ's writing), you'll probably love this book. Just don't lend it to your religious family in hopes that they'll understand you better. ( )

I will preface this review with my own political religious leanings: I'm a liberal and an atheist. I work in a university. PZ Myers and I share similar ideologies. I'm outspoken about my (lack of) beliefs, and occasionally self-righteous about it. What did this book teach me?

I must be very annoying.

In the grand tradition of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, PZ Myers skewers ridiculous religious beliefs and the misguided souls who hold them. In his opening chapter, in which he sets up the premise for the book, he leads you to believe that the mockery is gentle, and he holds nothing against the people, just their beliefs. He just wants to laugh! Subsequent chapters, however, contain much anger, vitriol, and preachy rhetoric, as well as some mean-spirited pranking of religious persons of all types. Not so much laughter.

One chapter outlines how the author asked for, and then desecrated, the Catholic host (those dry little crackers). Another describes how to bury religious texts and plant a flower garden on top. I support PZ Myers' efforts in taking a stand against fundamentalism. He makes a great point in the chapter "I Am Not a Spoiled Child Having a Temper Tantrum" that just because some groups hold something sacred, it doesn't mean I (or he) should too, and no one should be able to force anyone else to respect their sacred objects. But sometimes Myers comes off a little bratty, trying to get a rise out of the fundies. Taking shots is wildly entertaining, but ultimately you're not going to convince anyone on the other side that you're right.

I find more value in the chapters in which Myers outlines the very real dangers posed by religion and the people who defend it. Live and let live is a great credo for the atheist, unless letting live also means tolerating the oppression of women, gays, and anyone else who does not support the dominant religious belief. Religion is especially dangerous when it's politicians who affect change who hold such beliefs. Then religion is no longer benign and funny. But this more important rhetoric is too often lost in between the pot shot chapters (this is the danger when you collect disparate blog posts and put them together in a book - the narrative flow is disruptive).

I support the effort, one atheist to another, but 4 stars for the disjointedness and occasional self-righteousness. ( )