Religion for Atheists
by Alain de Botton
Assume religions are untrue; what did they get right? Community, kindness, education by repetition, tenderness, pessimism, perspective, art, architecture, institutions. De Botton argues secular life should steal the techniques. The thesis irritates believers and atheists equally, which suggests it has a point.
Read it if…
you are secular and sense something missing that religions provided.
Skip it if…
you are religious and will find the premise insulting.
Three things you will actually use
- Repetition and ritual teach; lectures do not.
- Pessimism about human nature is a kindness.
- Perspective is a practice, not a mood.
Do this first
Read the chapter on community and the one on perspective.
Our verdict
Steal the techniques.
Compare with other Mindset books
What They Forgot to Teach You at School
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Emotional education, a primer.
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