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If you loved
Books like Religion Explained
A provocative, intellectually rigorous dive into the evolutionary and cognitive machinery that makes human beings uniquely primed for belief. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Religion Explained.
- intellectually stimulating
- inquisitive
- contemplative
- 01
Breaking the spell
Daniel C. Dennett · 2004
A methodical, clear-eyed dissection of humanity's oldest and most fiercely protected cultural phenomenon.
- 02
The evolution of God
Wright, Robert
A sweeping, intellectually rigorous journey through human history that seeks the hidden evolutionary logic behind our search for the divine.
- 03
The End of Faith
Sam Harris
An uncompromising, razor-sharp intellectual wake-up call that dismantles the societal taboo against criticizing religious dogma.
- 04
How the Mind Works
Steven Pinker
A witty, expansive masterclass that dismantles the magic of human consciousness to reveal the fascinating evolutionary machinery whirring beneath.
- 05
The secret of our success
Joseph Patrick Henrich
A paradigm-shifting exploration that dismantles the myth of the lone genius to reveal the true superpower of our species: our collective brain.
- 06
The Bonobo and the Atheist
Henry Cabot Lodge (Jr.)
A warm, scientifically grounded exploration that finds the roots of human goodness not in the heavens, but in the earth and our primate cousins.
- 07
The Stuff of Thought
Steven Pinker
A witty, mind-expanding deep dive into the hidden cognitive machinery behind the words we use every day.
- 08
From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds
Daniel C. Dennett
A sweeping, cerebral exploration of how mindless biological processes gave rise to the breathtaking complexity of human consciousness.
- 09
Maps of Meaning
Jordan B. Peterson · 1999
A dense, intellectually demanding descent into the psychological architecture of myth, morality, and the eternal struggle between order and chaos.
- 10
The Case for God
Karen Armstrong · 2009
A sweeping, contemplative journey through the history of human attempts to understand the divine.
- 11
Power of Ritual
Casper ter Kuile
A warm, guiding light for anyone looking to infuse their ordinary routines with profound meaning and connection.
- 12
A history of God
Karen Armstrong · 1993
A sweeping, intellectually rigorous journey through four millennia of human attempts to understand and define the divine.
