¡°The full, electrifying transcript of the one and only conversation between the quartet of luminaries dubbed the ¡®four horsemen¡¯ of the New Atheism, which took place in Washington, D.C., in 2007. Among the vast range of ideas and questions they discuss: Is it ever possible to win a war of ideas? Is spirituality the preserve of the religious? And, are there any truths you would rather not know?¡±-The Bookseller (UK) (starred review)
¡°If thinking were a sport, these four would be national superstars-and reading The Four Horsemen feels like having a front-row seat at the all-star game. This is more than a book about atheism and religion-it¡¯s a lesson in how to use our intellect to cut through the haze of delusion and misconception inherent in any human society.¡±-Tim Urban, writer of Wait But Why?
¡°For people inclined to disbelieve supernatural explanations-in America, we few, we happy few, we band of brothers and sisters-The Four Horsemen is a smart, fun, funny, seriously provocative primer.¡±-Kurt Andersen, host of Studio 360 and author of Fantasyland
¡°We are slowly losing the hard-won right, gained by brave heroes of the enlightenment such as Voltaire and Hume, to be free to criticize religion without persecution and prosecution; the crime of blasphemy is creeping back. The words of Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris, and Dennett are needed more than ever. These are the heirs to Voltaire.¡±-Matt Ridley, author of The Evolution of Everything
¡°These four are the kinds of thinkers we don¡¯t get enough of anymore: unapologetic, uncompromising, and deeply generous with one another as well as with anyone who happens to be listening in. You needn¡¯t be an atheist or a horseman to relish every word of this delightful book. You just need to be hungry for genuine intellectual inquiry and open debate. And, let¡¯s face it, you¡¯re probably starving.¡±-Meghan Daum, author of The Unspeakable
¡°This conversation is as good a place as any to mark the start of the Atheist revolution.¡±-Penn Jillette, author of God, No!
¡°Blasphemous, erudite, devastatingly truthful, slyly hilarious . . . Reading this book is like getting to spend a profound afternoon with some of our greatest intellectuals.¡±-Julia Sweeney, actress, comedian, author
¡°I was gripped. Throughout this erudite conversation the humility and openness of science shines against religion¡¯s arrogance, hypocrisy, and sheer gall in just ¡®making stuff up.¡¯ How refreshing it is.¡±-Susan Blackmore, author of The Meme Machine