The Atheists Way – Living Well Without Gods
The Atheists Way Living Well Without Gods
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars five stars
I reluctantly admit to being unwilling to "waste" my time reviewing books in fora that do not portend any immediate tangible reward. Indeed, this is my first such effort. I had only recently finished reading Eric Maisel's, The Atheist's Way, and it has already impacted my life. This exposition of atheistic existentialism with Jean Paul Sartre as the principal, albeit invisible, interlocutor is at once accessible, practical, and compelling. In the book, Maisel anticipates many, likely most, of the issues that one might be concerned about as a non-believer in God or religion, coping with life in communities and situations where atheists are not always among the most loved and trusted. Nonetheless, I was a bit concerned about Maisel's treatment of depression. I wished that he would have at least nodded in the direction of appreciating that depression is a recognized health concern which, at least sometimes, has a biological component. Many therefore believe that the tendency to depression can be inherited. How does one account for this in Maisel's paradigm? I suspect that one might want to distinguish between existential and clinical depressions, but I am not sure how meaningful or helpful such an approach would be. After all had been said, the benefits of the book outweigh this tangential consideration of mine. There is a dearth of works of this sort, I am currently reading Living Without God by Ronald Aronson, and his discussion of non-belief and the challenge of post-modernism is a useful revelation. More such works would be both helpful and welcome. I fully identify with Eric Maisel's book, as far as it goes. Salute!!
1 Star Eric Maisel's Way, Perhaps …
As a studied Atheist myself, I disagree with very little of what Eric has written in "The Atheist's Way." That said, however, the contents of his book do not cohere with its title. What Eric describes is a glabrous version of Sartre's "Being and Nothingness." Perhaps "Existentialism for Dummies" more accurately describes what is found between the covers. "The Atheist's Way" sounds far too autophenomenological or solipsistic to me. The title implies that "essence precedes existence" … that there exists A way, and a true Atheist will find it. The title suggests that the Way antedates the Atheist. Yet, as his book makes very clear, and as existentialists believe, "existence precedes essence." There is no one predetermined or foreordained way. There is only your way: the way of your Self. And if you happen to be an Atheist, then your way is the way you have chosen to travel. But do not expect other Atheists to walk the same way! Eric and I are convicted Atheists; yet this much is certain: His way is not my way.
Finally, for David Mills to write that Eric's book is "More witty than Hitchens, more polished and articulate than Harris, and more informative and entertaining than Dawkins …" strongly suggests Mills has read too little of Hitchens, Harris, and Dawkins, and far too much Maisel.
5 Stars Terrific, challenging book and needed addition to atheist canon.
Ever since Sam Harris first got our attention with "The End of Faith," a parade of atheist-themed books has come out. Thanks to people like Richard Dawkins, Victor Stenger, Taner Edis and others the scientific case for the implausability of religious dogmas has been largely made. Christopher Hitchens has made the politico-sociological case against the desirability of religion, and Daniel Dennett has gotten us to question religion and religious psychology. Many other authors have added distinct voices with unique views and areas of expertise (even a mathematician, John Allen Paulos, weighs in!), comprising quite a Devil's Breviary. But until recently, a few topics have been missing from our canon. Enter Eric Maisel and his "Atheist's Way."
"Way" presupposes atheism. Maisel wastes no time making a case for godlessness, a position he sees as too evident (perhaps because the case has been made elsewhere) to address in this slim volume. He has other, bigger fish to fry, anyway, rather than rehashing the same old arguments against cogent evidence for theism.
Maisel sets out to answer the question, "How then should we live?" in a godless universe, and he largely succeeds in providing challenging answers that provide philosophical courage and direction without succumbing to unrealistic, wishy-washy, banal "inspiration."
This is the path of existentialism that looks reality in the eye unflinchingly and determines to create in our meaningless universe a source of boundless meaning from within. We nominate ourselves, we invest meaning, and we take off on a hero's quest. Some statements within the book reminded me of my favorite line from Joss Whedon's TV series, "Angel," in which the title character says, "In the greater scheme or the big picture, nothing we do matters. There's no grand plan, no big win….If there is no great glorious end to all this, if nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. 'cause that's all there is….All I wanna do is help. I wanna help because I don't think people should suffer as they do. Because, if there is no bigger meaning, then the smallest act of kindness is the greatest thing in the world."
Dr. Maisel might take exception to some parts of what Angel said. It is perhaps a little facile. But as a statement of principle for the character, it rather nicely reflects the attitude of "The Atheist's Way." In one sitting, I read it cover to cover. It took a couple of chapters to get into the book, but once I was hooked, I was hooked like a hungry trout. Too few atheist writers, even the best ones, seem to know how to address the problem of meaning–not for themselves, but for others. It is fine for the relatively well-off and well-known to make brash proclamations about a godless universe without ultimate purpose, but where does that leave the overweight stock boy in Kansas who wants to be part of an epic struggle between opposing forces to give his life some meaning? I found "Way" has the answer: Anyone can be involved in an epic, HEROIC struggle against the forces, external and internal, that would seek to drain life of meaning. It truly is a heroic undertaking, and has the added virtue of being true in a way that demons, angels, and apocalypses never can be.
This is a book to challenge and improve an atheist's life, and to show the skeptic who is afraid of embracing atheism a clear-eyed view of what a life free of superstition can be. It is simply written, direct, accessible, and potentially life-changing. There's no excuse not to read this book, and I urge all atheists to do so. Frankly, we need a better class of non-believer, and adherence to the "Way" laid out in this book can help produce that.
The most loathsome movie character I know is Cypher from "The Matrix." Knowing what was real, he chose to re-enter the imaginary world of the matrix to experience fantasy comforts and pleasures rather than bravely facing a grey, bleak reality in which painful struggle could make him an actual hero. This choice is somewhat analogous of what Maisel lays out for the reader. As a life coach, he provides the insight, the motivation, and the methodology to make selecting the hero's journey seem not only achievable, but noble in a way that will satisfy the self.
1 Star atheism is not a way of living
More power to religious people who have suddenly discovered there is no god but I hate to break the bad news. Atheism is not a way, belief, religion, 'ism', philosophy or path. The term was used by religion to demonize those they could not lure or scare into becoming a follower and to keep followers in check. No two atheist are the same. We are all individuals with our own philosophies, likes and dislikes. The only thing we have in common is we do not believe in god. Not believing in god(s) is not a belief system or way of life. Eastern philosophies are sometimes referred as ways.Simply put: we do not believe in god. pseudo-Gurus are constantly coming up with new ways to gain a following to gain power and make money.
5 Stars A True Inspiration
This is an amazing book that is sure to reach the top of the charts. If there was ever a book that's a cross between "atheist" and "inspirational" it would be this book. I highly recommend it for everybody — Christians who don't believe atheists can live fulfilling, happy lives; Atheists who are looking for more in life; and especially former Christians such as myself who have taken the frightening step of jumping out of their faith and into the new world of atheism.
I especially recommend it for my own readers who have read my book and are looking for some inspiration on moving forward.
Five stars for this book.
Jeffrey Mark
Author, Christian No More
Christian No More: On Leaving Christianity, Debunking Christianity, and Embracing Atheism and Freethinking
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- Living Without God – New Directions for Atheists, Agnostics, Secularists and the Undecided
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- The Myth That There Are No Atheists in Foxholes
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- Misconceptions About Atheists
- Atheists Unable to Think for Themselves
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