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[–]Mikey-2-Guns 26 points27 points ago

You think Dawkins is bad?

Here, have an aneurysm.

[–]bojang1es 16 points17 points ago

Heidegger and Hegel are a fun way to hate life as well.

[–]acidroach 14 points15 points ago

"(The self is) a relation's relating itself to itself in the relation". -Kierkegaard

At least Kant makes sense if you keep at it, this is just...0_0

[–]monochr 2 points3 points ago

That's pretty straight forward. Your conscious understanding of your mind is thinking about your conscious mind. People who have never had to deal with re-normalisation might find this difficult to figure out.

[–]robywar 1 point2 points ago

You and bojang1es are giving me unpleasant Philosophy 101 flashbacks.

[–]3206 6 points7 points ago

You think Kant is bad?

Here, have an aneurysm.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

Classic topology.

[–]ticklemepenis 0 points1 point ago

Dear sweet baby jesus what level is that shit?

[–]3206 0 points1 point ago

Definitely graduate level.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

It took me a good few minutes to understand the first sentence. I need to read more.

[–]dumnezero 0 points1 point ago

It gets easier; just don't stop

[–]isuredoloveboobs 0 points1 point ago

i think people that write like this have a weaker level of writing than some highschool students, he seems to be trying to seem like an academic heavyweight and it just makes his writing unbearable to read.

[–]cosmicdandy 85 points86 points ago

It's called a dictionary and just wait until you get to Hitchens.

[–]goofball_jones[!] 17 points18 points ago

Which is why I like reading Hitchens on the Kindle app on my iPad. I can just touch a word I'm having trouble with and it pops up the definition.

[–]DutchmanDavid 0 points1 point ago

And for Google Chrome there's Google Dictionary!

[–]Diligentbear 10 points11 points ago

Wait until you get to Nietzsche....

[–][deleted] 23 points24 points ago

How about Kant? I just Kant understand him...

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

Even worse, Hegel.

[–]Diligentbear 0 points1 point ago

Not as hard as bagel, after a few days.

[–]3206 2 points3 points ago

Rudin <3.

[–]Lurking_Grue 2 points3 points ago

He was a real pissant Who was very rarely stable.

[–]DecoyNumberOne 1 point2 points ago

I saw what you did there.

[–]mirite 1 point2 points ago

Try Sartre. I still haven't recouped enough pride to pick up Being and Nothingness again.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

Nausea is a much safer start than Being and Nothingness. Nowhere near as huge and intimidating.

[–]mirite 0 points1 point ago

Ended up reading No Exit. : )

[–]MAtheist_ 34 points35 points ago

This is what I came here to say, damn you. Dawkins, not so bad, but Hitchens ... it's like every page what the hell does that mean, look it up, realize once again the brilliance of Hitchens ... repeat

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]goofball_jones[!] 6 points7 points ago

Free to Amazon Prime members it looks like. But a good find!

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]goofball_jones[!] 1 point2 points ago

Oh, i have Prime...have had it now for like 2 years and you're right, I sometimes take it for granted. But I just noticed the distinction in the price.

But thanks, I downloaded it and have it on my reading list. I enjoyed Hitch-22, so I'm sure I'll like this one.

[–]JuddRunner 1 point2 points ago

Stellar recommendation. Also available in iBooks or in dead tree at your local retailer.

[–]CapeHorn 0 points1 point ago

I love this book/collection. I borrowed it with Prime and I am strongly considering buying a physical copy.

[–]benhamine 8 points9 points ago

I've found myself having to look up a word about once every page or so with Hitchens. And it doesn't feel like he's using a thesaurus. He'll use words I've never heard of and then I look up the definition and I'm like..."I don't even know a word I could use INSTEAD of that." I'd have to take like a whole sentence to convey the idea that apparently we already have. But yea, I'm with MAtheist_, I came here to same the same damn thing.

[–]zda -1 points0 points ago

n. pl. the·sau·ri (-sôr ) or the·sau·rus·es. 1. A book of synonyms, often including related and contrasting words and antonyms.

Shrug ... ty.

[–]benhamine 5 points6 points ago

Did I misuse the word thesaurus? lol. I missed the point of this post :(

[–]zda 2 points3 points ago

No, I learned a new word... Which was a very okay-moment in this thread.

[–]benhamine 3 points4 points ago

Oh lol. Ok, I was a bit confused. Glad I could be part of you learning something new though :)

[–]MAtheist_ 1 point2 points ago

I don't get it either, of course I also have to look up words on every page, too. ;)

[–]auryn0151 2 points3 points ago

Hitch is great for my vocabulary because I can look it up. I only wished that when he used latin, he translated it afterwards!

[–]RedAnarchist -2 points-1 points ago

The difference between the two for me is that one tends to write about evolutionary biology, which is incredibly fascinating, and the other writes about being an atheist - possibly one of the most boring topics there is. Oh no way, religion is silly? What's that, it doesn't make sense? Oh holy crap it's also been used as an oppressive tool. Fascinating.

Maybe if I'm some angsty teenager who wants to get into facebook arguments and regurgitate arguments against god/religion I'd prefer Hitchens, but otherwise there's nothing there for me. I know I'm an atheist, I don't need any convincing, and quite frankly I don't care about religion.

[–]VALUEM 2 points3 points ago

you do realize that Hitchens wrote about more than being an atheist, right?

[–]MAtheist_ 0 points1 point ago

I find Hitchens to show more of the evils and problems caused by religion. He was well travelled and a lot of it was from first hand experience, but I do get your point.
Would you consider yourself to be an apatheist since you don't really care about religion?

[–]spacecadet06 3 points4 points ago

I was so glad I read Hitchens on a kindle. In built dictionary is essential.

[–]Sweet_Bro 1 point2 points ago

Also: Wait until you get into actual, analytical philosophy.

[–]dylng 1 point2 points ago

Dennett

[–]dumnezero 0 points1 point ago

[–]Deadpool1205 21 points22 points ago

That is one of the best parts about reading it on my kindle.

See a word I dont know, Just highlight it and BOOM description instantly.

Also, I have noticed my vocabulary I use increases greatly when I've recently read some dawkins.

Also my texts get wayyyy longer, 140 characters BITCH how can I use that many syllables in 140 characters?

[–]dermballs 13 points14 points ago

Just highlight it and BOOM description instantly.

If your Kindle is spontaneously combusting please return it back to the manufacturer.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points ago

well... they did name the new one "Fire" :) Maybe spontaneous combustion is a feature!

[–]MojaveRapelord 1 point2 points ago

which kindles do this? I have a third generation one, and I don't know if I have that feature...wish I did though, sounds useful!

[–]pyramid_of_greatness 2 points3 points ago

Yeah you do.. while you are reading text, use the 4 way directional to bring the cursor near the word. The definition will pop up, and you can hit enter for a more thorough definition. Best feature ever.

[–]Deadpool1205 0 points1 point ago

I got that 75 dollar ad supported one this last christmas. Not sure what generation that one is.

[–]sirbruce[!] 0 points1 point ago

They all do this.

You should read your User's Manual. IT CAME ON YOUR KINDLE.

[–]MojaveRapelord 0 points1 point ago

pffft manuals I prefer the good old mash-buttons-until-you-get-results method. it's the american way.

[–]sirbruce[!] 0 points1 point ago

Wait until you find out what the Aa button does.

[–]daBandersnatch 1 point2 points ago

Also my texts get wayyyy longer, 140 characters BITCH how can I use that many syllables in 140 characters?

I should get to reading some Dawkins then. Normally I can easily write a 3 page text; I read Dawkins and I'll be spitting out novels on the daily.

[–]danaofdoom 0 points1 point ago

So true. Love my kindle.

[–]JackRawlinson 9 points10 points ago

Then it's a good learning experience in more ways than one, isn't it?

You improve your vocabulary by exposing yourself to more words.

[–]clopclopclopclop 6 points7 points ago

..and then actively looking them up.

[–]dumnezero 1 point2 points ago

and even using them in conversations

[–]devjunk 4 points5 points ago

Imagine how I felt! English is not my native language, but I like reading books on their original language when I can. Thank FSM for the built in dictionary on the Kindle!

[–]xdzgor 4 points5 points ago

Not criticising you, but you obviously have a high level of English, so I'll dare a small correction: in English we would say "in a language" (not "on a language"), when we mean that something is spoken, or written, using a particular language.

[–]devjunk 2 points3 points ago

Thanks! Prepositions are actually something I struggle with most of the time.

[–]RumQ 0 points1 point ago

I've noticed that prepositions translate the least well out of any other part of speech. The usage is almost always idiomatic by nature, because they're used so often for abstract ideas... you really can't be in or on a language, it doesn't make sense either way! We just have to pick one randomly so that we have a way to describe the idea. So it rarely is the same in any two languages. I have the same problem in German. :P

[–]devjunk 0 points1 point ago*

Yeah I've noticed that too, in Spanish in or on are just one word, "en", when used to describe things as languages (or anything else that you can't be actually inside or on top of) and "sobre" o "bajo" for more physical things.

[–]blastinonions 7 points8 points ago

How I feel reading Nietzsche's books

[–]robywar 169 points170 points ago

The fact that this link has been upvoted this much makes me sad. Dawkins is not at all difficult to read if you have a high school level education.

[–]Sit-Down_Comedian 19 points20 points ago

I taught high school for most of the last decade. I can assure you a large number of people getting the same diploma I got 15 years ago can't read Dawkins with an acceptable degree of comprehension. Education is broken and we're in denial about it.

[–]3206 7 points8 points ago

Perhaps teachers should stop passing students who don't understand the material? One thing that really sucks is schools (including many university classes) is that they now spend the majority of class time covering material at the most basic level so everyone there can understand. There is not enough time dedicated to the brighter students.

[–]Sit-Down_Comedian 8 points9 points ago

It's clear that you don't know how K-12 works now of you think I really had the power to fail anyone who doesn't know the material. We were routinely lectured for giving too many D's and F's and told to "make it go away".

[–]3206 1 point2 points ago

Why don't teachers revolt and say that's not how education should work?

[–]Sit-Down_Comedian 5 points6 points ago

Well in my state they've made walk-out protests that would leave the students alone in the classroom illegal. A protest/riot/revolt would result in the district having the legal right to fire every single one of us and re-hire a whole army of new teachers who are young, impressionable, non-idealistic and willing to do as told. That's why I quit and went to a different career.

[–]agnosticnixie 1 point2 points ago

Organize the students then.

[–]case-o-nuts 0 points1 point ago

Then don't walk out. Supervise the kids, but refuse to "make the problem go away". Organize the teachers to fail anyone incompetent.

[–]xmatthisx 0 points1 point ago

They do. Then they get fired.

[–]sirbruce[!] 0 points1 point ago

No they don't, because teacher's unions don't let you fire hardly anyone.

[–]dumnezero 0 points1 point ago

and it's not their fault, let's not forget that

[–]HuxleyBomb 4 points5 points ago

I'm pretty sure the OP was being mildly facetious. I think I'm a fairly intelligent man, but I did find myself having to read some of Dawkins' passages twice in The God Delusion. It's not so much that his words are confusing, but for those of us that do not have a natural interests in physics, it can require a bit more focus. I love Dawkins, but I prefer to read Sam Harris.

[–]martiniman 10 points11 points ago

He thinks everyone should have a high-school education! What a snob!

[–]slowturtleboy 8 points9 points ago

maybe people up voted this because it's a fucking joke

and people miss good burger

[–]entirely_irrelephant 61 points62 points ago

This completely. Totally makes sense if you're younger, but if you have a college education, having trouble reading a New York Times Best Seller like the God Delusion probably means you should start reading more in general. Especially if you're into arguments for atheism and other fun stuff. Of course everyone looks up the occasional word though.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]fernandotakai 1 point2 points ago

even the greatest show on earth is quite easy to read and understand.

[–]boss1000 0 points1 point ago

It's important to note that only someone ~20+ will know/appreciate what movie this is from, so I don't think the young crowd posted/upvoted this.

Well, actually, people upvote memes to the death of subreddits, so perhaps my hypothesis is flawed.

[–]PaulWR 2 points3 points ago

Im 15 and I immediately knew it was from Good Burger, there is a very good chance this was a young person.

[–]dumnezero 0 points1 point ago

I constantly search for definitions (and in several languages). I wish I had a dictionary chip in my head.

[–]f5h7d 0 points1 point ago

ahem...

Totally makes sense if you're younger

[–]jamesdthomson 4 points5 points ago

Bill and Ted was 23 years ago dude. That's totally like how us old 80s dudes talk.

[–]SotirisFr 26 points27 points ago

Yeah, English is not my mother tongue, and yet I have no problem reading Dawkins, or Hitchens for that matter.

[–]robywar 21 points22 points ago

Reddit seems to be getting a bit too young for me. I don't know where else to go though. ><

[–]SotirisFr 4 points5 points ago

Eh, I'm 19 myself, but I usually avoid the funny/"young" side of reddit. There's plenty of intelligent conversation to be had and useful information to read in lesser known but brilliant subreddits, such as /r/books for a person of any age.

[–]Lurking_Grue 13 points14 points ago

I am more than twice your age... If you will excuse me I'll just sit over here and decay.

[–]Notagtipsy 1 point2 points ago

Hey, don't complain about aging! It beats the alternative, doesn't it?

[–]Lurking_Grue 1 point2 points ago

So true.

[–]SotirisFr 0 points1 point ago

Also, he lived during the seventies. I'm not feeling sorry for him, I'm feeling jealous, haha.

[–]3206 2 points3 points ago

A lot of the better subreddits are dying either from an influx of new users with different tastes or its users giving up on Reddit altogether. Take /r/math for example, the proportion of posts that are better suited for /r/casualmath or /r/cheatatmathhomework continually rises.

[–]SirZugzwang 2 points3 points ago

Is r/cheatatmathhomework just a link to wolfram?

[–]3206 1 point2 points ago

Wolfram alpha is only useful for classes where you're pattern matching problems then plug'n'chugging answers. It's useless once you get onto harder classes where you're expected to prove all the things.

[–]SirZugzwang 1 point2 points ago

Wow! Just checked r/cheatatmathhomework and it was more intensive than I thought it would be; didn't expect stuff I'm learning in Abstract Algebra to be there.

[–]jgzman 0 points1 point ago

I like it to save me converting between units, or finding roots. It's just a really good calculator.

[–]sebso 4 points5 points ago

My experience is that non-native speakers are generally used to picking up new unusual or technical words from context, while native speakers are more easily confused.

[–]SotirisFr 0 points1 point ago

This actually kind of makes sense. Although what I meant is that I rarely come across unknown words while reading Dawkins.

[–]mr_delphi 2 points3 points ago

Same here

[–]dumnezero 0 points1 point ago

You must be so proud of your reading skills.

Have an A+

[–]Direnaar 2 points3 points ago

Not everybody paid attention in school. But it's never late to learn.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

The Extended Phenotype is a bit tricky.

[–][deleted] 11 points12 points ago

From what I've seen on /r/atheism there is a good chance OP is actually in high school, so has not yet obtained a full high school education.

[–]bojang1es 8 points9 points ago

Pretty much this. I've always considered Dawkins to be light reading.

[–]dumnezero 0 points1 point ago

Impressive!

[–]websnarf 1 point2 points ago

Right -- but many people on reddit are still in high school. They get to post too.

[–]EnidColeslawToo 8 points9 points ago*

This is incredibly arrogant. I was a double major in college, wrote a masters level thesis for an undergrad project and Dawkins is NOT super easy to read. It definitely was a challenge -- if you want to understand everything he says.

If you just want to read it to say you’ve read it…. sure… it’s easy.

But if you want to be able to form your own opinions about his work, and have complete comprehension… reading The God Delusion might not be as simple as you’re making it out to be.

--Edit: I think maybe "arrogant" isn't the correct word, I just feel as though there is no reason to say "anyone with a high school education" could read this book. If this were true, and if Dawkins' theories and ideas were so easy to understand... I'd argue to say we'd have a lot more atheists. Because ignorance is easy.

[–]randorolian 1 point2 points ago

Each to their own I guess. I'm almost at the end of high school and found The God Delusion pretty difficult to read. And I consider myself a pretty intelligent guy.

[–]entirely_irrelephant 0 points1 point ago

That's why I say a college education makes all the difference. If you're going into something that requires medium to heavy dense reading, like philosophy or biology, then you'll definitely find books like this a piece of cake by the end. Which is what education's all about. Yay!

[–]AdrianBrony 1 point2 points ago

too bad not everyone has higher education as an option.

I regret going to college because I ended up failing hard, which made my student loan cut me off and I had to drop out, and getting buried in debt.

[–]agmcleod 0 points1 point ago

Been a while since I've learned biology in highschool (probably 10 years ago), so some of the concepts i had to read a couple times, but I followed it for the most part.

[–]somkun 1 point2 points ago

I did Running Start, so I never actually had bio or chem because I did a 2 year course in advanced physics, so whenever bio or chem stuff comes up i'm like.... "LOOOOL words...."

[–]agmcleod 0 points1 point ago

haha. Yeah some of the stuff in the greatest show on earth went a bit over my head, but I also found that he explained a lot of concepts pretty well. I think the things that went over my head just weren't as interesting to me. I often hated biology in highschool. I enjoyed physics to some extent, as well as astronomy, and learning about electric circuits.

[–]noseham 0 points1 point ago

That's what really disappointed me about this as well. In everything he writes he uses simple terms and explanations to make science accessible to anyone.

[–]Rainieri 0 points1 point ago

His latest stuff is very readable but I tried getting through the blind watchmaker once and I gave up, it was just too dry for my taste.

[–]dumnezero 0 points1 point ago

Not everyone is so lucky

[–]Dunning-KE 0 points1 point ago

Need to kill it before frontpage or trolls will upvote because it makes r/atheism look dumb.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

Everyone's out to get /r/atheism.

[–]miso_Reno 0 points1 point ago*

In the chapter which he discusses meme's and DNA, in The God Delusion, I feel like I should have had prior knowledge going in as I was honestly a little lost. Guess i'm an idiot... though the vast majority of the book i've understood and enjoyed. I'm also reading River Out of Eden but haven't gotten very far.

Edit: Can't tell what I said wrong here but i'm sorry?

[–]DFuhbree 2 points3 points ago

Try moving on to some Lawrence Krauss/Brian Greene/Brian Cox/Sean Carroll about physics and astronomy. I feel good the first couple chapters and then bam, I'm hopelessly lost. Still really interesting though.

[–]mowgoli 5 points6 points ago

Some of you guys are really not doing anything to help dispel the arrogant atheist stereotype, people's level of vocabulary and reading comprehension skills can depend on a plethora of factors, maybe they are pretty young or maybe they went to a shitty school.

Yeah, Dawkins might not be the most heavy going writer out there but it doesn't mean we should berate anyone who has a hard time following him just because "LOLOLOL I TOTALLY READ DAWKINS WHEN I WAS 14" at least they are actually trying to get into some intelleoctual reading which can't be said for the majority of the population these days, everyone has to start somewhere.

[–]beforeiimplode 1 point2 points ago

Nothing wrong with taking notes as you read. Post-its and book margins are my kind of saviors.

[–]BacktotheUniverse 1 point2 points ago

Thats what happened when I started on The Ancestors Tale. God Delusion is way manageable though. Dragons of Eden by Sagan lost me, but Demon Haunted World changed my life.

[–]jyz002 1 point2 points ago

Dawkins is so much easier to read than hitchens...

[–]pcnerd37 1 point2 points ago

I felt that way when I read the God Delusion. Luckily, the Kindle has a built in dictionary.

[–]TreeHuggingHippy 1 point2 points ago

The word used was how I feel 'sometimes'. The god delusion was light reading for me but couldn't get into the greatest show on earth but I don't have a strong scientific background. And before someone insults me I'm a post grad student.

[–]AnotherClosetAtheist 1 point2 points ago

God Delusion uses some French and Latin phrases that I have not heard before.

[–]rubelmj 1 point2 points ago

There's no shame in reading with a dictionary handy. I mean, the whole point of reading a scientific book is to educate yourself, right?

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

Dawkins? Hitchens is much more verbose and prone to using obscure or slightly anachronistic words. But I read Edward Gibbon (all six volumes) back in high school, so I was well prepared.

[–]EmptyAndFrantic 1 point2 points ago

Which book? I've not had any trouble with him so far.

Maybe it's because I just love to read, though. And I love words. I love the way they sound and the way they feel rolling off my tongue... words are neat.

[–]unamenottaken 1 point2 points ago

You're thinking of Hitchens.

[–]Dimwit86 6 points7 points ago

Is anyone else concerned that this made it to the front page of r/atheism?

[–]RumQ 16 points17 points ago

No, I'm not, because not everyone is graced with an equal ability to understand the same things. Even as someone who understands Dawkins quite well (now), I can identify with the sentiment and I found it quite funny.

If you're never challenged by what you read, I'm concerned about you. Get out of your comfort zone and stop belittling people for trying to improve themselves.

[–]CoriJane 7 points8 points ago

If you're never challenged by what you read, I'm concerned about you. Get out of your comfort zone and stop belittling people for trying to improve themselves.

_

[–]AROSSA 1 point2 points ago

I don't usually go in for the gifs, but I really liked this one. I even laughed out loud when I finally saw the slight head nod.

[–]CoriJane 0 points1 point ago

Glad you like it!

[–]thealmightydru 1 point2 points ago

Is anyone else concerned that this made it to the front page of r/atheism?

For at least the second time...

[–]dumnezero 0 points1 point ago

Why?

New blood is great

[–]squarer00t 3 points4 points ago

The very reason why Dawkins is so popular is he has brought some complicated subjects and made them understandable to the layman.

His books are not too easy and not too difficult, the origin of species on the other hand is heavy heavy reading. But filtered through dawkins in the Blind watchmaker or Climbing mount improbable they're life changing.

But if they're too heavy(as your Meme suggests they might be) then the magic of reality woulod be perfect, it's allegedly a kids book but I'd be surprised if anyone wouldn't learn something new and mindblowing from it.

[–]Agnostic_Thomist 1 point2 points ago

heh, try reading Heideggar...

[–]dvegas 0 points1 point ago*

Wait 'till "God is not great"

[–]averajamerican 3 points4 points ago

reading that now. the man makes me feel intellectually tiny.

[–]popcorncolonel 0 points1 point ago

It's funny because he's black. This implies he can't read.

[–]BlakeR721 0 points1 point ago

Read it on a kindle fire it has a build in dictionary.

[–]BlueImpulse 0 points1 point ago

I have not read any of Harris' work, but he uses some gems in debates.

[–]MindnGear 0 points1 point ago

From which movie are the pics taken?

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

Good Burger.

[–]MindnGear 2 points3 points ago

Thank you!

[–]THEAdrian 0 points1 point ago

"i can understand exactly 9 words in that book now"

[–]alsetevoli 0 points1 point ago

Joke is overused. I once posted the same damn screen captures only to get voted down into oblivion.

[–]DutchmanDavid 1 point2 points ago

Reddit is a fickle mistress :'(

[–]meatwad75892 0 points1 point ago

Me and Michio Kaku.

[–]brennanww 0 points1 point ago

I use the dicionary.com app for my phone, uses the mic so i can jsut say the word and get the definition, faster than googling it for sure.

[–]DurpaDurpa 0 points1 point ago

Seen this posted with the exact same title before... And then like now people kindly pointed out that Dawkins is not at all hard to read.

[–]pyramid_of_greatness 0 points1 point ago

If you can get your hands on a kindle or another e-reader with a built in dictionary, there are really no excuses anymore! No more wondering what words mean, or much bothering to look them up!

It took such dedication in the past to write down/mark words to look up, thumb through a dictionary, and get the meaning.. the barriers to knowing the meaning to words have never been lower! Plus, "The God Delusion" is FREE in the Amazon Prime lending library!

[–]LNz 0 points1 point ago

I always thought Dawkins was pretty easy to read if you had taken some basic biology courses.

[–]BoGD 0 points1 point ago

Halp! Where is this scene from?

[–]EmptyAndFrantic 0 points1 point ago

Good Burger?

EDIT: Video of this line

[–]BoGD 1 point2 points ago

Awesome, thanks!

[–]penisinthepeanutbttr 0 points1 point ago

this movie was on HBO or Starz on tuesday....never saw it before and i just turned 21.....what an awful movie...but 10 year old me would have loved it

[–]ColdShoulder 0 points1 point ago

You people are aware that the god delusion and the selfish gene aren't his only pieces of work, yes? I can understand how someone might find certain parts of the greatest show on earth a bit difficult to understand once through....

[–]PunkRockMakesMeSmile 0 points1 point ago

I'm not a particularly science-y guy, and I found The Greatest Show on Earth to be admirably accessible. The exception was the chapter that began with the comparison of evolution to that of a developing fetus. Genes and chromosomes and shit went mostly over my head.

[–]Vrun 0 points1 point ago

Its not that bad but ye...some time i need to use mother google myself :D

[–]danaofdoom 0 points1 point ago

I feel that way too. I had to google a lot of the theories he talks about in The God Delusion. However, I found the experience to be educational and I'm glad I took the time to do it.

[–]MonosyllabicGuy 0 points1 point ago

How I feel reading Chomsky...

[–]spdeuce 0 points1 point ago

What movie is this from? Never seen it -_-

[–]Pyromaniac605 0 points1 point ago

Good Burger.

Choose wisely now...

[–]WoollyMittens 0 points1 point ago

Reading Dawkins (or any other intellectual) makes me feel really smart temporarily. This effect wears off immediately after closing the book.

[–]CoolDudeIsNude -1 points0 points ago

I am 15 and I understood every word of his book "The God Delusion", as well as every word of "A Brief History of Time", and "Science and Human Behavior". Many of you may not know that last one, but it's by B.F. Skinner. Understood every word.

[–]Volsunga -2 points-1 points ago

Really? Dawkins uses such simple language that it's borderline insulting the readers' intelligence. This is why a lot of atheists, myself included, don't like The God Delusion.

[–]pyramid_of_greatness 11 points12 points ago

Well I think you're missing the target audience. He speaks about this tone frequently in the forewords of his books. And, it's not like it's Twilight or something.. get over yourself.

[–]JaronK 9 points10 points ago

Reading is like exercise for your brain. If you haven't done it enough, it can be hard, but stuff that was hard before becomes easier, and the more you do it the easier it gets.

I read a lot as a child, so something like The God Delusion feels trivially easy. But there's nothing wrong with people stretching their vocabulary and improving.

[–]philge 1 point2 points ago

I haven't read The God Delusion yet. I've read The Greatest Show on earth, and I didn't like his style at all. In parts, it was very intriguing, and in others it was quite tedious. He seemed to pack the book full of stupid anecdotes that had little to do with the subject matter. His foot notes in that book were absolutely wretched! It's seemed like every other page had a footnote, and most of the time I finished them saying to myself "Why the fuck was that necessary?" Some of these footnotes were actually up to an entire half of a page!

such simple language that it's borderline insulting the readers' intelligence.

I wouldn't consider it "insulting to intelligence." Dawkins makes a strong attempt to make his work appeal to a wide audience. He wants his work to be accessible to those who are not necessarily academically inclined. I think we must withhold criticism of his simply language as it was, in fact his intention.

[–]ralph-j -1 points0 points ago

Yeah, why the heck would one use a book to learn new things, like words and such?

[–]noahnlsn -1 points0 points ago

I came here to see "What? you don't know how to read."

left satisfied.

[–]randomanyon 0 points1 point ago

You need to read more. Fiction or non-fiction, please read more!

[–]DutchmanDavid 2 points3 points ago

I was too lazy to read The God Delusion, so I got an audio book version. Dawkins has such a great voice!

[–][deleted] -3 points-2 points ago

Yes, he does tend to talk like a fag, and his shit is all retarded.

[–]pyramid_of_greatness 7 points8 points ago

Whatever dude.. My ex-wife is a tard and she's a pilot now. There are plenty of tards out there living really kickass lives.

[–]yep45 -1 points0 points ago

"What's a Christianity? Oh well, it must be bad... better go post some facebook convos on r/atheism!"

[–]silkforcalde -1 points0 points ago

OH HOLY SHIT THIS IS PERFECT. This EXACTLY what I think of the /r/atheism userbase as a whole: too fucking dumb to read high school level writing.

[–]DutchmanDavid 0 points1 point ago

I listened to the audiobook and think it was easy to follow. I just think people upvote this because of a silly image macro.

[–]badger035 -2 points-1 points ago

I weep for the sake of the American education system.

[–]Thinks_Reddit_Is_RPG 0 points1 point ago

System is actually pretty good if you want to learn and make an effort. At least, if you're middle or upper class.