Book cover for Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon by Daniel C Dennett

Breaking the Spell

Religion as a Natural Phenomenon

2006 Released
464 Pages
9-10 Hours
Audiobook Unavailable
Hardback Unavailable
Penguin BooksISBN 9781101218860

The New York Times bestseller – a “crystal-clear, constantly engaging” (Jared Diamond) exploration of the role that religious belief plays in our lives and our interactions

For all the thousands of books that have been written about religion, few until this one have attempted to examine it scientifically: to ask why—and how—it has shaped so many lives so strongly. Is religion a product of blind evolutionary instinct or rational choice? Is it truly the best way to live a moral life? Ranging through biology, history, and psychology, Daniel C. Dennett charts religion’s evolution from “wild” folk belief to “domesticated” dogma. Not an antireligious screed but an unblinking look beneath the veil of orthodoxy, Breaking the Spell will be read and debated by believers and skeptics alike.

Daniel C Dennett

Daniel C. Dennett is university professor, professor of philosophy, and co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University. His books include Brainstorms, Elbow Room, Consciousness Explained, Darwin's Dangerous Idea, Freedom Evolves, Breaking the Spell, and Intuition Pumps.

More by Daniel C Dennett

Why Readwise Books?

Readwise Books is an ebook & audiobook platform that automatically logs how much you and your friends read, making it fun and easy to read more. Learn more →