<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Great Critique of Modern Thought
Review: A very effective critique of "a society intoxicated by the irrarional" as the book cover puts it.
I couldn't describe the book better than the following review. "Rationaity is a rare commodity, March 28, 2001
Reviewer: Stone Junction (see more about me) from Fredericton, New" except that I give it 5 stars.
To get the views of those she is talking about read the "one star" reviews.
Rating:
Summary: Cool reason vs. Overheated imagination
Review: Hate the title, loved the book. Every young person in the world should have this book placed in their hands as a coming of age gift, before the "world" of belief systems both secular and religious deadens their minds to free inquiry. As Wordsworth expressed, sometimes, "the world is too much with us". But let us hope that is a world of reason and not one of false imaginings that diminish us as human beings. As a freethinker, I have attempted to test the process of reductionsim when it comes to the inherent benefits religious belief systems have provided to humanity since the first glimmerings of a need to understand the world around us, emerged in the human species. I have in my final analysis always found those belief sytems wanting and humanity none the better for their infliction upon us. Thank you Wendy for enunciating more eloquently and humorously these views better than anyone I can recall in recent memory. Even with her homeopathic confession... If you're tired of being intellectually embarrassed by your faith in "whatever", here's the antidote for nagging religious constipation. If you're a recovering theist, and still have that urge for a little something, check out Deism, you'll be glad you did. But my god, (pun intended) do something about that title!
Rating: 
Summary: Is Kaminer delusional?
Review: I had high hopes for this book, but they didn't last very long! It's not very well organized, and attacks in all directions (which can be fine). But it really lost me when it took on "junk science" and attempted to place ANY science which discovers innate differences between men and women in that category. Here our rational author suddenly veers into the irrational, and apparently doesn't even notice it. I mean, when you stop to think about it, it is really obvious that millions of years of evolution have specialized, not just human women, but ALL female mammals to be the primary caregivers of newborn mammals. The definition of being a mammal is precisely the feature of having mammary glands. Woman have them, men don't, and that's only the beginning of a huge list of innate, genetically-driven differences between men and woman. These differences may not be terribly important, but what's the point of denying their existence? Well, the point is that such differences, trivial though they may be, violate feminist dogma, which states unequivocally that all differences between the sexes are caused by the environment. And here is where Wendy lost her way! Not recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A bold, audacious work that deserves recognition......
Review: In a rare feat of courage and conviction, Kaminer manages a witty, perceptive challenge to not only the easy targets of New Age, conspiracy theories, and political correctness, but also the sacred cow of Christianity. She accurately indicts America's guiding religion as subscribing to many of the same tenets and irrational principles as some of the more ridiculous spiritual trends. Kaminer's unpredictability is also appreciated, for many Christians and self-help addicts are likely to label this book the product of a nihilistic liberal bent on destroying the social fabric. Instead, the author skewers all political persuasions, reserving barbed attacks for feminists, campus leftists (and censors), and the therapeutic Administration in Washington, in addition to the usual array of TV pundits, self-styled gurus, and obnoxious moral policemen. Still, the heart of Kaminer's argument, while humorously put, is rather sad in the end. We are a culture devoted not to the liberation of the mind, but its continual enslavement to superstition, untested and unprovable beliefs, and shallow spirituality. As a result, we transform individualism from a vital, inspiring journey through the history of human thought into a depressing, slumping parade of phobias, wounds, afflictions, and childish needs.
Rating: 
Summary: Good survey of fashionable nonsense
Review: Ms Kaminer does a first-rate job of covering the more common sorts of things people believe in, often passionately, even though there are excellent reasons to laugh at them instead of channeling Grover Cleveland. I thought her account of how her piece for the New York Times on Hillary Clinton channeling Eleanor Roosevelt was heavily red-lined by the newspaper editors not because it ridiculed the idea that you could have chats with dead first ladies, but because she pointed out that there wasn't all that much difference between that and talking to Jesus -- dead for centuries -- which millions do every day. This led to an interesting discussion of how the one thing you absolutely must not seriously criticise in America is our majority religion, but that it hasn't always been like that. I found her discussion of how we have evolved into a culture where truth is determined by how you feel about something, not by what the facts are. Turn on any boob tube, especially daytime talk shows, and you will see what she means.
Rating:
Summary: A classic, a gem, the final word on religion.
Review: The fact that all of the negative reviews of this book are the same sorts of vicious and idiotic right-wing screeds one finds in the Weekly Standard is evidence enough that this book is truly wonderful. Buy six copies and send five of them to your freakish fundamentalist relatives!
Rating:
Summary: A gutsy and bold manifesto against irrationalism
Review: This is the type of book that will infuriate narrow-minded religious extremists who are convinced, even though they have absolutely no proof or even half-way decent evidence, that their one little segment of religiosity is the absolute and final truth. In this courageous book, Wendy Kaminer takes on not only the New Age, which is something of an easy target given its silly excesses, but also organized religion and the simple, childish faith most Americans have in God and the afterlife. Kaminer points out that in modern America, open skepticism of religion is met with disdain and often hostility. (Think of it: What major politician, except for the quite possibly unhinged governor of Minnesota, has in recent times dared to say anything even slightly negative about religion?) Independent thinkers will love this book; the close-minded, WWJD-wearing absolutists who worship manical TV preachers, bash gay people, harass abortion clinics, advocate creation "science" and burn to make our country a theocracy instead of a democracy will hate it. More power to Wendy Kaminer's pen!
Rating:
Summary: independent critique
Review: Wendy Kaminer's _Sleeping With Extraterrestrials_ has a silly title, but it's a great book. Kaminer is NOT a militant atheist, making fun of everyone who is otherwise. She IS a rational skeptic, diagnosing delusion wherever she finds it. She ranges all over the map, where people believe in UFOs, "doctors" believe that your body is controlled by (or MADE OF) vibrational forces, etc. Many people are eager to believe just about anything, partly because they don't apply critical thinking skills. Others aren't exactly EAGER to believe anything, but they don't assess critically, and therefore they fall into the same trap. This book is NOT anti-religious; it makes good points, and targets of Kaminer's examination range from New Age "gurus" to evangelicals to technology-cures-all types to irrational feminists. A feminist herself, Kaminer points out how irrational claims have been woven into various feminist teachings, and how feminism has suffered and weakened as a result. She herself admits to using a homeopath. Irrational? Maybe. Then the author astutely makes the distinction between choosing an unproven therapy for oneself vs. "accepting untested personal testimony as public truth." Indeed we are encouraged to accept that testimony every day, from all sides. Kaminer's writings on prayer in school, and the role of church-state separation, is illuminating and incisive. She ably demonstrates the hazards of allowing public tax dollars to fund the dissemination of sectarian religious dogma. OF COURSE there is already prayer in schools. As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools, or so the saying goes. Kaminer points out that some religious groups would like public voucher money to support religious schools. Those same groups would be loathe to allow governmental monitoring of their curricula, however. In summary, Kaminer does a good job of dissecting various ills, at the heart of which is a lack of critical thinking by consumers, readers, citizens, etc. One quibble: somebody needs to learn how to SPELL. I saw dozens of mistakes, and that is inexcusable. Dioxen? Comeraderie? Let's try to do better next time. ken32
Rating:
Summary: independent critique
Review: Wendy Kaminer's _Sleeping With Extraterrestrials_ has a silly title, but it's a great book. Kaminer is NOT a militant atheist, making fun of everyone who is otherwise. She IS a rational skeptic, diagnosing delusion wherever she finds it. She ranges all over the map, where people believe in UFOs, "doctors" believe that your body is controlled by (or MADE OF) vibrational forces, etc. Many people are eager to believe just about anything, partly because they don't apply critical thinking skills. Others aren't exactly EAGER to believe anything, but they don't assess critically, and therefore they fall into the same trap. This book is NOT anti-religious; it makes good points, and targets of Kaminer's examination range from New Age "gurus" to evangelicals to technology-cures-all types to irrational feminists. A feminist herself, Kaminer points out how irrational claims have been woven into various feminist teachings, and how feminism has suffered and weakened as a result. She herself admits to using a homeopath. Irrational? Maybe. Then the author astutely makes the distinction between choosing an unproven therapy for oneself vs. "accepting untested personal testimony as public truth." Indeed we are encouraged to accept that testimony every day, from all sides. Kaminer's writings on prayer in school, and the role of church-state separation, is illuminating and incisive. She ably demonstrates the hazards of allowing public tax dollars to fund the dissemination of sectarian religious dogma. OF COURSE there is already prayer in schools. As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools, or so the saying goes. Kaminer points out that some religious groups would like public voucher money to support religious schools. Those same groups would be loathe to allow governmental monitoring of their curricula, however. In summary, Kaminer does a good job of dissecting various ills, at the heart of which is a lack of critical thinking by consumers, readers, citizens, etc. One quibble: somebody needs to learn how to SPELL. I saw dozens of mistakes, and that is inexcusable. Dioxen? Comeraderie? Let's try to do better next time. ken32
<< 1 >>
| 
