Friday 16 January 2009

God's Debris: A Thought Experiment by Scott Adams - Book 4, 2009

God's Debris: A Thought Experiment by Scott Adams
Type: Philosophy
Rating: 8/10
Comments: The fact that I enjoyed this book so much proves that in my heart (or head) I am still a university student.  The book, written by the creator of the cartoon strip Dilbert, apparently appeals most to 23-year-old university students who find it a supreme mind-fuck.  Religious fundamentalists loath the book, partially because it includes the notions that the universe is simply the debris of God, rebuilding itself, after committing suicide to try and better understand itself, and that all religions are simply alternate delusions people use to best get by in the world.  Some philosophers dislike the book because it is an overly-simplistic thought experiment.

I liked the book because it is extremely well-written and provides some interesting ideas in plain English rather than academic pontification.

My main criticism of the book is that it includes some false science and claiming this was planted there is an intellectual cop-out, as one disgruntled reviewer put it.  This would have been a brilliant book if all the "facts" as presented were at least consistent with current scientific understanding.

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