Part of a rather good non-fiction selection of paperbacks that I got from a car boot sale some time ago. I only got to page 48 before giving up

(July'12)

Gray’s title comes from Nietzsche, "Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs." This quote and the whole thrust of the book, or the first 50 pages that I managed to read, suggests that humans are exactly the same as all other creature on the planet. We evolve and develop technology to further the species (our DNA). As well as there being no God or higher being, there is no ‘humanity’ that gives us any moral authority. Its all a bit depressing and turgid academic stuff, Gray repeatedly compares Humanists and Humanism to self-deluded religious believers. Although I’m an atheist (probably agnostic if I’m splitting hairs), I like to think that some if not all of my fellow humans are driven by some higher morality and ethical code rather than dispensable and organic 'straw dogs'…oh how I can hear Gray scoffing!

This is going to today's Ipswich meet-up to find another discerning reader - and hopefully someone who can finish it!

Picked up at the meeting today - despite BookGroupMan telling me it's rubbish! Now being added to Mount TBR.

I have to disagree with BookGroupMan - I think this is an excellent book. I was really interested to find that somebody else has noticed how insidious Christianity's influence is on our world viewpoint. I also agree with John Gray that the alleged progress of humanity is an illusion. This was a refreshing read.

Taking along to the meeting. Local BookCrossers meet, from noon on the second Saturday of every month, at Coffee Link, on Neptune Quay. Why not come along and join us? We're easy to spot - we're the people sitting round a table covered in books!

Picked up at the January Ipswich meet. The subject matter sounds interesting and BookGroupMan's and Izzy666's differing points of view intrigue me.

Two previous readers, two points of view. Of the two I agree with BookGroupMan....the negativity over the fate of humanity in this book is too strong. Whilst I am also not religious, there has to be some sort of moral imperative that transcends the basics of life. Maslows hierarchy of needs puts it perfectly, animals are at stage one, and humans strive to be further up the chain. Religion is one manifestation of this, and humanism is another (and here I partly agree with the author...humanism can be considered a "religion" if you define religion more in the aspect of The Church, rather than a belief in a God).

Will take to the Nottingham meet, and will leave on the shelf if no-one picks it up.

Picked up at the Nottingham BookCrossing meet earlier today.

Left on the bookshelf outside the Mezz Bar.