User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
About five miles from where I live is a little village called Parkmill. It attracts tourists and locals alike - not only as a place to stop for ice cream, coffee and newspapers, but as the starting point for the beautiful coastal walk to Three Cliffs Bay, and many other walks heading inland to the countryside.
Roughly a hundred meters from this central point is a meadow. It’s hidden; bordered by trees and thick hedges and has no easily identifiable access point. I only discovered it by following a route in a battered guide book. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s nothing remarkable; it doesn’t appear to have been farmed, gardened, or kept in any way, nor is there any natural focal point to attract attention. It rests upon a gentle hillside, wider at the bottom, and narrowing to an invisible point at the top - underneath many trees and a few craggy rocks. As the grass is overgrown and a more easily walked lane runs around its perimeter, very few people apparently bother to enter. But it's the way I choose to go. Every time I do so, I look back to see my freshly brushed aside and trampled down trail through the long grass behind me. It's an exciting affirmation that I am clearly the only person who has wandered here in a very long time. As I gaze, smell, listen and touch with heightened senses at all that is around me, I always feel a wonderful and overwhelming sense of being; and, of being a part of this world around me.
This is not romanticised tosh. I think part of being a humanist is being a questioning realist. For all the beauty of the parading butterflies and fresh fragrances floating on the warm air, and the contrasting textures of the fauna and comforting songs of birds and humming insects, if you decide to look closely enough, there is also plenty of death and things none too pretty to see as well. And in winter, there is mud and smells of things rotting which can instantly remove the lighter, more fragrant sensitivities of summer. To say nothing of the dead and twisted trees, bare of leaves, which - to the over-imaginative - can look like gruesome hands of petrified wanderers sinking to agonising deaths.
But what I am trying to say is, and what humanism is for me, is that sense of feeling at one with the world and nature (in all its beauty and perceived ugliness) and appreciating it for what it is, and what it has become over time. The other key for me is the thirst for questioning - not a passive acceptance of instructions and promises – but a genuine product of curiosity. So invigorating, enlightening and truly liberating. What I find in this book are the written echoes of thoughts and feelings I have, as I stand, or sit reading or writing in this seemingly hidden meadow. These thoughts may especially come to the fore when in nature, but they are there at all times.
Now I am not blind to the comfort and strength religion can give to some, it’s plain to see. But I can only speak for my own beliefs and express what works for me. It has to be with things that can be seen, or proven. This is far from a position of closed-mindedness; on the contrary, it's infinitely wide-opening and liberating for the mind. Our ability for constant questioning, searching and adapting is perhaps fundamental for the future existence of humanity. How can we do that following some of the rigidities of ancient dogmas?
There are textual nuggets of enlightenment within this book from Andrew Copson and Alice Roberts (both of Humanists, UK), but the book is mainly a well-chosen selection of quotes from a wide spectrum of people - from scientists, writers, broadcasters, and the occasional celebrity. There is much to ponder over, and many potential sparks to ignite further exploration. For a short quote that says much in its simplicity, I like this from Ricky Gervais,
‘A humanist is someone who always tries to do the right thing, even though no-one is watching.’It’s a book you can open to almost any page and find something worthy to take away and contemplate. From the book’s writers/editors we have:
‘Curiosity is right at the heart of being human. Curiosity leads us to examine ourselves and wonder who we are and where we come from. Curiosity produces extraordinary journeys of creative discovery and great art. Curiosity leads us to ask questions which motivate scientific investigation.
Many religions contain warnings about curiosity: don’t ask too many questions; don’t ask for evidence; don’t allow yourself to doubt.
But for humanists, curiosity is a virtue.’I’m glad to see quotes which reflect that the Humanist ideal is every bit as moral as the Godly, or even more so considering the logic of Gervais’s quote. And pointing out that many things which some thank the Lord for, would be better aimed at thanking the resilience, dedication and hard work of ourselves. It’s funny, we do so much that is good in the world, yet unlike God or the gods, we’re the first to admit when we get it wrong, for which we relentlessly question, apologise and batter ourselves - often centuries after the events!
Some of the usual names you would expect are here – Carl Sagan, David Attenborough, Jacob Bronowski and Richard Dawkins etc. But many more are unfamiliar. I will take pleasure in seeking their stories out.
'The Little Book Of Humanism' is a tactile book that is a joy to pick up, look at, and read. There are many atmospheric illustrations - some by anthropologist/TV historian Professor Alice Roberts herself. Contents are split into nine wide-ranging themes. For a so called ‘little book,' it is a highly rewarding and stimulating read - leaving much to digest and ponder over.
To see your beliefs expressed so eloquently by so many, in warm and satisfying logic, and in one finely bound volume is a unifying experience. And for that very reason I would add the word
emotional as well.
I can well and truly plant my flag on this island.
The book's sales have been high and I hope that the logic and emotion of its content continues to spread.
Rating: really liked it
This timing of the publication of the ‘Little Book’ is perfect. It is a great antidote to the steady drip of negativity in the media these days. I read the book from cover to cover within 24 hours of receiving it, but I’m sure I will dip into it again and again when I feel like I need a bit of a lift or fancy some inspiring thoughts. I love the artwork too - I may just be tempted to get my pencils out again!
Rating: really liked it
Not quite what I was looking for. It was just a collection of random quotes by humanists or describing broadly the nebulous tenets of humanism. I was looking for a more reflective essay on Humanism - this was considerably lighter. I would have appreciated more emphasis on how humanistic philosophies differ from existing theological interpretations of living. This was more of an appeal to intuition than a genuine manifesto on the ethical philosophy I was expecting.
Rating: really liked it
This book, subtitled, ‘Universal lessons on finding purpose, meaning and joy’ encapsulates ideas I’d already formed from life experience, wide reading, and a deep love of the natural world.
Every religion has its individual text, presented as a guide for how to live your life. In the case of the Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, these texts overlap, of course. I’ve read the Bible from cover to cover and done the same with a translated Qur’an. The other world religions have their own texts, and I’ve made myself familiar with many of them over years of seeking guidance in a world so full of questions.
None of them inspired me in the way this little book of wisdom has. I’d already rejected them long before I came to this guide, which is ‘dedicated to all those who think for themselves and act for others.’.
The book is divided into ten chapters, plus a short explanatory appendix that deals with the practicalities of humanism and gives details of the authors of the book and those many thinkers quoted throughout: 108 individuals spanning many centuries from 623BC to the modern day.
After the short welcome, the chapters flow as follows: Children of earth, The unique you, Diversity and equality, Being good, Thinking clearly, Science and progress, Religion and faith, Thinking about death, and Living well.
Throughout, the book is illustrated with subtle photographs and drawings, as background to the text.
The opening sentence in the welcome explains the reason for the book. ‘Here’s a secret that more and more people are discovering: you don’t need religion to live a good life.’ It goes on, without preaching, to explain the fundamentals of humanism, revealing ideas very many will recognise as chiming with their own. It’s quite likely that most people are humanists at heart; they just don’t know it, yet.
The chapters that follow comprise a selection of quotes from people you will have heard of, and others who may be new to you. All are wise and, perhaps more importantly, kind. For kindness is a fundamental quality of humanism. The authors provide short passages in each chapter to describe the humanist attitude to the subject under discussion.
You’ll find no dictators here, no blustering preachers, no condemnation, no demands, no threats of dire consequences should you fail to obey. Instead, you’ll find reasonable statements, truth, explanations, tolerance, love, and a sense of real purpose.
I’d like to reveal a pertinent quote to you, but that would be to select from hundreds written by people far wiser than me. How does one select a gem from such a treasure trove?
If you’ve ever wondered about the purpose of life, about how we can be good people, about how to best live your life, about what to believe in a world full of contradictory advice, about the how and why of life itself, you’ll find answers here. It’s a small book, beautifully presented, and will take little of your precious time to explore. But imagine the joy and relief you’ll experience when you find you really aren’t alone in those thoughts, those ideas, those dreams.
I ask you to look around you at this wonderful, extraordinary world we’ve inherited, to look at what we’ve done with it, done to it, and to ask yourself, ‘Could we have done better? Can we do better?’. The answers are, we could have, and we can.
Finally, I wrote this review as a humanist. An organisation I voluntarily joined after being raised as a Christian, a religion I was introduced to as an infant by my parents without choice on my part: the fate of billions of humans over many centuries. If I’d been introduced to this book earlier in life, as a teenager, it would have prevented the many years of mental and spiritual torture I endured whilst trying to find my way in the world. I would love to see this book gifted to every child, as each reaches the questing age of the teenager. It is possible to see the world, to see life, to live, without belief in any supernatural power. I invite you to explore that road with this wonderful little book as your guide. You’ll find the freedom, creativity, imagination and sense of purpose it gives you worth the effort of transition.
Rating: really liked it
Who knew I was a humanist, my wife apparently. This is a wonderful book almost like a set of meditations on the aspects life and being human. An easy read, simple format and immediately accessible. It has insights from the authors, followed by quotes from other humanists to illustrate those points.
A wonderful introduction to humanism and humanists. A must for anyone who has an interest or a yearning to understand the bigger pictures of the world.
Wish I had read this in my 20s.
Rating: really liked it
‘We are earthlings like every other life form on this planet.’
‘Our natural human capacities for reason, kindness and love are all we need to live well and with meaning.’
Rating: really liked it
As I mentioned in an update, this wasn't anything that I hadn't already thought about or considered but just a really nice companion in between study sessions and as a reminder for what is truly important in life. Right now, I feel a lot of inner turmoil and as a result, I turn a lot to journaling in order to sift through and reconcile the day-to-day occurrences. I found this book a really great compliment to this practice as it reaffirmed what my priorities were and help to reframe what I should and shouldn't give my energy to. This is definitely not a book for everyone, but it would be quite astonishing to me if someone couldn't find at least one passage that didn't echo with them. This particular excerpt made tears pool in my eyes:
What we often think about when we think about death is not our own death but the death of those we love.
So this is not really about death. It is about loss, an indeed our sense of loss at such times can be overwhelming.
But the feeling of grief is the price of love.
Which would you rather have? Would you rather never have any love in your life - or would you rather love, even though this means you will inevitably experience loss and grief as a result?
Rating: really liked it
This book describes itself as a "collection of quotes, poetry, and meditations on how to live a fulfilling life". There are certainly a lot of good quotations, many of them from people you'll have heard of. And there are a lot of good thoughts and questions about what it means to be a humanist.
It was thought provoking, in a good way. It's a good book; I'm glad I read it, and am confident I will read it again.
But I was disappointed -- I had hoped for more. I thought this was not only going to be The Little Book of Humanism, but *The* book of humanism. I thought it might start with "ok, what does it mean to be a humanist?", sketch it out, then take us on a journey through the book to go help you go through that sketch in more detail, with quotations to illustrate along the way".
And that's kind of what it does, but it doesn't really have a strong introduction, and the journey just feels like a collection of day trips. Without the introduction to set the scene, there isn't a strong narrative arc driving you through the book. The authors gathered a great collection of quotations, but they didn't need to use all of them. Less would really have been more.
The layout, design, and typography also slightly lets it down. It's a nice book, but it could have been a beautiful book. Examples: I'm an old git, so black text on a greyscale photo is hard to read; and the random changes in text size are a bit jarring.
This may be an unfair review: maybe I'm criticising it for not being the kind of book that the authors weren't setting out to write, but it's the book I thought it was presenting itself as. I did like this book, and on reflection and further reading, I may yet adjust this review and my rating. I really wanted this to be one of those books that I give to everyone around me. I hope the 2nd edition is that book.
I'd give it 7/10.
Rating: really liked it
As perfect an introduction or reminder of humanist thought as you could wish for, with memorable quotations and engagingly written. Attractively presented with sumptuous illustration and photography for a reasonable price too, ideal for an alternative Christmas present.
Rating: really liked it
Sweet and easy - maybe too easy!A book of quotes and discussions on aspects of the humanist life. Nothing very challenging here but good to dip into for some quick inspiration!
Rating: really liked it
I wasn't expecting the format of the book to be in a series of quotes and found the jumping of styles made it a little difficult to get going. After the first few chapters I was well settled in and this has helped me think on a few things in this odd old world. I'll be dipping back in at some point, a good read.
Rating: really liked it
Concise yet will continue to repay a re-read THIS is the little book that ought to be left in hotels or given out to each child as they reach their teenage years. Many familiar quotes and points but great to have in one convenient little book.
Rating: really liked it
One of the best introductions to humanism in print.
Rating: really liked it
a quick read, with an impact.
Rating: really liked it
I highly suggest that anyone and everyone, religious or not, should read this delightful book. It would heighten your own faith in humanity, and it filled my heart with such joy and hope!
