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The Myth Of Free Will
Illuminating, uplifting and lighthearted, the third edition of THE MYTH OF FREE WILL expands on the powerful ideas in the first edition by offering 50 more pages of quotes and short essays on free will. The contents are divided into six 1) But It Seems So Real! 2) The Myth & Causality 3) The Myth & Morality 4) The Myth & the Brain 5) The Myth & Naturalism 6) The Myth & Me. There is a quiz, eight lessons, illustrations and a glossary. Contributors include Thomas W. Clark, Daniel Wegner, Steven Pinker, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Michael Shermer, William B. Provine, Paul Bloom, Antonio Damasio, Francis Crick, Eric Kandel, Robert Sapolsky, Arnell Dowret, Read Montague, Lee M. Silver, Matt Ridley, Ginger Campbell, V.S. Ramachandran, Douglas Hofstadter, Kurt Vonnegut, Tamler Sommers, Mark Twain and Albert Einstein. Author Susan Blackmore contributes a nice foreword, in which she says we can live without free will, and do better, personally, morally and practically. In all, 50 leading thinkers are represented. The book strives to answer the question, Who is saying we don't have free will and what are their credentials? It's mostly an anthology, definitely not a philosophy text. It was written for a mainstream audience, for people who Do I have free will? If not, why does it feel like I do? And it was written for people who understand that free will is a myth (the choir) and want to share this understanding with friends who might feel disturbed or intimidated by the subject. Finally, THE MYTH OF FREE WILL presents a fresh, quirky, yet profound treatment of an esoteric topic that's destined to become edgy.
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
140 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 25, 2011
The Myth of Free Will by Cris Evatt
The Myth of Free Will by Cris Evatt is a collection of brief thought-provoking essays from prominent experts and freethinkers regarding the myth that is free will. This short book is surprisingly lighthearted even uplifting yet profound and was exactly what I was hoping it would be. A succinct book that answers the most important questions about free will. This book is like a seed of knowledge that once planted in your brain leads you to other evolving branches of wisdom. The book is composed of the following six chapters: 1. "I CHOOSE, therefore I have free will.", 2. "The Myth & Casualty, 3. The Myth & Morality, 4. The Myth & the Brain, 5. The Myth & Naturalism, and 6. The Myth & Me.
Positives:
1. A well written book that is accessible to the masses.
2. A fun, witty, and a book that can easily be read in one sitting.
3. Finally, someone who knows how to take a difficult concept like free will and place it in its proper place. So do I have free will?
4. Fascinating tidbits of knowledge throughout.
5. Some of the great minds of our time have contributed to this book. Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, Damasio, Crick, Ridley, Shermer, Pinker, Blackmore, and Wegner to name a few .
6. Some of the best explanations I've read regarding the myth that is Free Will.
7. The book has a way of wetting your appetite for more knowledge. The author does a splendid job of providing further reading material within the context of the book. In fact, I purchased a couple of books as a result of her recommendations.
8. I absolutely love how the author ends each chapter with chapter-appropriate quotes by great minds. Love that!!
9. Prevention as a better tactic over punishment. A great essay.
10. Great science, primarily neuroscience is used to help us rethink the extent of personal control. Compelling arguments substantiated by science!
11. Many interesting and surprisingly uplifting concepts come as a result of eliminating free will. Such as, humans can look forward to a more humane and better life as a result of such knowledge. "Moral responsibility requires no free will."
12. Many great points abound in this book. "In the coming decades, our concept of free will, based as it is now on ignorance of its actual mechanisms, will be destroyed by what we learn about the actual workings of the brain."
13. It's a great book to give someone interested in the topic. The book will also provide new paths to pursue as well.
14. Cris Evatt provides a list of 16 known brain biases ; the building blocks of human nature. Excellent.
15. Naturalism for the masses.
16. Cris Evatt finalizes the book with an interesting first-look at how knowledge of the free will myth has made her a better person. Enlightening and uplifting.
Negatives:
1. I end up wanting more but in a good way!
2. In any book of essays, some will be of more interest to a reader than others.
3. The book is written for the masses so if you are looking for in depth knowledge, just follow the suggestions.
4. I would have liked more links or references of specific studies that help debunk the myths presented in the book.
5. Having to wait for Chris Evatt's next book.I have my "Brain Biases."
In summary, a fantastic fun read about the myth of free will. I can't recommend this book enough. It met and exceeded my expectations. Cris Evatt does exactly what I wished more authors would do: to write a book that is fun to read, interesting topics, great book recommendations, great quotes and profoundly succinct.
The Myth of Free Will by Cris Evatt is a collection of brief thought-provoking essays from prominent experts and freethinkers regarding the myth that is free will. This short book is surprisingly lighthearted even uplifting yet profound and was exactly what I was hoping it would be. A succinct book that answers the most important questions about free will. This book is like a seed of knowledge that once planted in your brain leads you to other evolving branches of wisdom. The book is composed of the following six chapters: 1. "I CHOOSE, therefore I have free will.", 2. "The Myth & Casualty, 3. The Myth & Morality, 4. The Myth & the Brain, 5. The Myth & Naturalism, and 6. The Myth & Me.
Positives:
1. A well written book that is accessible to the masses.
2. A fun, witty, and a book that can easily be read in one sitting.
3. Finally, someone who knows how to take a difficult concept like free will and place it in its proper place. So do I have free will?
4. Fascinating tidbits of knowledge throughout.
5. Some of the great minds of our time have contributed to this book. Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, Damasio, Crick, Ridley, Shermer, Pinker, Blackmore, and Wegner to name a few .
6. Some of the best explanations I've read regarding the myth that is Free Will.
7. The book has a way of wetting your appetite for more knowledge. The author does a splendid job of providing further reading material within the context of the book. In fact, I purchased a couple of books as a result of her recommendations.
8. I absolutely love how the author ends each chapter with chapter-appropriate quotes by great minds. Love that!!
9. Prevention as a better tactic over punishment. A great essay.
10. Great science, primarily neuroscience is used to help us rethink the extent of personal control. Compelling arguments substantiated by science!
11. Many interesting and surprisingly uplifting concepts come as a result of eliminating free will. Such as, humans can look forward to a more humane and better life as a result of such knowledge. "Moral responsibility requires no free will."
12. Many great points abound in this book. "In the coming decades, our concept of free will, based as it is now on ignorance of its actual mechanisms, will be destroyed by what we learn about the actual workings of the brain."
13. It's a great book to give someone interested in the topic. The book will also provide new paths to pursue as well.
14. Cris Evatt provides a list of 16 known brain biases ; the building blocks of human nature. Excellent.
15. Naturalism for the masses.
16. Cris Evatt finalizes the book with an interesting first-look at how knowledge of the free will myth has made her a better person. Enlightening and uplifting.
Negatives:
1. I end up wanting more but in a good way!
2. In any book of essays, some will be of more interest to a reader than others.
3. The book is written for the masses so if you are looking for in depth knowledge, just follow the suggestions.
4. I would have liked more links or references of specific studies that help debunk the myths presented in the book.
5. Having to wait for Chris Evatt's next book.I have my "Brain Biases."
In summary, a fantastic fun read about the myth of free will. I can't recommend this book enough. It met and exceeded my expectations. Cris Evatt does exactly what I wished more authors would do: to write a book that is fun to read, interesting topics, great book recommendations, great quotes and profoundly succinct.
July 27, 2012
I started out convinced that people have free will, and by the time I finished reading this book, I was unconvinced! Of course, it all depends on your definition of terms. The book is very much based in modern science. The author, who includes not only her own thinking, but also excerpts from the writings of many scientists and phiosophers, makes a good case. I was particularly interested in her point that discounting the myth of free will and accepting that people's actions are caused by forces they do not control removes the issues of blame and judgementalism and punishment from the discussion of what to do about people who commit anti-social acts. I am still confused about one thing she said, that choosing is not the same thing as having free will. Hmmmm.
December 30, 2010
The Myth of Free Will by Cris Evatt contains lots of controversial topics and philosophies. This book struck home with me because it mirrors how I feel. That is, we are the sum total of all that we have experienced to this immediately point in time in our personal lives. Therefore, what people call free will isn't free at all, but based on our own past experiences and how they have formed us to use what is called our "free will." As I said, it's controversial, but rang true to me.
December 11, 2013
Not quite as careful as Clark's pamphlet, but insightful and persuasive.
September 10, 2013
This an interesting short summary of the writings of a variety of thought leaders on why free will doesn't exist. Good summary, but lacking detail.
August 6, 2016
I agree with the author but was hoping for a more in-depth argument rather than a collection of disconnected essays.
December 15, 2013
Interesting in places, but very disjointed, repetitive, and the author's writing style much too "bubbly". It was difficult to get through.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews