Today, the day my “Losing My Religion” memoir is released, these reviews came in.
From the Christian Science Monitor (there’s also an audio interview with me on the site):
“Lobdell is a gifted writer. Avoiding the disparaging polemics that often characterize the debate between nonbelievers and people of faith, he turns his own story into a fast-paced, engrossing tale, one that is sure to be popular with nonbelievers, but deserves to be read by Christians as well.”
A starred review from the Booklist (subscriber only):
“Lobdell’s spiritual journey fascinates, not least on account of the irony of his trajectory from agnosticism to belief to atheism while covering religion. It’s a story that may raise eyebrows among believers and nonbelievers alike.”
A super endorsement from the National Catholic Reporter:
“The book is a complex and compelling account of his loss of faith while he was delving deeply into religion in America as a journalist.”
And from Hemant Metha aka The Friendly Atheist:
If you’re someone who only recently became an atheist, or someone who’s only thinking about it, this is a book that could help you along the way. If you’re religious, it can help you understand why some atheists choose the path that we do.
The Latest on Faith and Doubt
5 responses so far ↓
1 doubtingfoo // Feb 25, 2009 at 1:27 am
Congrats on the book! I look forward to reading it.
2 klmorovic // Feb 25, 2009 at 3:02 am
That’s it… these reviews are so good, I’m going to have to buy this book and send it to my mom, who is also a Lobdell. She recently told me that she wants nothing to do with me until I am no longer an atheist. I hope that maybe this could demonstrate to her that there are people who are atheists (who are her age and even distantly related to her) and aren’t terrible people, which is what she thinks of me. Congratulations on the success of your book! I can’t wait to get my copy.. it shipped Sunday =)
3 veganerd // Feb 25, 2009 at 5:51 am
i picked up a copy on my lunch today. i made it through 5 chapters and am looking forward to the rest. great so far!
4 manof678 // Feb 25, 2009 at 6:08 am
Mr. Lobdell:
Put god aside for a moment. Do you believe in yourself ? I am sure the answer would be yes. I am sure you won’t negate your own existence.
If so, who do you think you really are ?
Please don’t tell me you are your name. For name is only an ID.
If you are not your name then who are you ? Don’t tell me you are a reporter or a writer. Thats your occupation. Thats not who you are.
If so, then who you really are ? A family man? Well that’s a role you play a ‘role’ can’t be you. And don’t tell me you are an atheist because, again, that is your belief not ‘you’ ? And now a good topic/theme on which you can make some earnings using your skills as a writer / journalist.
How about ‘man’ ? How about ‘your body’ ? for an answer. Can you claim yourselves to be your body, a male body ?
Turns out, you refer to it as ‘your body’ sometimes and as ‘yourself’ at other times. Which means you are confused. Also, you don’t claim that you are your body while asleep. In fact williamlobdell.com nor William Lobdell, the man, existed (to you) while you were asleep. Yet you know you existed while you were asleep. Who is that who existed?
Boils down, you don’t know who you really are.
However confused you are, you will implicitly agree (or never be able to negate) your own reality or existence.
Did your investigations about others (the so-called church, priests and other ‘holy’ folks) prevent you from finding the real ‘you’ ?
Did you ever ponder on this ?
Love and regards
5 mmatassa // Feb 26, 2009 at 3:24 am
Bill,
Congratulations on publication and on the nice early reviews. I’m looking forward to reading your book too.
Good luck,
Mark Matassa
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