New TAS Publication: An Objectivist Secular Reader

New Atlas Society Publication: An Objectivist Secular Reader

The Atlas Society is pleased to announce the publication of a new book, An Objectivist Secular Reader, edited by Edward Hudgins.

This 150-page work is a compellation of twenty-four articles, principally by Hudgins with contributions also from David Kelley, William Thomas, Robert Bidinotto, and Hugo Schmidt, culled from The New Individualist, op-eds, and other TAS publications. It includes an introduction by Hudgins and appendix on Objectivism by Thomas.

In recent years books by secular and atheist thinkers such as Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, and Sam Harris have become best sellers and skeptic organizations have filled huge halls for their conferences. Their emphasis on reality, reason, critical thinking, and personal liberty is most welcomed. As you know, Objectivists in general, and we at The Atlas Society in particular, have been at the forefront in promoting these values.

But what many secularists have lacked in the past is a morality based on individual, rational self-interest and the resulting political philosophy of capitalism. That's where we and this book come in.

Hudgins writes in the introduction that this book seeks to introduce those in the growing secular movement to perspectives on matters crucial to them from Objectivist authors. Hudgins also writes that he hopes religious readers will be provoked not to anger but, rather, to serious thought and an appreciation that thinking is our route to the truth about objective reality and self-interest the way to happiness in this world.

The first section of the book is on "Religious Conflict and Culture." It includes David Kelley's classic exposition on the "Party of Modernity," as contrasted with the pre-modern and post-modern. It also contains reviews of recent books by secularist and commentaries on religious controversies.

The second section, on "The Islamist Threat," includes our best work on the current conflict with those who most consistently manifest what Ayn Rand understood as the connected evils of faith and force.

The third section, on "Life's Meaning," contains pieces on the positive side of the secular.

Hudgins and The Atlas Society recently distributed some 800 copies of the book a a major skeptics conference and will use this book as a tool to spread "open" Objectivism to new audiences, and to a country and culture in desperate need of its principles of reality, reason, self-interest, and capitalism. (At right, Teller of the magician, comic, and libertarian team of Penn & Teller receives his copy from Ed at the conference!)

You can get your copy of the book at The Objectivism Store for $15.95.

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