Join us on a literary world trip!
Add this book to bookshelf
Grey
Write a new comment Default profile 50px
Grey
Subscribe to read the full book or read the first pages for free!
All characters reduced
Contraduction - cover

Contraduction

Dan Barker

Publisher: Hypatia Press

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Summary

In a quiet and unassuming way, Contraduction is utterly brilliant.  Every page has a thought so deep and unexpected that it stops you in your tracks, as you not only realize, “That’s a different, really interesting way to think about the world, exactly the opposite of how I normally view things” but also, “And it is absolutely equally valid (and enriching) to adopt this opposite way of thinking.”  I loved this book. — Robert Sapolsky, author of Behave and Determined.
 
An ingenious word for an invaluable concept. Sharp, clear, and timely. — Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and the author of The Blank Slate and Rationality 
 
Both a delightful read and a penetrating argument: Barker has invented an invaluable new concept, and puts it to work with clarity, wit, and above all conclusiveness. A must-have book! — A. C. Grayling, author of The History of Philosophy and The God Argument
 
I am completely down with the concept of contraduction. It fills a need. False pattern recognitions pose a real danger to our survival. Well done! — Ann Druyan, author (with Carl Sagan) of Cosmos, Contact, and Demon Haunted World
 
I love it when brilliant ideas are conveyed clearly and soundly. That’s why I love this book. Dan Barker has provided a much-needed explication of a common fallacy that needs to be understood and rebutted. It is an engaging, enlightening, and insightful book.—Phil Zuckerman, author of Society Without God and What it Means to be Moral
 
With Contraduction, Dan Barker gives us a new word—and a new way of looking at things. I thoroughly enjoyed this! So much to think about—and it made me laugh. What else could I ask for? — Kate Cohen, contributing columnist for the Washington Post and author of We of Little Faith
 
I love how Dan Barker offers us a new word to help us understand how to think rationally in a fun, simple way. I will never look at my reflection in the mirror the same! — Bailey Harris, author of My Name is Stardust
 
Barker has really created something mega with this book. WOW, what an absolutely awesome mind bender [mind fuck] contraductions are, while at the same time seeming very obvious. I give Contraduction 50 hell-yeahs! [fuck-yeahs!] (outta 50). — Zeke Piestrup, director of Apocalypse Later and Satan's Guide to the Bible
 
Dan Barker's approach reminds me of Douglas Adams' famous Intelligent Design analogy about the rain puddle that "fits me rather neatly." A simple shift of perspective can be invaluable in our understanding, and Dan's fresh angle gives us plenty to consider. Simply put, I've never read anything quite like Contraduction, and that's a good thing. — Seth Andrews, Author of Deconverted: A Journey from Religion to Reason
 
Contraduction is a delight and lights the way through complexity. Pound for pound, Dan Barker’s best book. — Ed Buckner, Author (with Michael Buckner) of In Freedom We Trust: An Atheist Guide to Religious Liberty
 
A clarifying vision of the most baffling aspects of reality: from the simplest, such as our reflection in a mirror, to the most complex, such as time, evolution or the very existence of life. – Manel Salido, founder of "Razón o fe" and the author of ¡Fascinaos!: [Be Fascinated!] Una respuesta a las grandes preguntas.
Available since: 09/03/2024.
Print length: 128 pages.

Other books that might interest you

  • In Praise of Listening - A Gathering of Stories - cover

    In Praise of Listening - A...

    Christian McEwen

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    In her latest book, In Praise of Listening, Christian McEwen reflects on listening (silence, music, nature, prayer) in a series of thoughtful chapters, each one focused on a different theme. When an athlete speaks of "listening to his body," or a gardener describes herself as "listening to the land," when writers and artists explain that they are "listening" to their work-in-progress, they are using the word as she chooses to use it here—as an extended metaphor for openness and receptivity, rippling out from the self-centered human to the farthest reaches of the non-human world. 
     
     
     
    In Praise of Listening is a kind of sister or first cousin to McEwen's earlier, timely, and very popular, World Enough & Time, with the same emphasis on creativity and slowing down. As McEwen says: Most of us think of listening in fairly literal fashion: human beings listening (or not listening) to one another; the pleasure of attending to a familiar piece of music. But listening can have a far broader and more capacious meaning, moving out beyond the small apparatus of the ears to the hands or belly or enveloping spirit/mind.
    Show book
  • Bulgarian Made Easy - Beginner - Volume 2 of 3 - cover

    Bulgarian Made Easy - Beginner -...

    Lingo Wave

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    We broke our new series on learning Bulgarian down into different learning stages. Start with the “Lower Beginner” books followed by the “Beginner” and “Upper Beginner” books. Next, progress to the “Intermediate” series, then test and reinforce your knowledge with the “Conversations” series.  
    This audiobook is divided into units. While it provides different learning patterns and accommodates various needs, this audiobook focuses on helping you improve your ability to understand, speak, and memorise Bulgarian. The sample will give you a taste of what you can look forward to.  
    In Unit 1 you will hear Bulgarian decoded with each syllable spoken very slowly and clearly with repetition. Immediately before each sentence is spoken, you will hear the translation, so you will always understand what is being said. Unit 2 focuses solely on increasing your listening ability, which will improve your abilities to engage in dialogue with a native Bulgarian speaker. This chapter requires you to listen very carefully to nuances in the language.  
    By Unit 3 you will already notice progress in your abilities to speak and understand Bulgarian. The spoken translation is followed by two repetitions in Bulgarian at a completely natural speed. While you are learning to process naturally spoken Bulgarian, Units 3 and 4 will help you memorise new vocabulary and full sentences. In Unit 5 you can test yourself on how much you have learned. If you are having difficulties, we suggest you revisit the listening, speaking, or memorisation section of Units 1, 2 3 or 4, according to what you need more help with. 
    Topics covered in this book: 
    -Asking about family 
    -Asking about relationship status 
    -Expressing frequency 
    -Talking about spare time activities and hobbies 
    -Using quantifiers/determiners 
    -Talking about preference 
    -Talking about abilities 
    -Talking about location of places 
    -Describing appearance 
    -Talking about personality 
    -Talking about the weather
    Show book
  • Ghost Stories: CEFR level B1 (ELT Graded Reader) - cover

    Ghost Stories: CEFR level B1...

    Karen Kovacs

    • 0
    • 1
    • 0
    Improve your English without any extra studying, with stories by Read Stories - Learn English. 
    “I’m sure you are very lonely in this place,” I said. As I talked, I watched him but he stayed silent. There was something strange about him and he made me nervous. 
    I suddenly had a horrible thought: Is he a man or a ghost? 
    Here are four ghost stories by the famous British writer Charles Dickens, adapted for learners of English (CEFR level B1). 
    We meet a signalman working on a lonely railway line, who has a terrible secret … Two men, who are the only guests in a hotel where strange things keep happening … A painter, who meets a mysterious young woman on a train and is asked to paint her portrait … An old professor with many sad memories, who is given a choice – does he want to forget his past? 
    This audiobook:includes four exciting ghost stories: ‘The Signalman’, ‘The Ghost in the Bride’s Bedroom’, ‘The Portrait Painter’s Story’ and ‘The Haunted Man’is adapted for learners of English from the classic Charles Dickens storiesuses grammar and vocabulary for learners at CEFR level B1 (strong Pre-intermediate level or Intermediate level) 
    Stories at this level have a word count of 15,000–18,000 words and 1,600 headwords. 
    You will find language-learning exercises for these stories on my website. 
    Warning: The stories may not suitable for young children.
    Show book
  • French Short Stories for Beginners - A Starter Guide to Learning French Fast by Improving Your Reading Comprehension Listening Skills and Growing Your Vocabulary in a Fun Way! (French Edition) - cover

    French Short Stories for...

    Just Fluency

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    The ANTI-Boring way to start communicating in French in the next 30 days without memorizing words from a boring dictionary… 
    How do tons of people already learn several languages and have fun doing so? 
    While you’re probably hustling your way through boring dictionaries or old-school language learning books (and still, tu ne parles pas français?), 
    There are tons of people who already speak several languages and have fun while learning them. 
    So what are they doing differently to learn multiple languages without hassle and have fun? 
    Well, they learned the engaging language learning formula from the "French Short Stories for Beginners," including:How to spend less than 1 hour per day learning the language while still getting results and having fun doing so.Turning the question of IF you will learn French into WHEN you will become fluent in French.Instructions on how to use the book efficiently and apply a growth mindset to become consistent from day one.Tips and tricks to remember much faster using proven memory techniques.Thirty engaging stories written in French, enriched with cultural context, allowing you to enjoy the reading experience.A summary of each story in French and English to ensure you understand what you've read.A list of frequently used words from the text to repeat and learn faster.Short quizzes to check your comprehension, with answers to track your progress.Buy this now to start communicating in French effortlessly within the next 30 days, without getting bored for a single moment!
    Show book
  • Dr Blair's Spanish in No Time - The Revolutionary New Language Instruction Method That's Proven to Work! - cover

    Dr Blair's Spanish in No Time -...

    Dr. Robert Blair

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    You're on vacation in the Caribbean when you find yourself caught up in a web of intrigue and adventure. Suddenly, it's up to you to save the island from an eccentric local industrialist-and success will depend on your ability to learn enough Spanish to complete your mission … .  
    Say adios to the notion that learning a language can't be fun. DR. BLAIR'S SPANISH IN NO TIME uses compact-disc audio (and a bonus CD-ROM for optional reading/writing practice) to get you speaking Spanish more quickly and enjoyably than you ever thought possible. 
     
    With DR. BLAIR'S SPANISH IN NO TIME, you will: 
     
    Immediately learn Spanish that you can use in real situations 
    Learn the practical applications you need 
    Develop vocabulary through entertaining stories and games 
    Master easy and effective memory tricks 
    Discover ways to practice on your laptop while traveling 
     
     
    Whether you're a businessperson, student, or traveler, whether you're brushing up on a forgotten language or just interested in learning a new one, DR. BLAIR'S SPANISH IN NO TIME teaches you the skills you need at the pace you want, jump-starting your study with a variety of methods that keep the experience fun, fresh and motivating. 
     
    Why rely on old, out-dated techniques to learn a new language? DR. BLAIR'S SPANISH IN NO TIME offers the up-to-the-minute advantages that you won't hear anywhere else!
    Show book
  • 1000 Common Phrases - Learn French Through Everyday Expressions - cover

    1000 Common Phrases - Learn...

    Science-Based Language Learning Lab

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Unlock French fluency with 1000 Common Phrases: Learn French Through Simple Sentences. Designed for beginners and intermediate learners, this guide introduces you to the 1000 most common French phrases through straightforward, easy-to-understand sentences. By mastering these essential phrases and understanding their context in daily dialogue, you'll significantly improve your comprehension and communication skills. Each sentence is translated into English, making it perfect for self-study or classroom use. 
     
    Whether you're preparing for travel, boosting your career, or simply passionate about learning French, this book provides a strong foundation for building your language skills. With this resource, you'll expand your vocabulary and learn to use phrases naturally in conversations, helping you speak confidently and understand native speakers with ease. 
     
    Features: 
    - 1000 common French phrases in practical sentences 
    - Clear and accurate English translations 
    - Ideal for beginners and intermediate learners 
    - Enhances vocabulary, comprehension, and conversational skills 
    - Perfect for self-study, travel, or classroom use 
     
    Start your French learning journey and discover how mastering just 1000 phrases can transform your communication abilities. 1000 Common Phrases: Learn French Through Simple Sentences is your essential guide to becoming proficient in one of the world's most widely spoken languages.
    Show book