What Is Secular Humanism?: Why Humanism Became Secular and How It Is Changing Our World

This is one of the best and most concise historical sketches of secular humanism available in my opinion. The book only takes you up to 1980 or so but there's a lot to learn from an author that grew up in the 60's and 70's. There's a lot about that era that people today don't know or refuse to acknowledge. Contrary to one of the reviewers, there's nothing outdated about this book, at least in the history it tells. Nor is it unfair in its general assessment. In fact, it's refreshing to read an account of secularism that doesn't try to gloss over things like its ties to oppressive regimes and silly philosophical movements. It's all laid bare in this book. Whether you consider yourself a "secular humanist" or not you should definitely read this book. At the very least you'll come away knowing what many religious people think of the ideology.

For months after being transformed from an angry, impatient, money-drive feminist into a follower of Jesus Christ, I was still wondering how I could have been so blind for so many years -- the evidence for the truth of Christianity is so overwhelming that I couldn't figure out how I'd overlooked it. And then I stumbled across this book and found out exactly what the problem was. I don't know if reading it years ago would have brought me to Christ any sooner, but at least I would've been aware of the many ways in which we're being brainwashed with the secular humanism worldview. An awesomely important book.