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The Four Horsemen cover art

The Four Horsemen

By: Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel C. Dennett, Christopher Hitchens, Stephen Fry
Narrated by: Stephen Fry, Richard Dawkins, Daniel C. Dennett, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Known as the ‘four horsemen’ of New Atheism, these four big thinkers of the twenty-first century met only once. Their electrifying examination of ideas on this remarkable occasion was intense and wide-ranging. Everything that was said as they agreed and disagreed with one another, interrogated ideas and exchanged insights – about religion and atheism, science and sense – speaks with urgency to our present age.
Questions they asked of each other included: ‘Is it ever possible to win a war of ideas? Is spirituality the preserve of the religious? Are there any truths you would rather not know? Would you want to see the end of faith?’
The dialogue was recorded, and is now transcribed and presented here with new introductions from the surviving three horsemen.
With a sparkling introduction from Stephen Fry, it makes essential reading for all their admirers and for anyone interested in exploring the tensions between faith and reason.

©2019 Richard Dawkins (P)2019 Random House Audiobooks

Critic reviews

This transcript is of historical significance and belongs in the library of all thinking people. A classic for our time...and all time. (Michael Shermer, Publisher Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist Scientific American, Presidential Fellow Chapman University, author of Heavens on Earth, The Moral Arc, The Believing Brain, and Why People Believe Weird Things)
I have a short list of intellectual heroes, and Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, and Daniel Dennett each have a place on it—not because I always agree with their views, but because I'm in awe of the way they form, express, and defend their views. If thinking were a sport, these four would be national superstars—and reading The Four Horsemen feels like having a front row seat at the all-star game. This is more than a book about atheism and religion—it's a lesson in how to use our intellect to cut through the haze of delusion and misconception inherent in any human society. (Tim Urban, author of the blog 'Wait But Why')
We are slowly losing the hard-won right, gained by brave heroes of the enlightenment such as Voltaire and Hume, to be free to criticise religion without persecution and prosecution; the crime of blasphemy is creeping back. The words of Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris and Dennett are needed more than ever. These are the heirs to Voltaire. (Matt Ridley, author of The Evolution of Everything)
I was gripped. Throughout this erudite conversation the humility and openness of science shines against religion’s arrogance, hypocrisy and sheer gall in just ‘making stuff up’. How refreshing it is. (Professor Susan Blackmore)
One to watch: electrifying (Caroline Sanderson)

What listeners say about The Four Horsemen

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Not a book - more a discussion

This wasn’t a book but more a panel discussion and not the usual audiobook length. The audio for Dawkins was a little fuzzy to start with but in the end it was enjoyable.

Subject matter on point and an interesting listen.

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Excellent, pithy commentary from the Horsemen

I listen to this frequently mainly for Hitchens, who I could listen to forever. This is an eloquent exposition of atheism and why anyone should reexamine their faith and its impact on wider humanity.

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excellent

just wish it never ended :-) lovely to hear, Hitchens is always a pleasure to listen to especially nowadays.

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Four Horsemen - Enthralling listen.

To get these four people together to discuss different areas of interest, all relating their personal views with each other is forever a one off.
To appreciate the acquired knowledge and experience that develops their thoughts is awe inspiring.
It generates as many questions as it answers and is truly a great occasion we can listen to.

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extremely thought provoking

Whether you are a believer in a god or not, this is 4 highly intellectual people putting their thoughts, experiences and values into context.
I loved that this was a discussion and not the typical book format.

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a nice insight into great minds

The recording is very short and light touch so not really worth the cost. That said, always good to listen to this crowd.

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Excellent content, but...

Understand that this is not a typical book, it's actually more about 2 hours recording of their script-less conversation and less about the initial book-style intro... which is also excellent.
In other words, this audio book is half "book" and half recording of their dialog.

Considering that it was a debate, I missed to hear the other side in addition to this so rich discussion of one side, but what I missed does not justify downgrading the score, it still carries excellent content in both parts.

Performance loses 1 star due to audio during conversation, which sometimes got unclear or just the fact that one spoke over the other making me unable to understand a word (rare moments but real).

Bottom line: great if you are interested in their own debate; if looking for typical books, definitely recommend each of these author's books.

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Fly on the wall

A great listen that puts you in the room with some great minds. Fascinating conversation all done in a respectful and interesting manner.

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exceptional

this is an exceptional book with an exceptional foreword. I really miss Christopher Hitchens. all the author are wonderful. this book makes you think about various things and there is nothing more valuable than the inspiration to think and reason.

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Intellectual debate

The approach from reason, to understand how religion can threaten civilisation as we know it today..

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