Free Will

3.5 stars. Harris has, like other prolific and militant atheists, a narrative tone that can be off-putting and arguments that rarely offer middle ground. This essay is no different. Though Harris is a legitimate scientist who derives his opinions from evidence, the core argument of "Free Will" is a rationalist one. He mentions the fMRI research only briefly, focusing instead on the murky origins of thoughts and actions. Harris argues that the inability to choose one random thought over another dismantles the traditional definition of free will completely. And the argument is sound. At least, I agree with it completely. However, the essay is lacking the scientific and philosophical rigor that most would expect. Those who are well-versed in logic and phenomenology will have a lot of negative things to say about this piece.

This book has nothing to do with reality. Even if the premise us true, no one will really change anything

This book will change the way you think. Sam Harris is one of the greatest minds alive today.

Real Simple - I wish I was as smart as Sam! His explanations are solid and I like all the examples he provides. The bonus is that he is the speaker. His voice provides solid support to the written material. - I have recently purchased another one of his books and have also subscribed to his podcast. - Now I must say I don't agree with some aspects of the writing, but that doesn't preclude me from listening to his works.