Subtitled ‘Humanist Ideas and Philosophies to Live By’, this collection of thoughts from thirty-one intelligent, experienced, and fascinating people has been compiled from Andrew Copson’s podcasts with over sixty such individuals between 2020 and 2024. It was initially inspired by essays from Bertrand Russell in 1925 and E.M. Forster in 1938, and a separate collection of essays entitled ‘I Believe’ published by George Allen & Unwin in 1940.

The book is presented in three sections, ‘Reason, science and truth’, ‘Love, respect and empathy’, and ‘Freedom, equality and justice’. Many of the authors will be known to a lot of readers from their output in various capacities in life and work.

The essays take the form of conversations, making them easy to read. All are written from a Humanist point of view, which means you’ll find, rational, truthful, tolerant, and scientific opinions expressed here, a real and delightful alternative to the often abusive, irrational, boastful and intolerant ideas that seem to rule online social media these days.

The book is, and I make no excuse for the cliché, a breath of fresh air. It explains why these intelligent, informed, reasonable and thoughtful people believe what they believe. How they came to their conclusions. How they view the world and its people.

These are well-presented measured thoughts, views, and opinions of people who have thoroughly examined their beliefs. So unlike the ill-considered and often spurious outbursts of those commentators so desperate to express their anger, prejudice, opinions and views that they say, or more often shout, the first words that occur to them.

These essays from Humanists reflect the dynamic and progressive outlook of that organisation where all ideas, values and beliefs are, in common with science, open to question and revision.

[Any review is a personal opinion. No reviewer can represent the view of anyone else. The best we can manage is an honest reaction to any given book.]