Recommended Readings for a Beginning Atheist

[Alex K]

Sagan, specifically "Demon haunted World" sums up the skeptic worldview best.

The God Delusion was entertaining and funny at times, a good bedtime read

[Cyberman]

This is going to sound odd at first but I'd also recommend the Science Of Discworld series. Despite the title, they illustrate real-world science using a fictional Discworld story to make it accessible and digestible. They are also thoroughly entertaining.

[Clueless Morgan]

Any of Bart Erhman's books. I'm currently reading "What do you do with a chocolate Jesus - Thomas Quinn"

I really enjoyed Ehrman's Lost Christianities, I'd recommend that one for sure.

I know a lot of people don't think very highly of Dawkins' God Delusion, but I like his writing style. I'd recommend his books on science (The Greatest Show on Earth, especially) and if you like his style read The God Delusion.

I quite enjoy Victor Stenger's book God the Failed Hypothesis, and I have a second one of his that I'm planning on reading... soon...

I'm also planning on reading Bertrand Russell's Why I am Not A Christian soon, too. Haven't read it yet, though.

[FreeTony]

James Randi - Flim Flam.

Although not specifically about Atheism, it is an entertaining look at sceptisicm and how fraudsters operate and fool people.

[shep]

Dawkins is very easy to follow, an elegant and beautiful writer
Sam Harris End of Faith shows up the contradictions in scripture

Many articles online and vids on youtube.

The variety and plethora of resources at your disposal should make for an interesting slog

[OGirly]

Thanks again everyone! This is an amazing list so far

[Bittersmart]

I've already seen a lot of my personal recommendations posted, so I guess the only one I have to add is "Toward a New Enlightenment" by Paul Kurtz. I found this book in college when I was going through a lot of introspection regarding my personal beliefs, and it was amazing.

[jesus_wept]

I know this isn't what you want but i found learning about logical fallacies to be very useful. Read up on them and try and see how many you can spot in religious literature. You'll be amazed how much of it is fallacious.

[OGirly]

I know this isn't what you want but i found learning about logical fallacies to be very useful. Read up on them and try and see how many you can spot in religious literature. You'll be amazed how much of it is fallacious.

Good advice! I have to start taking formal logic classes for my philosophy major this upcoming semester. Looking forward to it, but I'm sure a head start is never a bad idea

[Tonus]

Thanks so much! Lot's of great recommendations here for sure, and I appreciate the videos as well. I'll have quite a bit to work through over the summer with these I'm sure.

Don't overwhelm yourself. Like any learning process, if you try to take in too much at once you can wind up confused. If you seek out information to bolster a decision you made (particularly one that can be pretty emotionally and mentally draining) you may wind up a bit disillusioned.

If you are "new" to atheism, then Dawkins' God Delusion is a good place to start, as I think it lays out the background of the debate in a straightforward manner. Harris or Hitchens are a good step up from that in any order, IMO.