Books about atheism

[leo-rcc]

What exactly are they about?

It varies, mostly they are about why the author doesn't believe in a god, or why the author thinks no one should. Some are just to argue against specific theistic claims.

And who is the target group for such a book? Like who buys them more? Atheists, or theists?

Probably atheists or people who are having doubts about their faith.

I mean, it'd make sense if theists bought it, but why would an atheist buy a book about atheism?

Because they are not about atheism as an ism. They are usually about theism or sometimes a specific religion.

One book for example is "50 reasons people believe in a god" by Guy P Harrison. It is not about atheism, but it shows in separate chapters the reasons theists give for their belief, and why the author doesn't agree with them. For atheists who already are out of the faith or like me never believed in the first place, the book is useful as a guide to argue against theistic claims but nothing more than that. I own the book, but to me there is nothing in there I didn't already know so I hardly ever look at it any more. It is a very good book which for my taste sometimes goes too far overboard by being nice to various religions, but in itself the counters this book makes are good ones without the harsh and/or condescending undertones of a Dawkins or Hitchens.

I have known people who were in doubt where this book has helped. That doesn't mean it is a miracle "cure" for all theists, but it is a helpful tool for those already open to different viewpoints to see if it helps them in their beliefs or unbelief.

I think these type of books are the best. They offer a more varied viewpoint than "Religion sucks and theists are idiots" which some atheist books do promote. They are written specifically to pander to the atheists, and only atheists would ever buy it. It could be that if a believer gets a firm enough kick in the genitals from reading a book like that, that it shakes their beliefs so hard they deconvert, but I doubt that very much.

Theists have similar books like that. Pretty much anything Ray Comfort writes is just food for Christians to fuel their beliefs even more. The books of Josh McDowell however try at least to show atheists where they are wrong according to him in a more honest and straightforward way (though not very convincing to me, I can at least see where he comes from). As an apologist I have more respect for him than Lee Strobel for instance. I really doubt many atheists would buy books from Strobel or McDowell or Comfort, I think their main reader base is very firmly theistic. The only ones I could see buying their books regularly are the ones that will counter their claims actively.