Rating: 
Summary: Very interesting and very informative
Review: An excellent overview of key issues in the philosophies of science and religion, as well as the (exceedingly tedious) debate between evolutionists and creationists. Though the syntax is sometimes a bit sloppy and the prose a tad awkward, the content is damned near superb. A first-rate book by a first-rate scientist (and philosopher-in-training), and one hell of a nice guy. :)ALSO RECOMMENDED: Michael Shermer's WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WEIRD THINGS and HOW WE BELIEVE: THE SEARCH FOR GOD IN AN AGE OF SCIENCE.
Rating: 
Summary: Still refuses to deal with the fundamental issues
Review: As with other works written against theism or Christianity, this one still fails to deal with fundamental issues in metaphysics and epistemology. The author of course wishes to reject theism or Christianity, but the presupposition that he replaces them with fails to preserve intelligibility and thought. Once again, the question "How do we know what we know?" destroys non-theistic philosophy. For more information, read the works of Cornelius Van Til, Gordon Clark, and Greg Bahnsen. Until non-theists can justify their presuppositions, they are just building intellectual castles in thin air.
Rating: 
Summary: The book that intelligently answers the creationist?s claims
Review: Creationists often make claims that are hard to counter without knowledge of evolution and science. This books takes the creationists claims and destroys each of them. This book also explains the debating techniques of the creationists. Showing how they use half-truths and made-up science to explain creationism, this book is required reading for anyone who has listened to creationist B.S. and did not have all the answers. This book is a must for any Freethought library.
Rating:
Summary: The book that intelligently answers the creationist¿s claims
Review: Creationists often make claims that are hard to counter without knowledge of evolution and science. This books takes the creationists claims and destroys each of them. This book also explains the debating techniques of the creationists. Showing how they use half-truths and made-up science to explain creationism, this book is required reading for anyone who has listened to creationist B.S. and did not have all the answers. This book is a must for any Freethought library.
Rating:
Summary: A complete explanation, wrapped into a single volume
Review: Dr. Pigliucci's book does an excellent job of bringing the current debate between science and religion to the layman. This is not a work that tries to overwhelm you with big words or concepts that would lead to confusion. This is a direct, simple without being simplistic book where the good Doctor lines up the arguments for creationism, Intelligent Design, "God" being proven by science, etc. and shoots down each one with clear, concise explanations based on our current understanding of the universe. He also points out the continued flaws being expounded upon by those whose openly admitted position is to push for a theistic worldview, science be damned. This book is excellent for those who want a one-volume overview of the current debate on science vs religion. I think it is a more valuable book for those who cling to the idea that everything, including science, comes from a supernatural being. I would hope that an honest reading of this book would awaken these people to the fact that there is not one iota of scientific evidence for any type of deity. I agree this does not rule out the possible existence of such a being (or that of the unicorn), it just means that extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence and theists have as yet to produce such evidence.
Rating:
Summary: Pigliucci shoots down theistic errors with "just the facts"
Review: Dr. Pigliucci's book does an excellent job of bringing the current debate between science and religion to the layman. This is not a work that tries to overwhelm you with big words or concepts that would lead to confusion. This is a direct, simple without being simplistic book where the good Doctor lines up the arguments for creationism, Intelligent Design, "God" being proven by science, etc. and shoots down each one with clear, concise explanations based on our current understanding of the universe. He also points out the continued flaws being expounded upon by those whose openly admitted position is to push for a theistic worldview, science be damned. This book is excellent for those who want a one-volume overview of the current debate on science vs religion. I think it is a more valuable book for those who cling to the idea that everything, including science, comes from a supernatural being. I would hope that an honest reading of this book would awaken these people to the fact that there is not one iota of scientific evidence for any type of deity. I agree this does not rule out the possible existence of such a being (or that of the unicorn), it just means that extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence and theists have as yet to produce such evidence.
Rating:
Summary: PIGLIUCCI PRESENTS A FORMIDABLE CASE FOR SKEPTICISM
Review: Dr. Pigliucci, whom I met in August at the first annual Secular Student Alliance conference (where he debated "intelligent design theorist" Walter Ramine, handily debunking the eccentric fellow's absurd and nonsensical rantings), has written a most laudable and entertaining book. In his TALES, he not only supplies skeptics/freethinkers with a veritable arsenal of incredibly cogent (both scientifically and philosophically) arguments against creationism and similar pseudoscience, but builds one of the strongest cases yet against superstition and irrationalism in general (e.g., religion). He also presents an overwhelmingly powerful, cumulative case for evolution, as well as some very intriguing (and enlightening) insights into recent developments within biochemistry, cosmology, and that exceedingly incorrigible sphere of study known as "chaos theory." Highly readable, thoroughly researched, and invariably scholarly (if sometimes rather provocative), Pigliucci's work is truly a delight to read. I whole-heartedly recommend it to all. (Incidentally, I myself am debating a creationist on my college campus next week, and TALES proved utterly invaluable to my research and preparation. Thanks, Massimo... I promise to quote you at least a dozen times :).
Rating:
Summary: A complete explanation, wrapped into a single volume
Review: I don't want to sound too redundant compared to the other reviews, so I'll keep this somewhat short. As far as building a case for modern scientific theories is concerned, this book did rather well. As far as refuting pseudo-science goes, I sincerely doubt any stone has been left unturned. Not only did Dr. Pigliucci refute the cases of a few different creationists, he also weeded-out some of the confusion in (and misuse of) frontier sciences, including (off the tip of my brain) chaos theory, abiogenesis, and the possibility of contact with extra-terrestrial intelligence. If you had to pick only one book to represent skepticism, I think you should definitely go with this one.
Rating:
Summary: "Tales of the Rational": A Review
Review: I found "Tales" to be a wonderfully engaging account of the author's efforts to demonstrate the need for more rational and skeptical thinking in the world. The importance of critically evaluating all ideas was brought home time and time again throughout the essays, and left me with a deep sense of respect for, among other things, the author's (generally) scientifically-based views on morals and ethics. The book had a very "Saganesqe" quality to it, and in many ways reminded me of the way I felt after reading "Cosmos" for the first time.
Rating:
Summary: "Tales of the Rational": A Review
Review: I found "Tales" to be a wonderfully engaging account of the author's efforts to demonstrate the need for more rational and skeptical thinking in the world. The importance of critically evaluating all ideas was brought home time and time again throughout the essays, and left me with a deep sense of respect for, among other things, the author's (generally) scientifically-based views on morals and ethics. The book had a very "Saganesqe" quality to it, and in many ways reminded me of the way I felt after reading "Cosmos" for the first time.
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