This book is a beautifully narrated, well researched, scientific and philosophical analysis of theism. It comprehensively covers virtually all the academic questions one is likely to ask of religion. In general the cited examples show a bias towards the analysis of Christianity within the United Kingdom and United States of America.
It does however have some idiosyncrasies, the structure and vocabulary has academic tone. The book is not difficult to comprehend, but the meticulous use of referencing does lend itself to frequent repeated listening (perhaps a chapter at a time) if one is to fully appreciate the detail within the work.

Dawkins is a evangelical atheist and never prentends to be anything else and this is his reasoning behind his position.

I applaud the use of two voices (Dawkins and Ward) - it works well indeed.

A fascinating argument which occasionally can repeat itself but is nevertheless well worth the investment in time.

The audio content of this recording is excellently presented by Dawkins and his wife, Lalla Ward, who alternate speaking to very good effect. Dawkins is at his most interesting and persuasive when talking about his specialist subject, evolutionary science, and has got a great deal to say about a wide range of other subjects. The book ranges from theology to social sciences to physics to ethics and the listener picks up some fascinating titbits of information and anecdotes along the way.

Unfortunately, I felt that Dawkins? passion for his cause, combined with his layman?s knowledge on the majority of the themes, leads to several rather irritating and poorly thought-out assertions which diminish the overall message of the book. I was left feeling short-changed after yet another sweeping dismissal of a complicated theological area and desperate to hear the other side of the story.

Overall, this book will open your mind to a wide range of discussion topics and give you much food for thought. I would, however, consider the abridged version as 15 hours of the author?s rhetoric gets a little wearying.

This book has changed my life. I have never believed in God, even when I was forced to go to Sunday school as a young child, it always seemed nonsense. This book gave me the backup, evidence and examples to reaffirm what I always thought. I suspect that this will be most useful to those who are in the "not sure" camp.

It is highly entertaining and would strongly recommend it.

I had been thinking of downloading this book for some time, but as a committed atheist, I wasn?t sure if it would be for me ? I don?t need convincing. I also thought it would be dry. How wrong could I be. I love this book, and the narrative with Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward is very entertaining. I was reminded of the wonderful writing of Douglas Adams with both readers narrative ? appropriately enough, the book is dedicated to Douglas Adams, a good friend of Dawkins (who met his wife and fellow narrator, Lalla Ward though Douglas Adams).

Unlike 'Geoff' from Stockton-on-Tees (a previous reviewer of this work), I have had the benefit of actually listening to the book, and having read most of the rest of the Dawkins oeuvre besides. His writing is never less than exhilarating, and very often devastating. For me, the key theme is his critique of religion as an all-purpose excuse-generating mechanism, whether it is providing the justification for wars, discrimination or plain ignorance about the natural world. Alas, those who are too intellectually cowardly to listen beyond the preview will never experience the thrill and/or challenge of Dawkins' arguments.

I also feel that the book benefits from having been presented in this two-narrator audiobook form, and wonder whether Professor Dawkins' publishers have considered giving his other works a similar treatment.

This is an excellent book and it works very well with Richard Dawkins reading with his wife Lalla Ward. Dawkins argues against religion and never looses one's interest. He is knowledgable, amusing and devastating.Listen and open your mind if you are religious or listen and bolster your arguments if you are not. Then buy the book and read it and then read Dawkins' other books. He teaches difficult things so even I understand!

First of all, I have not read any of the reviews of this book, so I bring no influenced persuasion to mine.
If anybody who has any doubt, no matter how small about how we perceive ourselves on this Planet and fundamentally, how we came to be here at all,....then, Please, please, please, Read or Listen to this wonderfully explained History of Everything.
Nothing Mr. Dawkins Writes is 'made up', all the facts are laid bare in virtual chronological order for the reader to see.
Even if I do not have the education to fully understand some of the more erudite concepts conveyed here, I can absolutely understand the reasoning behind them.
I just wish the whole religious world would wake up to the fact that whatever their 'god' is, their 'god' has basically been invented by predecessors who had absolutely no understanding of even what the Sun or Moon was,.. let alone the Earth!
So, thank you Mr. Dawkins for justifying my questioning of all the religious rubbish I have encountered in my life, (mainly christian and catholic to name but a few of so many who think theirs is the best!)..
and giving me the strength to oppose ALL religious ideas forthwith.
People CAN be Good and Moral without having to subscribe to a Frankly absurd notion of their 'god' watching over their every action and thought, intent on damning them to 'Eternal suffering' should they
think or do something against the so called 'commandments'!!
If you are going to believe in something, get real and believe in reality.
GREAT BOOK.. BUY IT!!!!

I bought this after having read the book twice. In terms of content it is brilliant.

Dawkins argues everything so clearly and is one of the few intellectuals who, in my opinion, makes his subject available to the general public without dumbing it down.

As it should be with such discussions, I didn't agree with the arguments on a few issues but the general direction is unquestionable and has helped me to formalise my own debates with 'believers'.

An extra plus to the audio version is the narration. So often I download books that I have read and enjoyed, not to be able to listen to them because of tedious narration. This is not one of those books.

This is a must read book for people of all persuasions.

Wow! What a book. Obviously this title is going to cause sensation. It has. I felt it was worth it. The master stroke here was asking Richard and his wife Lalla too read the book. They compliment one another perfectly.
I will not discuss the rights and wrongs of the subjects dealt with in the book. It would be better to buy it and read, or listen to it for yourselves.
All I can say is that the book itself is a masterfull piece of work that I was totally obsessed with.
It has certainly helped me to face my existence with a new understanding about my place in the world.