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Free Will

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Free Will

By: Sam Harris
Narrated by: Sam Harris
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About this listen

A belief in free will touches nearly everything that human beings value. It is difficult to think about law, politics, religion, public policy, intimate relationships, morality—as well as feelings of remorse or personal achievement—without first imagining that every person is the true source of his or her thoughts and actions. And yet the facts tell us that free will is an illusion.

In this enlightening book, Sam Harris argues that this truth about the human mind does not undermine morality or diminish the importance of social and political freedom, but it can and should change the way we think about some of the most important questions in life.

©2012 Sam Harris (P)2012 Simon & Schuster History & Philosophy Philosophy Religious Studies Science Spirituality Morality

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Critic reviews

"Free will is an illusion so convincing that people simply refuse to believe that we don’t have it. In Free Will, Sam Harris combines neuroscience and psychology to lay this illusion to rest at last. Like all of Harris’s books, this one will not only unsettle you but make you think deeply. Read it: you have no choice." (Jerry A. Coyne, Professor of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, and author of Why Evolution Is True)
"In this elegant and provocative book, Sam Harris demonstrates—with great intellectual ferocity and panache—that free will is an inherently flawed and incoherent concept, even in subjective terms. If he is right, the book will radically change the way we view ourselves as human beings." (V. S. Ramachandran, Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition, UCSD, and author of The Tell-Tale Brain)
"Brilliant and witty—and never less than incisive— Free Will shows that Sam Harris can say more in 13,000 words than most people do in 100,000." (Oliver Sacks)
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A nice quick listen which is very well explained. Quite educational as I certainly know more about free will now.

Very interesting

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This is such a beautiful encapsulation of the argument against the illusion of the illusion of free will. I’ll be revisiting this, if only to better articulate why it is that free will can’t possibly exist in my conversation with others.

I Couldn’t Do Other Than Review This Right Now

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Sam Harris's book is so plausible he has convinced me he didn't write it.

Persuasive

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Man can do what he wills, but cannot will what he wills. Very good read

Very good read

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I feel some of the topics could have been explored in more depth. Having said that I do also see a value in works that are more bitesize and so go direct to the point. As for topics that could have perhaps, via appendix had a deeper treatment, the nature and meaning of determinism, discrete Vs non discrete systems, analogies to computer programs, the nature and meaning of randomness. Going deeper into the discussion of what would have had (possibly) to be different in order that we would have made different 'choices'. So let's say the book is a great summation of the topic and a fertile jump point for further enquiry and thought.

A very good book.

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it a book that get to the point and have good story to explained the topic.

good and short

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A brief but comprehensive argument on the illusion of free will. Sam Harris has an impressive ability for clear thinking and eloquent writing.

Very good

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I did not have the choice to write this review, it was already predetermined by unknown (to me) unconscious decisions based on past experiences and my genetic makeup.

Fandabidozi

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I thought this was fantastically thought provoking. Unfortunately due to the contents, I find it difficult to attribute any credit to author Sam Harris.

Will Free

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I enjoyed this book...was it even my choice to select it? Sam Harris' would say "no", and I would now agree. This has subtly changed the way in which I see human behaviour. Very thought provoking...or should I say, it is provoked by thought?

Compelling, fascinating, and easy to digest

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