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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Highly Recommended Nov 03, 2010
By Richard B
This is an original, thought-provoking book on the topic of protecting our children's future in a world of new dangers. Like Sir Martin Rees' Our Final Hour, Hollings places our risks of technologically-enhanced self-destruction in both cosmological and evolutionary contexts. He also reminds us how misery is not an abstraction; that real injustices cause real people pain. But The Future of Man is unique in proceeding beyond the problems of war, WMD terrorism and environmental self-destruction to presenting specific, actionable steps we individually can take now.
I especially value Hollings observations about the importance of true spirituality in preserving our world. He explains how traditional religion evolved with man's basic need for context and meaning, needs which remain. Although science has disproven many of the original beliefs of traditional "sacred scripture" religions, as he notes, scientific evidence now also shows our universe is disproportionately well suited to support life. Viewing this as evidence of willful creation, Hollings challenges the reader to become a `Future Man'. Real spirituality, as Hollings quotes from Albert Einstein, comes from "widening our circle of compassion to embrace all..." To do this, Hollings calls us "...to give meaning to all that has happened and will happen", to assume responsibility for finding our God-given purpose. And, as Hollings well explains in a chapter so named, "we must act now'.
This book also presents a Deist's argument for accepting God as omnipotent creator but rejecting the "sacred scripture" religions whose past intolerances often contributed to human self-destruction. As a Unitarian, believing that although all religious organizations are flawed we should strive to accept others' faiths as common opportunities to seek truth and meaning, I found this argument not convincing but moderated and instructive nonetheless. In short, even those who disagree with the author about traditional religions will find Hollings larger argument well proven anyway.
The book is clearly written and the author's compelling arguments are well supported. I highly recommend it.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
An enjoyable and stimulating read Oct 31, 2009
By V. Arocho
For someone who embarked on seeking out answers to spirituality, God, and life itself I'm quite grateful to Mr. Hollings for his book. Despite the facts that his book hasn't been a bestseller or received any attention from critics, its very inspiring and uplifting that they are those who don't think we live a meaningless existence in a meaningless universe that just happened to come about for no reason and that the origins of life were simply accidental. I really appreciate Mr. Hollings to have the courage to write about his pilgrimage to what he believes, lives by, and his generosity of sharing his story with others.
While the first half of the book, Hollings just provides in layman's terms the progression of science as to where we came from and where we're going which is the very theme that he expresses in his book overall. He also addresses the current issue of religious fundamentalism that sadly has taken its toll upon society and how understanding why some people take the opposite position of atheism, agnosticism, and or secular humanism. I personally took joy and humor from chapter 15: "Is there a God?" when Hollings had provided his own preactical and blunt critiques of Richard Dawkins's case for why God certainly doesn't exist in his book "The God Delusion". While tempted to give away spoilers, I'd respectfully encourage the those who read my review to see for yourself what Hollings says in response. From this chapter to the ending of the book, Hollings I think truly instills one with the hope and determination in promoting a collaborative effort among people to build a better future in terms of the developing technology of the modern day being converted for more productive purposes to serve humanity than to divide it further. Fighting poverty, starvation, and political chaos that persists to drives people to war and destruction should be everyone's duty on some level. I also admired a great deal how he reminds the reader on the importance of spirituality that Hollings explains in chapters 17 and 19 along with other things that have to do with new concepts of God that perhaps may not be completely new, but nevertheless refreshing to keep in mind.
So to conclude, I hope whoever reads this will take what I had to say about this book into consideration and keep an open mind on what Hollings conveys to the reader. I for one get something out of reading it and helped me to know that we all have a purpose individually and globally as a species. This has also served as a great example that you don't have to be famous by any means to reach out to others and try to make a positive difference in some way. Thank you Mr. Hollings.
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
The Future of Man - it's up to us! Sep 13, 2009
By Robert Johnson
This is a very well written and thought-out book. It really gets the reader thinking! It gives a lot of information about science in a very easy to understand way which opens up a desire for more learning. And contrary to what many may think, knowledge of science is a great foundation for belief in God. Not the Christian, Jewish, or Islamic god, or the god of any of the "revealed" religions, but Nature's God as God is described in the Declaration of Independence.
I'm glad that the author tackles the popular Atheist Richard Dawkins and his book The God Delusion. Peter Hollings points out some very important weaknesses in this well-known Atheist book.
I especially like the dialogue between the author and a dogmatic Atheist! Very well done!
Mr. Hollings makes the strong and logical point that not only the type of world that we and our children and grandchildren will have, but the very existence of mankind itself is completely in our own hands. That is a very sobering realization! Hopefully it will help people take the right reasonable and caring actions that our existence demands.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Nothing New Oct 01, 2009
By Shadow
"Shadow"
There are plenty of books out there which better illustrates what Peter Hollings tries to say; God exists and all religions are BS. I have to agree with him 100%, however, I was very disappointed in that I learned nothing new. When one tackles the task of saying something to the world, they should see if it has been said before. If it has, then may be one can say it better. His topic/subject was redundant and is approach or angle was sub par. I was bored out of my mind reading this book--predictable like you wouldn't believe.
It is a good book for a beginner in the subject of Deism. However, you'd be better off with Thomas Paine's, Age of Reason.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Nice try? Apr 24, 2010
By peej
The writer shows a poor understanding of the topic. Poorly executed and a waste of money and time. The cover was a little raunchy to have sitting out if children are present.
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