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    Free Will
    Free Will
    Free Will
    Audiobook1 hour

    Free Will

    Written by Sam Harris

    Narrated by Sam Harris

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    From the New York Times bestselling author of The End of Faith, a thought-provoking, "brilliant and witty" (Oliver Sacks) look at the notion of free will—and the implications that it is an illusion.

    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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateMar 6, 2012
    ISBN9781442353053
    Author

    Sam Harris

    Sam Harris is the author of the bestselling books The End of Faith, Letter to a Christian Nation, The Moral Landscape, Free Will, and Lying. The End of Faith won the 2005 PEN Award for Nonfiction. His writing has been published in over fifteen languages. Dr. Harris is cofounder and CEO of Project Reason, a nonprofit foundation devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society. He received a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA. Please visit his website at SamHarris.org.

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    Reviews for Free Will

    4/5

    911 ratings54 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a mixed bag. Some praise it as a great introductory work on philosophy, while others criticize it for being contradictory and lacking in depth. The book explores the concept of free will and its implications on morality and punishment. It presents scientific evidence on how our subconscious brain influences our decisions. While some appreciate the straightforward writing style and clear examples, others find the book lacking finesse and technique. Overall, it is a thought-provoking read that challenges deeply held notions about free will.

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 1/5
      Dogma disguised as self help. Garbage basically. Terrible recommendation from the app.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Total surprise! Not an apology of freedom, but a scientifically backed demonstration of the biological and cognitive limits of it.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I'm on board with the seeming dichotomy of underlying determinism and the useful illusion of choice.
    • 4/5
      Read the short one in an afternoon. Very sure, well written, clearly made arguments. Already believed nearly all of this before I read this, but nicely done
    • 5/5
      Great explanation and so good to contemplate and relate to daily lives
    • 2/5
      A bit dogmatic but with some valid points. I am suggesting anyone to listen to it so he/she knows that it was always free will
    • 5/5
      Was neutral to the philosophy of Determinisim. In this book, Sam Harris makes plausible case. After reading, on the issue, here and there., my take away is that we are actually confusing Freewill with Freedom of Choice. I think as consious personalities, we do have freedom of choice, not freewill. I think true freewill belongs to the domain of the unconscious. But then, we are both. That is the nature of our human mind. It is dual natured. So is not as if the unconscious is something else apart from the conscious. Which brings in the whole spiritual philosophy of non- dualism. So in a man in whom is reconciled the conscious and unconscious, ( yoga).. Only he can trully claim to be free.
    • 5/5
      This will be one of my most recommended books to people.
    • 5/5
      Reinvigorated old ideas that I hadn't thought about it in a while. It was quite a nostalgic feeling.
    • 5/5
      Excellent, concise. Sam Harris is unbelievably precise and clear. something everyone should read/listen to.
    • 4/5
      A nice, short book on freedom,ethics and neurology. Great introductory work for novice level philosophy fans.
    • 4/5
      Explanation with scientific evidence showing how our subconscious brain makes decisions before we even think or act on them.
    • 5/5
      Free will --- A very important concept! Whatever you believe before reading this book, you get a new perspective about us constrained, if not controlled, by our past, our environment, and our biology. A great read!
    • 5/5
      What is amazing about this book is that on its surface it appears as if it's going to be simply a book about philosophical musings but in reality it is a book about compassion empathy and love for the human race. One of the most monumental books I have ever read in making me a better human.
    • 5/5
      As accessible as it is effective in describing the notion of free will. Challenging one of our most deeply held notions. Leaving much to mull over after listening/ reading.
    • 5/5
      Good insights we’ll written. I like his part about producing more compassion in people
    • 5/5
      I think everyone should give this thought.
      Thanks to Sam Harris for writing this headache of a topic.
    • 5/5
      Everyone in the world should read this book!
      Thank you for writing it.
    • 5/5
      I really appreciate that Sam Harris writes in a straightforward way and uses very clear examples. This book contains a message that can open eyes and help everyone be more compassionate.
    • 5/5
      Short and to the point despite the complexity of the concept.
    • 5/5
      I might not agree but it is well written and thought provoking.
    • 5/5
      Only Sam Harris can use a rabbit and still be captivating. Great read, makes us more insane than we already are.
    • 5/5
      I had no free will in writing my first review. It was probably influenced by a chance discovery of sam harris on a podcast. It could be the low blood sugar but this book gave me new insight into my view of reality.

      It is a great read! (Or listen)
    • 4/5
      Who or what actually pulls on the strings of your consciousness. This short book is Sam Harris's logical insight into the world of determinism.
    • 5/5
      Great book with a nice narration. Deterministic philosophy nicely explained
    • 5/5
      At first I think 'from my cold dead hands' will you prise my free will, but by the end I believe it's possible... and I won't even need to die. I'll need a second listen to internalise all this, however, as I can't shake the feeling of agency and responsibility that I'm trying to live by, and instill in my children. hummm.
    • 2/5
      While Harris makes some interesting points about the influences on our thoughts and behaviors being outside of our awareness, he falls victim to biological reductionism and determinism far too often. While painting a picture of us is marionettes, he makes the point that if we can be aware of an influence on our behavior that we can grab hold of one string. He fails to realize that it is possible then to grab hold of all of the strings with enough insight, self-examination and self-awareness, which contradicts his central thesis. He repeatedly makes points that his lack of awareness of awareness of the causes of his own choices and behavior means they are not knowable, and that he thus has no real free will. While I agree that we all have influences on our behavior that we start out unaware of, the natural consequence of this argument is that free will is attained through thorough self-examination, not to just quit at the stage of “I have no idea why I do this so therefore what’s the point?”
    • 1/5
      He presents a couple studies as his only factual evidence free will exists and then riffs off of that. Problem is that both of these studies have been debunked so this entire book is useless bullshit.
    • 4/5
      As I listen to Free Will, may mind keep asking me, what steps did I took to get to this point listening to this book, fascinating book.
    • 1/5
      When compared with real philosophy, like that of Immanuel Kant, this book is elementary foolishness. The entire book is a constant contradiction. The main theme of Harris’s book is that the premeditated murderer is only acting from the effects of outside influences and was never free to act otherwise. Therefore the state ought not to punish the murderer. What striking hypocrisy! As if the agents of the state were somehow free to choose not to punish him. Harris repeatedly says free will is an illusion, only to contradict himself when it is convenient. This book is only useful as an example of dishonest philosophy; since I refuse to believe anyone is so devoid of reason as to actually agree with the ideas here presented.

      1 person found this helpful