Perspective

"The Believing Brain" is written by psychologist and science historian Michael Shermer. The book is written in the first person with Shermer as narrator. Shermer has had a long career and has spent thirty years researching the processes that take place in the brain when beliefs are established. In addition to Shermer's knowledge of the subject, he is a best-selling author having written eight other books including "Why Darwin Matters" and "The Science of Good and Evil." It is doubtful that anyone would be more qualified to tackle the completed subject matter of the book than Shermer.

A generous portion of "The Believing Brain" involves the belief in the invisible including God. Shermer's personal path to belief included a conversion from born-again Christian to atheist. A dedicated Christian throughout high school and most of college, Shermer's belief foundation began to crack as his studies in psychology and science...