Comments

  2. carlie says

    I saw the fish and thought “that’s cute”.

    Then scrolled down and woooooooohoooooooooo!!!!!!

  4. says

    He’s thinking, evolving legs sure beats praying for jeebus to transport me around.

    And there are too happy atheists–when we’re oppressing Christians (you know, by asking for evidence, etc.). Satan has allowed us that much happiness.

    Glen Davidson

  5. says

    As a creative director at an ad agency, I salute the designer of this clean, modern, wry cover.

    As a creative director at an ad agency I cringe that there is an ad for a petition to overturn Roe v. Wade just above your profile.

    One step forward . . .

  13. davidnielsen says

    I just hope that there will be an audiobook edition of this, preferably narrated by PZ himself.

  17. Herr Mann says

    Looking nice, it’s simple and quickly recognizable! The font is very pleasant too.

    Personally, I would touch up the fish and add an extra two legs (so it becomes a tetrapod, right?), otherwise it looks as if it grew a foot on the chin…

    I’m adding a link to my suggestion. http://postimage.org/image/3zfro7jgz/

  19. Margaret says

    Second the request for an audiobook. Narrated by PZ would be good. Or maybe PZ and Mary?

  23. Stefan says

    Hey – what happened with Amazon? Doesn’t show up in the search anymore and when I tracked it back to the book page through my pre-orders, it has a publish date many moons in the future:

    Product Details
    Hardcover: 176 pages
    Publisher: Pantheon (December 31, 2035)
    Language: English
    ISBN-10: 0307379345
    ISBN-13: 978-0307379344
    Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces

  25. carlie says

    Moggie,
    (small voice)No, me too. I just didn’t want to mention it. But asterisks without footnotes attached give me figurative hives. Hopefully the footnote is on the back cover.(/small voice)

  26. Stella says

    Please, oh please, have an audiobook made. So very few atheist, freethought and science books are accessible to vision-impaired people. I’d like to be able to read past the brilliant cover.

    Stella

  32. speedweasel says

    So excited. I’ve reserved a place of honor on my ‘freethought’ bookshelf between The God Delusion and Ben Goldacre’s Bad Science.

  34. says

    Randomfactor #14

    Y’know, I think it WOULD look happier with an eye.

    They tried to make an eye, but it was too complex..

  35. Moggie says

    Carlie: ohhh, he said it’s a tease, didn’t he? He wants us to buy the damn thing just to get the footnote! Maybe people should just supply their own footnote instead.

  36. sphex says

    OMG OMG OMG. I am sooooo excited! Between this and Greta Christina’s I’m gonna be in book heaven this year.

  39. alysonmiers says

    What a cute little tetrapod! He looks like he can’t wait to stick his little foot out and trip someone!

  41. Olav says

    To provide some balance against a few people above: No, please don’t bother making an audiobook. I have tried audiobooks and have concluded that they are only good for putting you to sleep. Nothing beats reading, really.

  42. Therrin says

    I have tried audiobooks and have concluded that they are only good for putting you to sleep.

    I’m currently listening to God Is Not Great, read (written) by Christopher Hitchens. I have yet to fall asleep with it on. Maybe you should a) up your sample size, or b) stop assuming everyone is you.

  44. says

    To provide some balance against a few people above: No, please don’t bother making an audiobook. I have tried audiobooks and have concluded that they are only good for putting you to sleep.

    while I also can’t listen to audiobooks (or lectures, for that matter) without dozing off, I am also aware that this is because I’m an extremely visual person and a visual learner. Not everyone is. Some people absorb information better/easier when listening to it instead of looking at it.

    tl;dr — you are not everyone, so STFU

  46. steveahern says

    PZ,

    The cover looks fantastic! There’s much to be said with less – I typically prefer the minimalist approach.

    Your writing is fun and engaging, so this book will make my Amazon wish list and (ultimately!) bookshelf.

    Steve

  47. Dr. Audley Z. Darkheart, liar and scoundrel says

    Totally diggin’ the minimalist look.

    I’ve already pre-ordered The Happy Atheist*, so I suppose that even if it had a tacky cover, I’d prolly go ahead and buy it, anyway. :p

    *In real booky book form!

  49. J Bowen says

    Looks great, but no “Dancing on the Graves of the Gods”? Awwww. That’s it. I’m canceling my order.

    Just kidding.

  50. Olav says

    Therrin, Jadehawk, I am quite aware that not everyone is me and I am not everyone, thank you. That is why I began my comment with “To provide some balance…”. Perhaps I should have also included smilies or other hints of intent with my reply. I keep forgetting that irony is dead on the ‘net.

  51. Therrin says

    Olav, it’s more that “providing balance” has become a phrase used when introducing criticism to a non-sided issue.

  53. says

    . That is why I began my comment with “To provide some balance…”.

    how is “don’t make a book in format x because I don’t need it” a balance to “some of us would need/prefer the book in format x to be able to read it”?

    the balance here would be to say “please also make a text-version”, which is obviously not necessary. it is the people who have been asking for the audio version who have been providing the balance, not you.

  58. says

    Oh, I’ll be buyin’ me a copy, but I’m waiting for the book signing tour.

    No doubt, Grand Forks, ND will be on the schedule!

  59. Ray, rude-ass yankee says

    Yay, progress! Where do I pre order? I’m sure that Roanoke, VA will be next on the book tour after Grand Forks, ND. We are, after all, the “Star City of The South” or some-such.
    I also agree with some previous posters that the smilin’ tetrapod fish needs to evolve eyes (or maybe the asterisk (tiny porcupine?) could go there). By the way, that fish would make cool swag for the pharyngula store.

  61. says

    Olav #41:

    No, please don’t bother making an audiobook. I have tried audiobooks and have concluded that they are only good for putting you to sleep. Nothing beats reading, really.

    Because, of course, the fact that you don’t enjoy audiobooks means no one else enjoys, let alone requires, audiobooks. Blind people? I think we’ve found another way to cut money from disability ben, err, entitlements…

  63. flip says

    Just searched in Amazon for ‘pz myers happy atheist’ and combinations/subsets – got nothing. Someone post a link please?

  66. birgerjohansson says

    Smile? If you have seen a reconstruction of Ichystostega Gunnari from the front, you know the “smile” is a grin full of sharp teeth! Like a dolphin’s “smile” but more sinister.

  67. HaggisForBrains says

    The Happy Atheist: Dancing on the Graves of the Gods by Pz Myers (14 Aug 2012)
    Formats: Hardcover
    Price: £15.30 £13.63
    Available for pre-order
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery and 1 more promotion

    From Amazon.co.uk.

    14 August! I can’t wait that long!

  68. birgerjohansson says

    “the name ‘pansy’ derives from the French ‘pensée’ meaning ‘thought’”

    In Swedish, we call it “pensee” as in the original word, which might be part of the reason we are both mainly atheist and good thinkers :-)

  70. David Marjanović says

    But… but… where the fuck is the subtitle? Where is the dancing on the graves of gods – the part that is much better than the title itself, and without it the title only makes half as much sense!?!

    Did somebody take the minimalist look way too far?

    I feel robbed.

    Ah, that’s it – the asterisk is actually a tiny porcupine!

    *squee*

    *cute overload*