David Berlinski Books

Exploring the profound mysteries of existence, Berlinski delves into the nature of the human mind, the diversity of life, and the essence of matter. His insights challenge conventional scientific views, reflecting his background as a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute. With a robust literary portfolio that includes titles like The Devil's Delusion and Newton's Gift, he invites readers to ponder deep philosophical questions that intertwine science and belief.

This book collects essays published in journals including Commentary, The Weekly Standard, and elsewhere. It centers on three profound mysteries: the existence of the human mind; the existence and diversity of living creatures; and the existence of matter. How they did they come into being? The author, Dr. David Berlinski, is a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute and formerly a fellow at the Institut des Hautes tudes Scientifiques in France. His other books include The Devil's Delusion: Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions, Newton's Gift, and A Tour of the Calculus.

This utterly immersive novel is rich with insightful and wickedly comic observations of family members behaving badly in stressful situations. It is a novel of sibling rivalries and relationships, the dilemma of a parent torn between the two, the untidiness of a sudden death and a grieving process that takes time to unfold.

Polymath and raconteur David Berlinski is at it again, challenging the shibboleths of contemporary science with his inimitable blend of deep learning, close reasoning, and rapier wit. In Science After Babel he reflects on everything from Newton, Einstein, and Gödel to catastrophe theory, information theory, and the morass that is modern Darwinism. The scientific enterprise is unarguably impressive, but it shows no sign of reaching the empyrean heights it seemed to promise a century ago. "It resembles Bruegel's Tower of Babel," Berlinski says, "and if it suggests anything at all, it suggests that its original plans have somehow been lost." Science endures. Scientism, it would seem, is guttering out.

A secular Jew, Berlinski nonetheless delivers a biting defense of religious thought. This incisive book explores the limits of science and the pretensions of those who insist it can be--indeed must be--the ultimate touchstone for understanding the world.

Challenging the notion that humanity is on a steady path toward improvement, this work explores the complexities of human nature through a multidisciplinary lens. David Berlinski critiques the belief in a declining murder rate and the idea of an impending utopia driven by technological advancement. By weaving together insights from history, mathematics, and literature, he highlights the enduring presence of both beauty and depravity in the human condition, asserting that humans are unlikely to evolve into god-like beings.

Delving into the foundations of mathematics, David Berlinski explores essential concepts such as numbers, operations, geometry, and logic, revealing their intricate nature. Through historical anecdotes and insights into notable mathematicians, the book highlights the beauty and significance of these fundamental ideas. Berlinski captivates readers by demonstrating how these seemingly simple concepts are crucial not only to mathematics but also to our understanding of the world.

The book offers a critical analysis of the responses to Stephen C. Meyer's influential work on intelligent design, "Signature in the Cell." It highlights how many critics failed to engage with the core arguments of Meyer's theory. Edited by David Klinghoffer, it features essays from prominent defenders of intelligent design, including David Berlinski and Paul Nelson, who examine the critiques using the critics' own writings. This collection aims to clarify and defend the principles of intelligent design against its detractors.

Sir Isaac Newton, a pivotal figure in the scientific revolution, is portrayed as both a monumental genius and a distant historical figure. The book aims to bridge the gap between his groundbreaking theories and contemporary readers, making his life and contributions more relatable and understandable. It explores the complexities of his character and the profound impact of his work on science, revealing the man behind the myth.

In Infinite Ascent, David Berlinski, the acclaimed author of The Advent of the Algorithm, A Tour of the Calculus, and Newton’s Gift, tells the story of mathematics, bringing to life with wit, elegance, and deep insight a 2,500-year-long intellectual adventure. Berlinski focuses on the ten most important breakthroughs in mathematical history–and the men behind them. Here are Pythagoras, intoxicated by the mystical significance of numbers; Euclid, who gave the world the very idea of a proof; Leibniz and Newton, co-discoverers of the calculus; Cantor, master of the infinite; and Gödel, who in one magnificent proof placed everything in doubt. The elaboration of mathematical knowledge has meant nothing less than the unfolding of human consciousness itself. With his unmatched ability to make abstract ideas concrete and approachable, Berlinski both tells an engrossing tale and introduces us to the full power of what surely ranks as one of the greatest of all human endeavors.