Brights Central previously asked readers to suggest the best book likely to constructively keep open a child's pathway toward a naturalistic understanding of the world. "[S]uppose you could provide only one book to a youngster (any age). What would it be?”

"Grandmother Fish" was the first entry. This month we share the nomination that came in from Dan (Ontario, Canada).  In putting forth his choice of “the single book you’d hold paramount”, Dan said:

“Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be" [is] written especially for young readers, the illustrations are well done and not calculated to frighten, and the limited material that touches on religion is neither hostile nor condescending. I've looked at a lot of the literature on this topic aimed at children, and I think this is the book I'd have chosen for my children, had it been available for them forty years ago.”

Preview the book, on Amazon (after selecting the link, select the book cover, with text "Look Inside"). 

Please submit your own book recommendation by providing title and author and, if you can, a link to further information (or send an abstract).  Email the “top choice” to the-brights@the-brights.net with BEST (in upper case letters, please) in your subject line.

From University of Chicago researcher, Jean Decety:
"A common-sense notion is that religiosity has a positive association with self-control and moral behaviors. This view is unfortunately so deeply embedded that individuals who are not religious can be considered morally suspect.” 

Whereas religious parents are more likely than non-religious parents to describe their offspring as empathetic and concerned about justice, new evidence reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on November 5 does not conform to that. In fact, it suggests the opposite.

An article at phys.org titled: “Does religion make children less generous?” provides a summary. Interestingly, it states:

“Importantly, the researchers report, children who were the most altruistic came from atheist or non-religious families.”

Of course, research on groups does not mark any individuals. Best not to stereotype on such studies.

Related article:  http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-secular-parenting-zuckerman-morrison-video-recap-20150225-story.html

What will happen to society? You are doubtless familiar with this one: “If people become less religious, then society will decay. Crime will skyrocket, violence will rise, and once-civilized life will degenerate into immorality and depravity.”  Right?

Not so, according to Phil Zuckerman, the author of Living the Secular Life. Still, it’s another popular presumption that affects public perspectives of citizens who have a naturalistic outlook.

Surveying the world (and various data) from his post as a professor of sociobiology and director of the secular studies program at Pitzer College, Zuckerman recently deemed that supposition about societal decay without religion demonstrably false. He summarized his analysis in a recent Op-Ed in the Los Angeles Times. The reasoning, published October 31 concludes: “it is clear that a strong or increased presence of secularism isn't the damaging threat to society so many continually claim it to be.”

A recent work by a Bright garnered considerable success on its launch week. It rose to the #1 spot in the Kindle Best-Seller "Family Life" category, and to the #2 spot in the "Parents" category.

In Case I Die Before You're Born: Father-Knows-Best Advice for 21st Century Kids  by Marcos Carvalho is ostensibly addressed to the author's future child. The book is basically a primer on the value (or necessity?) of developing what Carvalho perceives as worthwhile habits (regarding work, money, intellect and exercise). As the author explains:

“It's completely secular; in fact, the only time I mention the Bible is one having to read it in order to understand the references peppered throughout the Western canon of literature and art.”

There’s a relevant podcast (interview with Carvalho about the philosophical roots of the book).