God Is an Atheist: A Novella for Those Who Have Run Out of Time [Paperback]

N. Nosirrah (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 21, 2008

A profoundly funny romp through religion, spirituality, and the contemporary clash of cultures of belief, with special attention to the human obsession with knowing what can't be known. Nosirrah provokes just about everyone as he describes a world where God is on the run from Islamic extremists, the Pope announces he shares a bed with Richard Dawkins, and Buddha's son disappoints by getting enlightened instead of becoming a doctor. To say this novella is strange might give the reader a way to relate to it, but in fact, nothing will shift the burden away from the reader. In its pages, the world is bent around the reader's mind until either the mind itself begins to bend, or indeed, breaks. A book without plot, characters, structure, or obvious purpose, this is an endless descent into the netherworlds of a dystopian mind. If a thousand monkeys typing endlessly would eventually produce all great works of literature, then God Is an Atheist is their first draft.

Editorial Reviews

Review

God as an atheist is like a novelist who doesn't believe in novels. So perhaps it's fitting that N. Nosirrah's highly amusing and deeply thoughtful God is an Atheist is a novella. Specifically, it's "a novella for those who have run out of time." "This is a story without plot, characters, structure, or obvious purpose," Nosirrah writes. "If a thousand monkeys typing endlessly would eventually produce all the great works of literature, then this is their first draft." Nosirrah isn't kidding when he says there's no plot. At the start of the book, he nearly runs God over as He is crossing the street. As way of apology, Nosirrah takes God to a coffeeshop and they talk, although it's as much of a transcendental encounter as a conversation. Nosirrah calls it "magical existentialism." In the exchange, God admits He is an atheist. The novella is Nosirrah's account of the encounter, which is really just a flimsy--but very cleverly executed--excuse for the author to talk about big-picture concepts like belief and being. He does it with a court jester's demeanor, though. The result is a text that reads like the caffeinated love-child of flip stream-of-consciousness and thoughtful wit, raised by lonely mountaintop guru starved for human contact. Nosirrah babbles along merrily, with almost incessant, indomitable charm. Hints of cynicism creep in, but Nosirrah always pulls back from the brink with a good-natured shoulder shrug or, better yet, a smart-ass remark. The book is not intended as a religious or an anti-religious diatribe. There's plenty to offend believers and nonbelievers alike. But there's also plenty of thoughtful fodder about the nature of belief itself. There's also, running as an undercurrent, a sincere appeal to readers to think about what God means to them. It's too hipster, too manic, and too self-aware to get too deep--but the book also gives off enough vibes to suggest that this is, indeed, deep stuff if the reader slows down long enough to really dive in for him or herself. In the meantime, Nosirrah barrels along, pummeling the reader with witty banter, pop culture references, and classical philosophy gussied up as slapstick (picture an apoplectic Immanuel Kant getting red-faced and bug-eyed). God never takes Himself too seriously--and far from being all-knowing and all-powerful, He can't even place Mother Theresa, although He says He'll try and Google the name when He gets home. God is an Atheist is a quick yet provocative read--although whether it provokes thought, anger, or mere annoyance will depend on the reader. Nosirrah is either irresistibly engaging or in dire need of Ritalin. But his whirling dervish style is distinctive and smart. He offers much to think about and much to laugh about, too. -- Scholars & Rogues, July 7, 2008

About the Author

N. Nosirrah is a writer and philosopher who asks his readers to question their existence, God's existence, and in particular, Nosirrah's existence. He has said that those who understand his writings have no need to meet him, those who do not have no reason to meet him, and those who need to meet him have no need to read his writings.

Product Details

• Paperback: 119 pages
• Publisher: Sentient Publications (May 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591810728
• ISBN-13: 978-1591810728
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,894,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amusing and profound, December 20, 2010

By 

P. Strand "Laughing Buddha" (Nowhere in particular) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: God Is an Atheist: A Novella for Those Who Have Run Out of Time (Paperback)

There are many good and worthwhile books on spirituality available these days, but it's quite rare to come across one that's as unique as "God is an atheist: A novella for those who have run out of time" by N. Nosirrah. To give you a sense of what kind of book this is, let me quote the blurb on the back of the book:

"A profound tragicomic romp through the bizarre landscape of religion, spirituality, and the contemporary clash of cultures of belief, with special attention to the human obsession with knowing what can't be known. Nosirrah provokes just about everyone as he describes a world where God is on the run from Islamic extremists, the Pope announces he shares a bed with Richard Dawkins, and Buddha's son disappoints by getting enlightened instead of becoming a doctor."

"God is an atheist" has humour, spiritual enquiry, philosophical conundrums and logic (or maybe the lack of it) all mixed up in a delightful stew that is both nourishing and exciting. It's a whimsical journey through contemporary spirituality and culture that holds nothing sacred and asks questions that most people probably might not even want answered. Nosirrah's writing style is fresh and original, but at the same time unpretentious and straightforward. Although this book is full of what can best be described as meaningful nonsense, there are also truly profound insights and comments to be found almost on every page. The book is even illustrated, by none other than A. Nosirrah, and while it has to be said that the artwork is on the far side of the naive and almost childish, and may not be to everybody's liking, somehow it seems to fit into the text very nicely all the same.

Who is N. Nosirrah? Does he even exist? He has only the following to say about himself on the back cover of the book:

"N. Nosirrah is an enigmatic writer and philosopher who asks his readers to question their existence, God's existence and in particular, Nosirrah's existence."

And as if that wasn't enough, he also claims that "Those who understand these writings have no need to meet me, those who do not understand have no reason to meet me, and those who need to meet me have no need to read my writings."

"God is an atheist" is a short book at only 119 pages, but quality wins over quantity every single time, and I for one would choose this little book over many a weighty tome by the celebrated hot shots in today's spiritual marketplace. Who knows, maybe Nosirrah really is not, but he delivers all the same.

Pathik Strand, author of All this is that

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars God is an Atheist, February 9, 2009

By 

Robert Musikantow (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: God Is an Atheist: A Novella for Those Who Have Run Out of Time (Paperback)

I have actually met Nosirrah, and can say he is who he says he is. He once said something to the effect that one would get absolutely nothing from reading his books or attending his talks. He usually fulfills his promise.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I know, September 9, 2008

By 

larry liberator - See all my reviews

This review is from: God Is an Atheist: A Novella for Those Who Have Run Out of Time (Paperback)

I know all there is to know about n. nosirrah, facts, birth, hair color, signs and symbols, weight , cell phone number, etc. Unfortunately (fortunately?)I do not exist otherwise I would tell you.