More a work of epigrams than a look at the history of disbelief. Haught has collected sayings dating back to the ancient Greeks, and arranged them roughly in chronological order, though the nature of overlapping life cycles leads to some backing up occasionally, as does the fact that he covers different parts of the world in different chapters. Some of the quotes are absolutely sublime; others are good, and of course many of them are mediocre, because it seems to be a rule with a book of this sort that you must catch the most brilliant minds in moments of mediocrity. Not all the brilliant minds in this book are non-believers; in fact, a fair number of Deists grace the pages. A quick read, and lots of quotable pithy (and not so pithy) sayings. ( )