Dennett synthesizes disparate insights into a splendid research programme for a holistic naturalistic approach to the evolutionary underpinnings of religious thought.

This was the first book of the Anderson Book Club. We discussed this over the 2007 Holiday time. Actually it was a very interesting discussion, generally we are split and one of the most interesting tangents of the discussion was on freewill - here Joe and I tended to take the side of predetermination while the others esp leaned toward we all make choices! 

Dennett doesn't even try to examine the case for religion not being a natural phenomenon or the implications of that, doesn't explain how to break the spell, and doesn't justify the notion that the spell ought to be broken. He seems more than willing to discuss some of the purported benefits of religious practice—the ones that can be assigned natural causes and avoid morality—but gives short shrift to those that don't fit his thesis. In the end, it reads as more of a debater's position than a scientist's. And while he does go into some great detail on the potential bad effects of breaking the spell, in the end he doesn't seem to care, and wants it broken anyway.
Other than that, it's Dennett's breathless storytelling at it's finest. I was on the edge of my chair. 

Dennett is a respected philosopher – not of a religious persuasion – who stepped into unusual territory for him by writing this book. The title is quite an insight into what the book is about and the rather patronising approach he takes towards those who are religious. However what is more disappointing about the book is that it is just rather dull to read. 

Some of you might have noticed a recent flurry of publications, studies and reports questioning the arms-length that we hold between the armed camps of "religion" and "science," unless your religious practices include some kind of information abstinence. If so, I hope that you will still be willing to read and consider this book, and my review of it, for the simple reason that the authors of both are interested in finding the evidence that demonstrates the advantages of your specific religious practices, advantages up to and including the truth of them. Richard Dawkins wants you to stop forcing yourself to pay serious attention to religion, but Daniel Dennet wants you to force yourself to pay serious and practically productive attention to religion. Laid out in this book is a plain and honest argument for allowing the careful study of the natural phenomena of religious behaviors and claims, effects and causes. Everyone, if they feel either an obligation to believe true things or a belief that they already do, should read this book quickly, so we can all agree to find out all the things we don't know yet. 

Dr. Dennett is a professor of philosophy at Tufts University. As the jacket points out, this is "not an anti-religious screed, but rather an eye-opening exploration of the role that religious belief plays in our lives, our interactions, and our country." Following Dawkins and others, he explores the foundations and historicity of morality and the continuing reasons for continued bleief in Bronze Age mythologies.  

Review: Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon

Dennett offers an abundance of questions for the reader to ask themselves about their feelings toward other religions, but more importantly about their own. Having no religion, I know he wasn't ... Read full review

Review: Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon

In Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon, Daniel Dennett hopes to break the spell--not of religious belief, but of the conviction that it is not a fit subject for scientific inquiry ... Read full review

Review: Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon

As a former evangelical,now a new atheist this is one of my three new favorite nonfiction books December 11, 2012 Along with Why I Believed: Reflections of a Former Missionary and The Book Your Church ... Read full review

Review: Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon

An interesting look at the evolution of religion, with a plea to further study religion. I don't think there was anything really new in it and, unfortunately, I doubt the message (to further study religion) will reach the people who need to be convinced. We can hope! Read full review