If you saw our original Anti-Christmas reading list, then you know that, ahem, some of us here at Readers Lane get pretty grinchy during the holidays. The materialistic excess, family drama, travel nightmares, and all-around wastefulness are enough to sour anyone’s good cheer — and that’s before we even bring religion into it. If you’d rather hide in a bag of coal until January 1, we have a suggestion: distract yourself with these thoroughly un-festive winter books. Bah, humbug!
The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas
Editors: Robin Harvie, Stephanie Meyers
What’s an atheist to do? Assaulted from every direction by Christmas hubbub, it’s often hard for nonbelievers to feel welcome in the season of holly and all things merry. But maybe there’s a solution for the lonely holiday atheist. In the spirit of the late (and skeptical) Douglas Adams, 42 comedians, scientists, philosophers and writers have come together to provide help in The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas. Packed with all sorts of survival tips for those who find the season a consistent source of aggravation, it’s much more lighthearted and jolly than you might expect. Eschewing the shrill and strident, it’s ideal for the atheist on your list, be they mopey or cheery.
The Bonobo and the Atheist
Author: Frans de Waal
How do we know right from wrong? For millennia, the powers that be have assumed that morality comes from religion and that without the civilizing influence of a belief in God, all sorts of chaos would ensue. Well, maybe they have it exactly backwards. Frans de Waal, one of the world’s foremost primatologists, certainly thinks so. In The Bonobo and the Atheist, de Waal makes the argument that the origins of morality are readily apparent in our primate relatives and must have originated millions of years before Moses floated down the Nile. Based on decades of acclaimed research at the Yerkes Primate Center in Atlanta, Georgia, de Waal’s provides a thoroughly entertaining look at our primate cousins, turning conventional anthropocentric wisdom on its head. You can read our full review here.
A Christmas to Remember: A Choose Your Own Horror Novel
Author: Matt Shaw
This grisly choose-your-own-adventure story puts a horror spin on the holidays. In this dark tale, an estranged wife reluctantly agrees to spend Christmas with her husband so their kids can have a “normal” holiday as a family. Unbeknownst to her, her boyfriend is already at the house — just, er, not in one piece anymore. And she’s about to be the next victim in a gruesome revenge scenario. Can you keep the kids safe while navigating through this house of holiday horrors? (It goes without saying that this is definitely not a stocking stuffer for young readers.)
Does Santa Exist?
Author: Eric Kaplan
It’s a question that comes up in many households this time of year. Does Santa exist? You may think you know the answer, but then you probably haven’t spent much time hanging out with Eric Kaplan. A writer and co-producer for The Big Bang Theory, Kaplan is a philosopher when he’s not making genius nerd television. Attacking the question from all sorts of angles — logical, mystical, comical — he eventually comes up with an answer that’s sure to surprise you. Consistently humorous and thought-provoking, it’s the perfect resource for the thoughtful holiday skeptic. You can read our full review here.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
Author: Marie Kondo
Are you overwhelmed with Christmas clutter and unwanted regifts? Maybe it’s time to learn from Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo and her “KonMari Method.” This guide helps you sort your possessions by category, identifying the items that bring you joy, and eliminating those that don’t. (She has a three-month waiting list for her services, so the magic must be working for her clients.) If household clutter is ruining your holiday cheer, add this book — and her January 2016 follow-up, Spark Joy — to your wish list. And if you like to fret about waste and sustainability, be sure to check out our Trashy Reading book list!
Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat: Yuletide Yahoos, Ho-Ho-Humblebraggers, and Other Seasonal Scourges
Author: Jen Mann
If your holiday survival strategy is to find humor in all the absurdity and bad behavior, you’ll identify with Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat. Overachieving supermoms, the one-upmanship of annual family letters, and the insanity of cookie exchanges are all targets for snark, but Jen Mann is at her funniest when lovingly poking fun at her holiday-hoarder mom’s obsessive collection of Santas and decorations. She’s witty and observant in describing how the traditions we grow up with get ingrained deep in our psyches, despite our best efforts — like when she realizes that her own daughter has inherited the holiday obsession, and demands two Christmas trees in her room to display her personal ornament collection.
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