Nothingness

Nothingness
by Steve Farrell

A drenching downpour, massive flooding and power outages, satanic images and the plunging economy. Is it the hand of God, a cult of evil Satanists or just some misguided high schoolers? You have to read this entertaining book to find out.

The main character, Boyd, is an electrical engineer and a skeptic. Some of the best parts of the book are the transcripts from the am radio show Boyd hosts called Skeptic's Corner. Truthers and tin hatters beware! The book follows Boyd, his wife, Maureen, troubled son Dan, and autistic son Jamey as they struggle through their days each dealing in their own ways with belief (theirs and others) or lack of it, in their lives. Humor, irony and coincidence are woven throughout the story with teenage angst, a disintegrating marriage, PTSD and hockey (always hockey). Clever, smart writing makes this an easy, fun (though dark) read.

One point that stuck with me - isn't it more ethical to do something because it's the right thing to do rather than do the right thing for the promise of reward (heaven) in the end? If you enjoy debating the merits of belief or belief in belief you will find this a fascinating book.