Recent times have seen the rise of the ‘New Atheism’, an aggressive campaign seeking to undermine all religious belief.

Former TIME correspondent David Aikman tackles this movement with his latest book, The Delusion of Disbelief – Why the New Atheism is a Threat to Your Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness.

Aikman focuses on the ‘Four Horsemen’ of New Atheism - authors Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett. Rather than seeking to defend religion, Aikman attacks atheism directly on utilitarian grounds, showing how atheistic ideals have led to societies marked by tyranny and oppression. By contrast, he demonstrates how religion (and especially Christianity) has been responsible for many of the liberties and privileges we currently enjoy in western democracies.

It’s a clever approach that gives the book a very broad appeal. Aikman presents his arguments skillfully and persuasively, and he flavours the text with many stories from his years spent as a TIME foreign correspondent. The result is a very readable book, and a helpful addition to your library.